Alternative Energy Sources: Technology Overview

Introduction

The entire modern world economy depends on the wealth accumulated in the time of the dinosaurs: oil, gas, coal and other fossil fuels. Most of the activities in our lives, from riding the subway to heating the kettle in the kitchen, ultimately require the burning of this prehistoric legacy. The main problem is that these readily available energy resources are not renewable. Sooner or later, humanity will pump out all the oil from the bowels of the earth, burn all the gas and dig out all the coal. What will we use to heat teapots then?

We should also not forget about the negative environmental impact of fuel combustion. An increase in the content of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere leads to an increase in the average temperature throughout the planet. Fuel combustion products pollute air. Residents of large cities feel this especially well.

We all think about the future, even if this future does not come with us. The global community has long recognized the limitations of fossil fuels. And the negative impact of their use on the environment. Leading states are already implementing programs for a gradual transition to environmentally friendly and renewable energy sources.

All over the world, humanity is looking for and gradually introducing replacements for fossil fuels. For a long time, solar, wind, tidal, geothermal and hydroelectric power plants have been operating all over the world. It would seem that right now what prevents us from providing all the needs of mankind with their help?

In fact, alternative energy has many problems. For example, the problem of the geographical distribution of energy resources.Wind farms are built only in areas where strong winds often blow, solar - where there is a minimum number of cloudy days, hydroelectric power plants - on large rivers. Oil, of course, is also not available everywhere, but it is easier to deliver it.

The second problem of alternative energy is instability. At wind farms, generation depends on the wind, which constantly changes speed or stops altogether. Solar power plants do not work well in cloudy weather and do not work at all at night.

Neither the wind nor the sun take into account the needs of energy consumers. At the same time, the energy output of a thermal or nuclear power plant is constant and easily regulated. The solution to this problem can only be the construction of huge energy storage facilities to create a reserve in case of low output. However, this greatly increases the cost of the entire system.

Because of these and many other difficulties, the development of alternative energy in the world is slowing down. Burning fossil fuels is still easier and cheaper.

However, if on the scale of the global economy alternative energy sources do not provide much benefit, then within the framework of an individual house they can be very attractive. Already, many feel the constant increase in tariffs for electricity, heat and gas. Every year, energy companies get deeper into the pocket of ordinary people.

Experts from the international venture fund I2BF presented the first overview of the renewable energy market. According to their forecasts, in 5–10 years, alternative energy technologies will become more competitive and become widespread. Already, the gap in the cost of alternative and conventional energy is rapidly shrinking.

Energy cost refers to the price that an alternative energy producer wants to receive in order to compensate for its capital expenditures over the life of the project and provide a return of 10% on invested capital. This price will also include the cost of debt financing, as most are heavily leveraged.

The given graph illustrates the assessment of various types of alternative and traditional energy in the II quarter of 2011 (Fig. 1).

Rice. one.	Assessment of various types of alternative and traditional energy

According to the above figures, geothermal energy, as well as energy generated by burning garbage and landfill gas, has the lowest cost of all types of alternative energy. In fact, they can already directly compete with traditional energy, but the limiting factor for them is the limited number of places where these projects can be implemented.

For those who want to gain independence from the whims of power engineers, who want to contribute to the development of alternative energy, who just want to save a little on energy, this book is written.

From book V. Germanovich, A. Turilin “Alternative energy sources. Practical designs for the use of wind, sun, water, earth, biomass energy.

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Is there a future for alternative energy sources?

Alternative sources of renewable energy is quite an interesting and promising direction. For example, there are several effective methods for generating water from air. True, here it is necessary to use a generator. Whether new approaches will be found to solve these problems and to improve the methods, only time will tell.

Whether it will be possible to use resources wisely is a big question

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Types of alternative energy sources.

The energy of wind, sun, water, biofuels, heat of the Earth are relatively inexhaustible and renewable. The benefits of alternative energy sources are undeniable as they conserve natural resources. In addition, they are much more consistent with environmental safety requirements.

Wind energy.

The principle of using wind power is to convert kinetic energy into electrical, thermal, mechanical. Wind generators are used to generate electrical energy. They can have different technical parameters, sizes, designs, horizontal or vertical axis of rotation. Sails are a classic example of the use of wind power in maritime transport, and a windmill is a conversion into mechanical energy.

The diameter of the blades and the height of their location determine the power of the wind generator. At a wind strength of 3 m/s, the generator starts to generate current and reaches its maximum value at 15 m/s. Wind force above 25 m/s is critical - the generator is turned off.

Solar energy is a gift from the Sun.

Solar energy as an alternative source of energy is a natural continuation of the life-giving mission of the Sun on our planet. But while humanity has not learned to use it directly.Currently, solar panels are used as converters of solar energy into electrical energy, and solar collectors are used for thermal energy. In addition, in some cases, a combination of two types is used.

