The Electric Grid
When you turn your lights on at home, where does that electricity come from? Power Plants Electric Generation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20vb6hllqsg
Remember the Law of Conservation of Energy? Energy cannot be created or destroyed. It can only be converted from one form to another. What do power plants use as an energy source to generate electricity? Brainstorm with the person next to you to identify as many types of power plants as possible. Coal Natural Gas Oil Hydroelectric Wind Solar Nuclear
Basics of electricity Generating electricity Using steam, turbines, generator Similarities of power plants Distributing Electricity Generation Transmission Power grid Smart grid Distribution Substations Transformers
What type of fuel do we use in the United States to generate electricity? What about Connecticut?
How is electricity generated in power plants? Electric current is created inside a generator. Generators create electric current through electromagnetic induction. (Remember Michael Faraday?) When conducting wire is moved in a magnetic field, current will flow through the wire. What causes a generator turbine to turn? Usually high pressure steam Exceptions: Wind Hydroelectric Solar
How does a fossil fuel power plant work? 1. Fossil fuels are burned to heat water to produce steam. 2. Steam turns the blades of a turbine. 3. The turbine spins a coil of wire on the shaft of a generator that turns inside a magnetic field. 4. Electrons flow in the coil..that is electricity! Video clip: Fossil fuel power station - how it works https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rejkiuyjw1e
How does a hydroelectric power plant work? 1. Mechanical energy of moving water turns the blades of a turbine. 2. The turbine spins a coil of wire on the shaft of a generator that turns inside a magnetic field. 3. Electrons flow in the coil..that is electricity! Hydroelectric power station - how it works https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnpetwqtmgq
How does a nuclear power plant work? 1. Atoms are split to heat water to produce steam. 2. Steam turns the blades of a turbine. 3. The turbine spins a coil of wire on the shaft of a generator that turns inside a magnetic field. 4. Electrons flow in the coil..that is electricity! Nuclear power station - how it works https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5zb6sk88hc
Nuclear Energy There are currently 99 functioning nuclear power plants in the United States Supplied 19.5% of U. S. electricity in 2015* There is currently 1 functioning nuclear power plant (with 2 reactors) in Connecticut Millstone, Waterford Nuclear Waste 2,000 metric tons per year Radioactive for 10,000 years Yucca Mountain $13,500,000,000 Source: Nuclear Energy Institute
What to remember Burn fuel or split atoms Heat water to make steam Steam turns turbine or Moving water turns turbine Turbine turns generator Electricity is generated!
How Does Electricity Get From the Power Plant to My House? The Electric Grid
Electric Grid There are three Grids in the U. S. Eastern U. S. Western U. S. Texas Interconnected Transformers step up the voltage from 25,000 volts at the power plant to over 500,000 volts in the transmission lines. This allows current to travel hundreds of miles
How does electricity Get From the Grid to My House? Substations use step down transformers lower the voltage so the electricity can be distributed to consumers. Voltage is dropped from 500,000 volts to 11,000-25,000 volts The power lines running along the poles on your street have about 11,000 volts
How does electricity Get From the Grid to My House? Single-phase transformers step down the voltage from 11,000 V to 240/120 V so it can be delivered to homes and businesses.
Electricity enters your house through the electric meter. The meter measures your family s electric consumption in kilowatt hours.
Circuit Breaker Panel: Distributes the electricity to the various appliances, outlets, lights and other electrical devices in your home. Protects against overloads, power surges and short circuits.
This is why your parents yell at you to turn out the lights when you leave a room!