Transmission of Electricity: Sources, Methods, and Impact
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This assignment discusses the various sources of electricity, including geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind, and nuclear. It also explains the methods of transmission, such as overhead and underground transmission, and the use of transformers. The impact of electricity on our daily lives is also highlighted.
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PHYSICS ASSIGNMENT Name of Student Institution Affiliation Contents
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Introduction......................................................................................................................................3 Sources of electricity.......................................................................................................................3 Transmission of electricity..............................................................................................................4 Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................5 References........................................................................................................................................6
Introduction Electricity has become a backbone of most essential activities in our daily routines. The availability of electricity has led to much advancement in technology and reliance in electronics and computers.1This has been made possible through the various procedures of production and transmission of electricity. Sources of electricity. There are many way on which electricity can be generated, these include: a.Geothermal. This is the production of electricity though harnessing of the earth’s thermal energy. b.Hydropower. This is production of power by harnessing water sources like dams waterfalls and running rivers. c.Solar. Solar energy relies on conversion of sunlight to electricity2. d.Wind. Generation of electricity through conversion of mechanical energy provided by the wind to turn wind turbines into electricity 1ThomasJohansson,Renewable Energy: Sources for Fuels and Electricity,Sydney,Island Press,2013 2Michael Grubb,Renewable Energy Strategies for Europe: Electricity systems and primary electricity sources,London, Earthscan,2017
e.Nuclear Each has a unique process involved to produce electricity but they share the same concept of transmitting electricity to our homes and work places. Transmission of electricity After generation of electricity it is transferred to the grid by the use of high conductivity materials with low cost, most preferably aluminum. The transmission of electricity is classified into overhead transmission and underground transmission. Materials used in the transmission need to be of high conductivity, have high tensile strength, ductile and relatively cheap copper is usually the best suited conductor but its relatively high cost make aluminum more preferable then copper. Aluminum has one limitation; it’s low in tensile strength. This is overcome by using a steel core to reinforce its tensile strength. For overhead transmission the naked aluminum power lines are suspended by towers and poles this is an indication that the wires aren’t insulated. The reason for this is because overhead cables carry extremely high voltage which causes the wires to overheat. Leaving them insulated is a way of ensuring that they don’t absorb excess heat.3 Finally overhead transmission cables pose less threat and they are insulated by air which explains why they are mostly left naked. The underground transmission entails power being transmitted by underground power cables instead of overhead power cables. 3Manuel Sánchez,Smart Electricity Networks Based on Large Integration of Renewable Sources and Distributed Generation, Kiev, Kassel university press, 2016
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In the transmission of electricity step up transformers are used to enable the transmission over long distances. During this process of transmission electricity goes through substations where it is transformed from high voltage to low voltage or low voltage to high voltage. Substations also include transformers which convert voltage levels between high transmission voltages and lower distribution voltages. The power from the substations is then through transmission and distribution power lines carried over long distances to nearest place where needed, here distribution transformers mounted on distribution poles step down the voltage to the desired consumer level. This is the final stage where the electricity is delivered to our homes and work places4. Fig 1: Voltage figure. Conclusion. The process of electricity transmission from the power station to our homes and work place is a much more complex and detailed procedure though n its simplified forms it seems so easy and undemanding. 4Lameck Wadhwa,Generation,Distribution and Utilization of Electrical Energy, London, New Age International,2015
This procedure has over the years been perfected and is still having more inventions and innovations adding into it. Its impact on live has beenevident mostly in the 21stcentury. References Grubb, Michael,Renewable Energy Strategies for Europe: Electricity systems and primary electricity sources,London, Earthscan, 2017 Johansson, Thomas,Renewable Energy: Sources for Fuels and Electricity,Sydney,Island Press, 2013
Wadhwa,Lameck, Generation,Distribution and Utilization of Electrical Energy, London, New Age International, 2015 Sánchez, Manuel, SmartElectricity Networks Based on Large Integration of Renewable Sources and Distributed Generation, Kiev, Kassel University press, 2016