Solar technology consists in heating the surface with the sun's rays and in the use of heated water for hot water supply, heating or use in steam power generators. Solar collectors are used to convert solar energy into thermal energy. Their common power depends on the number and power of individual devices that are included in the system of a solar or thermal station.

Solar panels are divided into:

• silicon
• film

Batteries using silicon crystals are currently in the greatest demand, and film ones are the most convenient. Silicon panels are one of the best options for a private home.

Hydropower is the use of the power of water.

The principle of operation of turbines in hydroelectric power plants is the effect of the force of water on the blades of a hydroturbine, which generates electricity. Sometimes only those hydroelectric power stations are classified as alternative types of energy, where powerful dams are not used, and the generation of current occurs under the influence of the natural flow of water. This is due to the significant negative impact of powerful hydropower plants on natural river landscapes, their shallowing and catastrophic floods.

There is no objection from environmentalists to the use of the natural energy of sea and ocean tides. The conversion of kinetic energy into electrical energy in this case occurs at special tidal stations.

Geothermal energy is the heat of the Earth.

The surface of the Earth radiates heat not only in places where hot seismic sources are ejected, as, for example, in Kamchatka, but also in almost all regions of the planet. To extract the heat of the earth, special heat pumps are used, and then it is converted into electrical energy or used as heat. The principle of operation of the installations is based on the laws of thermodynamics and the physical laws of the behavior of liquids and gases, in particular freon.

The design type of the pump determines the primary source of energy, such as soil-air or soil-water.

Biofuel.

The principle of obtaining biofuels is based on the processing of organic products using special installations. During processing, thermal or electrical energy is generated. Biofuels can be liquid, solid or gaseous. Solid, for example, fuel briquettes, liquid - bioethanol, gaseous - biogas. Its varieties include landfill gas, which is formed in landfills. The use of biogas from old landfills helps to solve the problems of waste recycling.

Alternative energy source: what is it and why is it needed

To this day, energy is based on well-developed and proven ways to produce electricity. They are well-known nuclear, electric and hydroelectric power stations. All of them work with the use of the resources of our planet, which will sooner or later be exhausted, or involve reactions that can cause irreparable harm.

In 2017, the percentage of use of these resources was distributed as follows:

• 39.3% - coal;
• 22.9% - natural gas;
• 16% - water;
• 10.6% - nuclear energy;
• 4.1% - oil.

Today, this promising area is searching for substances and processes in the surrounding world that are capable of:

• renew your resource (i.e. be inexhaustible);
• represent a complete replacement for traditional ones in terms of quality;
• be economical;
• do not harm the environment.

What's wrong with traditional energy sources?

Coal, oil and gas have not yet found a complete replacement for themselves in the production of energy needed by mankind. However, their stocks are limited and not recoverable.

For example, our Earth spent up to 350 million years to create oil and gas, and we exhausted their resource at a much faster rate.

About 90% of the energy on the planet in 2010 was produced by burning fossil and biofuels from plant or animal raw materials. And until 2040, the share of such production will not fall below 80%. At the same time, energy consumption is growing: up to the 40th year - by 56%.

Back in 2012, scientists indicated that the entire gas supply on the planet would end by 2052, and oil would last a little longer - until 2060. That is, our children can already catch the time when an oil tanker or a gas pipeline will not be useful, and the forests will be cut down.

Harmful emissions into the atmosphere associated with combustion products and nuclear energy generation are ozone depleters and global warming conductors.

Thus, the entire modern civilization, no matter how politicians and oil producers dismiss it, is facing a global question - what energy source will replace the traditional ones, while preserving the environment.

Thermal power industry

The most common energy sector in Russia.Thermal power plants in the country produce more than 1,000 MW using coal, gas, oil products, shale deposits and peat as feedstock. The generated primary energy is further converted into electricity. Technologically, such stations have a lot of advantages, which determine their popularity. These include undemanding to operating conditions and ease of technical organization of the workflow.

Thermal power facilities in the form of condensing facilities and combined heat and power plants can be built directly in the areas where the consumable resource is extracted or where the consumer is located. Seasonal fluctuations do not affect the stability of the stations, which makes such energy sources reliable. But there are also disadvantages of thermal power plants, which include the use of exhaustible fuel resources, environmental pollution, the need to connect large amounts of labor resources, etc.

What to choose: renewable energy sources or nuclear energy?

Historically, nuclear, coal and hydropower have been massive sources of energy

Therefore, not taking into account the fact that many countries of the world are closely engaged in the development of the renewable energy sector, the leadership of the Russian Federation planned to receive only 4.5% of energy from renewable energy by the beginning of 2020, realizing that hydrocarbon reserves are not unlimited

The Russian government is counting on long-term energy generation from plutonium and fusion energy; such sources of energy are not fully explored and pose a real threat to humanity. This applies to the development and application of all nuclear energy.

