Question

1. Explain the direct use of geothermal energy and a geothermal heat pump.
2. Describe the types of biomass energy that can be used in buildings.
3. Describe photovoltaic (PV) power and where it can be used in buildings.
4. How does elevation of a wind turbine affect turbine output?
5. Explain the components of a run-of-the-river hydropower system.
6. With respect to a rainwater harvesting system, explain first-flush washing

Answer 1

1.a.Explain the direct use of geothermal energy:

The hot water in geothermal reservoirs produces heat and steam, which can be directly used for multiple purposes. In the past, hot springs were directly used for bathing and cleaning purposes. Today, this hot water is extracted by a well and then delivered though piping, a heat exchanger, and controls for its intended purpose. Geothermal hot water has a variety of direct uses, ranging from melting ice on roads and sidewalks to warming fishing farms.

Apart from being used specifically, geothermal resources may be used for electricity production (similar to solar and wind power). Geothermal power plants capture deep geothermal energy deposits, whether steam or hot water, and use this to drive turbines, which generate electricity sequentially. Geothermal power plants come in three distinct types:

1. Dry Steam Power Plants are the oldest feature of the geothermal projects. Underground steam is used in the turbine activity which produces electricity. Subsequently, the steam is then injected back underground or emitted into the open.

2. Binary power stations have a separate strategy than the two previous ones. A dual electric station delivers pressurized heated water to the surface of the planet like a flash-steam control system. Nevertheless, the tube which does this connects to a second tube which contains water at a lower density. Water from the first tube drains into the second pipe, heating the gas, which powers the turbine sequentially.

3. Flash Steam Power Plants are a modern version of the steam power plants. Highly pressurized water is drained from the surface of the planet, and then the heat is lowered, allowing the water to transform directly to steam. This abrupt, intermittent transformation of the "flashing" water into steam powers the turbine basically. The water below is then drained and transferred out.

1.b.Explain the direct use of geothermal heat pump:

The geothermal heat pump, also known as the heat pump from the ground source, is a highly effective clean energy system, which is gaining wide popularity for both residential and commercial buildings. Geothermal heat pumps are used to heat and cool space, as well as to heat water. The downside of heat pumps from the ground supply is that they absorb natural current heat instead of generating electricity through burning of fossil fuels.

2.Describe the types of biomass energy that can be used in buildings:

The bulk of intake comes from two plants, wood and biofuels.

Many forms of biomass include forestry, waste, landfill gas and farm by-products.

Third-largest consumers of biomass resources are households and companies. Homes burn wood to provide power in fireplaces and stoves.

Wood is used as the primary heating source by more than three per cent.

Plants can be developed to fuel power stations in the future.

May also have large energy crop farms for ethanol processing, and many ship Biofuels.

3.Describe photovoltaic (PV) power and where it can be used in buildings:

Photovoltaic ( PV ) systems explicitly produce electricity from sunlight by an electrical mechanism that happens naturally in some material forms, called semiconductors. PV systems may be used to control everything from small-scale gadgets like calculators and road signs to homes and large companies.

4.How does elevation of a wind turbine affect turbine output?

Winds at higher altitudes are growing steadier, more constant, and more fast. When height rises, the duration of tethers decreases, the air temperature shifts and the susceptibility to fluctuations in atmospheric lighting.

5.Explain the components of a run-of-the-river hydropower system:

Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity is a form of hydroelectric generation that utilizes a river's natural flow and elevation drop to produce electricity.

To order to work throughout the dry season, power plants on rivers with significant seasonal variations need a massive reservoir, resulting to the need of impounding and flooding vast areas of property. Conversely, managing river projects does not need water impoundment. Any of the stream, then, is drained from a river and put into a pipe called a penstock.

The penstock feeds downhill water into generators at the power plant. Because of the difference in altitude, potential energy from the water upstream is converted into kinetic energy as it flows downstream through the penstock, giving it the speed required to spin the turbines which convert this kinetic energy into electrical energy

The stream exits the generating station and flows to the river without altering current rates of flow or sediment.

Many run-of-river power stations would provide a dam spanning the river's entire width to use more of the river's capacity for producing energy. These projects would include a reservoir behind the dam, but because flooding is small, it can be called a "river sprint."

It is not appropriate to flood the upper part of the channel, as it does not require a reservoir. As a consequence, it is not appropriate to evacuate residents residing on or around the river and protect natural ecosystems, reducing the environmental effects relative to reservoirs.

6.With respect to a rainwater harvesting system, explain first-flush washing:

Rainwater collection means gathering water from the areas from which the rain falls, and then processing this water for further usage. Water is usually obtained from building roofs and stored in rainwater reservoirs.

First Flush is the rainstorm 's original surface runoff. During this process , water contamination reaching storm drains is usually more intense in areas with large amounts of impermeable surfaces compared with the rest of the system.

That basic contraction diverts the first water flow from the catchment area with rainwater.The suggestion is to funnel the first flush into your rain tanks or barrels will help ensure filtered water.