Geothermal Energy
Geothermal Energy is the use of the energy in the earth, the natural heat the earth produces. There are several ways to harness this power, and frequently these sources are totally renewable and re-usable. These natural alternatives have been preferred by many over using the fossil fuels so prevalent in society at this time, in that they can be used without the environmental arguments presently going on about fossil fuels.
Geothermal energy was first discovered in the seventh century, when mines dug were found to be actually hotter than the surface. This was assumed to be resulting from a heat source located inside the earth, termed Geothermal Energy. Both Romans and Chinese used geothermal springs to heat buildings and gather warm water. The Maoris in New Zealand used geysers to cook their food. Currently, it is also in use in Japan, Iceland, New Zealand, and California as a commonly seen source of energy. All these locations use the energy to heat homes, power electricity, and other such uses.
Geothermal is gathered from three sources – Dry Steam Fields, Wet Steam Fields, and Hot Water Fields. Dry Steam, the easiest one to harvest, is also the one seen very rarely. The conditions of having large amounts of steam underground ready to come up and power turbines are not seen often. A few, however, do exist, and for example, one in Larderello, Italy, has been producing electricity for over a hundred years. Wet Steam Fields are more common, but also not as easy to use. Currently, the largest one is in Wairakei, New Zealand, with others in Russia, Japan, and Mexico.
Hot Water Fields make use of large underground reservoirs of hot water, which is not hot enough to actually evaporate into steam. These are frequently used for heating around the world in many locations. This type of field is also what heats many of the natural hot springs and baths around the world.
Vapor-Dominated Systems are typically...
View Full Essay