Energy: From Where We Can Obtain Power?
Many hydro-electric power stations are the best examples of this type energy source. Water will possess potential energy if available at a certain height. This potential energy is converted into kinetic energy by bringing water to lower level. Water turbine will convert this kinetic energy into mechanical energy. We know this as hydro energy.
02) Solar Energy
In a tropical climate solar rays have been used directly for the generation of power by employing a parabolic mirror to concentrate the rays on to a boiler or the cylinder of hot air engine. Fuel stock will be consumed rapidly and it will available for next 200 years or so, to meet this challenge solar energy is the best alternative we have.
03) Fuels
They are exits in form of
A) Solid
B) Liquid
C) Gaseous
The chemical energy which fuel contains is being transferred into heat energy by their combustion. The heat energy can further be converted into mechanical energy by thermal prime mover. We may call it as thermal energy.
04) Wind
Unequal heating of atmosphere by the sun produces air currents which when deflected through an angle produces a force. This force had been used to drive the wind mill to produce electric power. This is the form of wind energy.
05) Nuclear Energy
This is the recent discovery and one of the outstanding achievements of mankind. In 1938 Hann and Strassman separated the uranium atom successfully by nuclear fission. Fission of heavy nuclei is an exothermic process. In which enormous amount of heat is liberated. This heat produced by nuclear fission may be utilized by special heat exchangers for the generation of steam which may be used to drive turbo generators to generate power.