With the aim of more research into nuclear energy in France in 2007, the construction of an experimental thermonuclear reactor of international importance was started.

The project was founded by a group of several countries, including Russia. The main purpose of creating such a project was to prove the possible commercial use of energy obtained from thermonuclear fusion as a source of electrical energy. A solution to this issue has not yet been found.

According to the calculations of scientists involved in the study of thermonuclear processes, the amount of energy received from them by 2100 will not be able to exceed the bar of 100 GW, which is a low indicator of solving the problems of mankind associated with generating electricity. As an example, we can take the fact that modern world power plants provide 4000 GW of electricity.

The only way to solve the problem of obtaining electricity is the transition of mankind to sources of renewable energy with the parallel use of technologies that contribute to saving electricity. The advantage of such a transition will be the preservation of the planet's climate. All the necessary finances to start this process are available.

Alternative energy in modern Russia

Compared to previous years, alternative energy in Russia is developing faster, but is not dominant. Today, most of the energy in the country is produced using traditional sources.

Solar power plants

Solar power plant in the Urals

The southern regions of the country, as well as Western, Eastern Siberia and the Far East have the potential for the production of solar electricity. In Russia, it is promising to extract energy from the Sun, so projects in this direction receive state support.

Hydro and tidal power plants

Russia is actively using the water potential to generate electricity: according to 2017 data, the country has 15 power plants with a capacity of more than 1000 megawatts, and also hundreds of stations with a lower capacity. The energy generated by hydroelectric power plants costs half as much as that generated by thermal power plants.

Tidal stations require large finances, so the development of this direction in the Russian Federation does not occur. According to the forecasts of scientists, TPPs could make up one fifth of the electricity produced in Russia.

wind turbines

It is impossible to install generators with a horizontal axis of rotation in Russia due to low wind speed. However, structures with a vertical axis of rotation are often used.

Wind power plant in the Ulyanovsk region

As of 2018, the total capacity of wind turbines in Russia amounted to 134 megawatts. The largest power plant in the Ulyanovsk region (capacity - 35 megawatts).

Geothermal stations

There are 5 geothermal power plants in Russia, three of which are located in Kamchatka. According to 2016 data, the GeoPP generates 40% of the electricity consumed on this peninsula.

Biofuel application

Fuel production is also organized in Russia. At the same time, it is more profitable for the country to develop solid biofuels than liquid ones. Now production is carried out at a plant in Vladivostok.

nuclear power station

Russia is producing electricity using nuclear energy and continues to develop in this direction.New stations are being built, new extraction methods are being applied. According to 2019 data, 10 nuclear power plants operate in Russia. The Russian Federation ranks second in the world in terms of power generation capacity using nuclear power plants; the People's Republic of China has won the championship in this industry.

Wind energy

Wind farms are a promising way to generate energy, especially in places where the direction of the wind is constant.

The method of obtaining such energy does not pollute the natural environment. However, there is a dependence on the inconstancy of the directions and strength of the wind. Although this dependence can be partially smoothed by installing flywheels and a variety of batteries.

But the construction, maintenance, and repair of wind farms is not cheap. In addition, their operation is accompanied by noise, interferes with birds and insects, and reflects radio waves with rotating parts.

Alternative energy for data centers

Data center owners are increasingly interested in alternative sources of electricity. The only way to maintain the rate of capacity growth here is to significantly reduce the costs of deploying, maintaining and cooling data centers. There are several options.

For example, the heat generated during the operation of servers can be directed to space heating. So, in 2015, Yandex heated an entire city in Finland. By supplying heat to the city, Yandex was able to reimburse part of its electricity bills.

Cooling data centers is one of the most voracious expense items for IT companies. On average, cooling accounts for 45% of energy costs.

An original way to save on equipment cooling is to use “freecooling”. Or, simply put, to cool the servers with air from the street.For Russia, where it is cold outside for most of the year, this is especially true.

Another way to cool the air in the data center, allowing you to save on energy costs — method of adiabatic cooling. In this case, water is sprayed to lower the temperature. When evaporating, it takes heat and in such a simple way reduces the temperature of the air.

In any case, before experimenting, it is advisable to conduct a detailed energy audit. Its results will allow to analyze the state of energy consumption and identify opportunities for saving energy resources.

Why do we need alternative energy sources

When exhaustible sources of energy (fossil fuels) run out, humanity will have to switch to AES (alternative energy sources). As of 2017, 35% of the electricity generated in Russia was produced in a carbon-free way - at nuclear power plants and hydroelectric power plants.

