2. Topics
What is electricity?
Energy Conversion
The Faraday Effect
Motor vs. Generator
AC/DC
Energy Trends - the case for Green
3. What is Electricity?
Electricity is energy transported by
the motion of electrons
**We do not make electricity, we
CONVERT other energy sources into
electrical energy**
Conversion is the name of the game
4. Energy Conversion Options for Electricity
Non-Thermal Paths
• Source to Electrical
Source Converter
Sun Photovoltaic (photon to electron)
Chemical Fuel Cell
• Source to Potential/Kinetic to Mechanical to Electrical
Source Converter Kinetic to Mechanical Mech to Electrical
Dam Penstocks Turbine (water) Generator
Tides Machine Turbine (air or water) Generator
Wind N/A Turbine (air) Generator
5. Energy Conversion Options for Electricity
Thermal Paths
• Heat to Mechanical to Electrical
Source Heat to Mechanical Mech to Electrical
Geothermal Turbine (vapor) Generator
OTEC Turbine (vapor) Generator
• Stored Energy to Heat to Mechanical to Electrical
Source Reactor Heat to Mechanical Mech to Electrical
Fuel Combustor Turbine (gas or vapor) Generator
U, Pu Reactor Turbine (gas or vapor) Generator
Sun Collector* Turbine (gas or vapor) Generator
H, H2
, H3
Reactor Turbine (gas or vapor) Generator
* More a modifier or concentrator than a reactor
10. AC/DC
(not the band)
Alternating Current
Large-scale
generators produce
AC
Follows sine wave
with n cycles per
second
1, 2, 3-phase?
US:120 V,60 Hz
Europe: 240 V,50Hz
Transforming ability
Direct Current
Batteries,
Photovoltaics, fuel
cells, small DC
generators
Charge in ONE
direction
Negative, Positive
terminals
Easy conversion AC to
DC, not DC to AC
14. Oil Resources
Saudi Arabia 26%
Iraq 11%
Kuwait 10%
Iran 9%
UAE 8%
Venezuela 6%
Russia 5%
Libya 3%
Mexico 3%
China 3%
Nigeria 2%
U.S. 2%
U.S. 26%
Japan 7%
China 6%
Germany 4%
Canada 4%
Russia 3%
Brazil 3%
S. Korea 3%
France 3%
India 3%
Mexico 3%
Italy 2%
Have Oil… Use Oil…
The U.S. uses more than the next 5 highest
consuming nations combined.
15. U.S. Renewable Energy Resource Assessment
WindSolar
Geothermal
Temperature <90C
Temperature >90C
Geopressured resources
o
o
10
10
12
12
14
14
16
16
18
18
20
20
22
24
26
22 24
26
16
14
14
16
14
12
10
10
12 <10
10-12
12-14
14-16
16-18
18-20
20-22
22-24
24-26
26-28
>28
6.0-6.5 m/s
13.4-14.6 mph
6.5-70 m/s
14.6-15.7 mph
>7.0 m/s
15.7+ mph
Megajoules/m
2
Biomass
Agricultural
resources & residues
Wood resources &
residues
Agricultural & wood
residues
Low inventory
16. US energy infrastructure is large and deeply entrenched
• 400,000+ miles of gas and oil pipelines
• 160,000+ of high voltage transmission lines
• 176,000 gasoline stations
• 1000’s of oil and gas wells drilled annually in the
US and Canada
Barriers to Change
17. oil and gas are readily available as a world
commodity at low cost -- equivalent to $ 4 to 5 /
million Btu
US coal is even more abundant and cheaper –
approximately $1/million Btu
US electricity prices remain low relative to
other commodities
The average American family spends only 3
to 4% of their income on energy!!
Barriers to Change