Geothermal energy is derived from the natural heat of the earth. It’s possible to transfer geothermal heat into clean energy. Porosity. Yes. Geothermal energy, form of energy conversion in which heat energy from within Earth is captured and harnessed for electrical power generation, space heating and cooling, and various direct uses. The term geothermal heat pump is not the same thing as geothermal energy from hot springs. Nearly all heating and cooling applications utilize low enthalpy heat, called ground source heat. A heat exchanger is located within the housing. Kenya was the ninth-largest geothermal electricity producer at about 4.8 billion kWh, but it had the largest share of its total electricity generation from geothermal energy at about 47%. The geothermal gradient is steeper in the lithosphere than in the mantle because the mantle transports heat primarily by convection, leading to a geothermal gradient that is determined by the mantle adiabat, rather than by the conductive heat transfer processes that predominate in the lithosphere, which acts as a thermal boundary layer of the convecting mantle. It works regardless of weather conditions or the day-night cycle. The hot core of the Earth is the biggest, accessible and most sustainable “battery” known to man. Geothermal energy comes from the heat within the earth. An inlet pipe extends from the housing to the heat exchanger to convey heat transfer fluid to the heat exchanger and an outlet pipe extends from the housing to the heat exchanger to convey heat transfer fluid from the heat exchanger. Hot water and steam from deep underground can be used to drive turbines: this is called geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is the only renewable source of clean and baseload energy, available 24/7/365. "People around the world use geothermal energy to produce electricity, to heat buildings and greenhouses, and for other purposes. An energy transfer unit for a geothermal system includes an outer housing.

In this article we are going to look closer at the technology behind geothermal electricity, or in other words, how we can convert geothermal energy to electrical energy. What are natural Aquifers? What Is Geothermal Energy? These systems transfer heat by pumping water or a refrigerant (a special type of fluid) through pipes just below the Earth's surface, where the temperature is a constant 50 to 60°F. Flow and Heat Transfer in Geothermal Systems: Basic Equations for Description and Modeling Geothermal Phenomena and Technologies is the ideal reference for research in geothermal systems and alternative energy sources. Geothermal energy is one of the components of the National Energy Policy: “Reliable, Affordable, and Environmentally Sound Energy for America’s Future.” This lesson includes five activities that will give your students information on the principles of heat transfer and the technology of using geothermal energy to generate electricity.

Thermal Energy Geothermal, Ocean Thermal Radiant Energy Solar Chemical Energy Oil, Coal, Gas, Biomass Nuclear Energy Uranium, Thorium 6 Sustainable Energy – Fall 2010 – Conversion . There is plenty of heat in the center of the Earth. Geothermal energy. 1 It exists in both high enthalpy (volcanoes, geysers) and low enthalpy forms (heat stored in rocks in the Earth’s crust).

Geothermal heat pumps use the constant temperatures near the surface of the earth to heat and cool buildings. The deeper you dig, the hotter it gets. Geothermal Resource and Potential. The word "geothermal" comes from the Greek words geo, meaning earth," and therme, meaning "heat. Learn about the uses of geothermal energy and their history and … The core, about 4,000 miles (6,437 kilometers) beneath the surface, can reach temperatures of 7,600 degrees Fahrenheit (4,204 degrees Celsius). Porous Rocks that-can store water-water can flow through -porosity & permeability. Volcanic areas. The entire world resource base of geothermal energy has been calculated to be larger than the resource bases of coal, oil, gas, and uranium combined. It is responsible for 25% of Europe’s Population. Not all geothermal energy comes from power plants. Like all heat pump technologies, geothermal systems don’t create heat, they move it using the same process as air conditioners and refrigerators.

There is currently only 10,715 MW geothermal power installed across 24 different countries (May 2010), just a tiny fraction of the World’s consumption of electricity.

Geothermal energy has been successfully implemented in Germany, France, Netherlands, Hungary, and many more countries in Europe. Geothermal heat pumps transfer heat from the ground (or water) into buildings during the winter and reverse the process in the summer. Geothermal heat pumps can do all sorts of things—from heating and cooling homes to warming swimming pools. A heat exchanger is located within the housing. Geothermal systems (also called ground source, or geothermal, heat pumps) take advantage of the constant temperature of the ground below the frost line to heat in the winter and cool in the summer. The main energy transformations in Geothermal power stations are: Thermal->Mechanical Kinetic->Electric Potential A geothermal power plant gets energy from the heat deep below the surface of the earth.