Using traditional energy sources is problematic for the following reasons:

• The TPP uses fuel that will run out in the near future. According to the worst estimates, this will happen in 30 years;
• The cost of fossil fuels is rising, so the price of electricity is rising;
• Electricity generation products pollute the environment;
• The heat generated by the stations causes global warming.

Humanity has only one way - the transition to AIE.

Ebb and flow energy

The conversion of tidal energy into electricity is carried out at tidal power plants in two ways:

1. The first method, according to the principle of energy conversion, is similar to the conversion of energy in a hydroelectric power plant by rotating a turbine connected to an electric generator;
2. The second method uses the energy of water movement; This method is based on the difference in water level during high and low tides.

The Pros

• Solar energy is a renewable resource. As long as the Sun exists, its energy will reach the Earth.
• Solar power generation does not result in water or air pollution because there is no chemical reaction from burning the fuel.
• Solar energy can be used very efficiently for practical purposes such as heating and lighting.
• The benefits of solar energy are often seen for heating swimming pools, resorts and water tanks around the world.

The Cons

• Solar energy does not produce energy if the sun is not shining. Night and cloudy days severely limit the amount of energy produced.
• Solar power plants can be very expensive to build.

Main types of renewable energy

Energy of sun

Solar energy is considered the leading and environmentally friendly source of energy. To date, thermodynamic and photoelectric methods have been developed and used to generate electricity. The concept of operability and prospects of nanoantennas is confirmed. The sun, being an inexhaustible source of environmentally friendly energy, may well meet the needs of mankind.

Wind energy

Wind energy has been successfully used by people for a long time and windmills. Scientists are developing new and improving existing wind farms. Reducing costs and increasing the efficiency of windmills. They are of particular relevance on the coasts and in areas with constant winds.By converting the kinetic energy of air masses into cheap electrical energy, wind farms are already making a significant contribution to the energy system of individual countries.

geothermal energy

Geothermal energy sources use an inexhaustible source - the internal heat of the Earth. There are several working schemes that do not change the essence of the process. Natural steam is cleaned of gases and fed into turbines that rotate electric generators. Similar installations operate all over the world. Geothermal sources provide electricity, heat entire cities and light up the streets. But the power of geothermal energy is used very little, and the production technologies have a low efficiency.

Tidal and wave energy

Tidal and wave energy is a rapidly developing method of converting the potential energy of the movement of water masses into electrical energy. With a high energy conversion rate, the technology has great potential. True, it can only be used on the coasts of oceans and seas.

biomass energy

The process of biomass decomposition leads to the release of gas containing methane. Purified, it is used to generate electricity, space heating and other household needs. There are small enterprises that fully meet their energy needs.

Energy of electromagnetic solar radiation

It can be used to generate both electricity and heat.Direct conversion of solar radiation into electrical energy is carried out both through direct conversion due to the phenomenon of internal photoelectric effect on photovoltaic panels, and indirectly using thermodynamic methods (obtaining steam with high pressure).

solar power plant

Receipt thermal energy from solar is produced by absorbing this energy and further heating the surface and coolant, both by special collectors and by using the techniques of "solar architecture".

Set of settings for conversion of solar energy is solar power plant.

Pros

Wind energy does not produce pollution that can pollute the environment. Because no chemical processes take place, as when burning fossil fuels, there are no harmful by-products left.

• Since wind generation is a renewable energy source, we will never finish it.
• Agriculture and grazing can still take place on land occupied by wind turbines, which could help produce biofuels.
• Wind farms can be built offshore.

The device and use of solar collectors

A primitive solar collector is a black metal plate placed under a thin layer of a transparent liquid. As you know from the school physics course, dark objects heat up more than light ones. This liquid moves with the help of a pump, cools the plate and heats up at the same time itself. The heated liquid circuit can be placed in a tank connected to source of cold water. By heating the water in the tank, the liquid from the collector is cooled.And then it comes back. Thus, this energy system allows you to get a constant source of hot water, and in winter also hot radiators.

There are three types of collectors that differ in device

To date, there are 3 types of such devices:

• air;
• tubular;
• flat.

Air

The air collectors consist of dark colored plates.

Air collectors are black plates covered with glass or transparent plastic. Air circulates naturally or forcedly around these plates. Warm air is used to heat rooms in the house or to dry clothes.

The advantage is the extreme simplicity of design and low cost. The only drawback is the use of forced air circulation. But you can do without it.

Tubular

The advantage of such a collector is simplicity and reliability.

Tubular collectors look like several glass tubes lined up in a row, coated on the inside with a light-absorbing material. They are connected to a common collector and fluid circulates through them. Such collectors have 2 ways of transferring the received energy: direct and indirect. The first method is used in winter. The second is used all year round. There is a variation using vacuum tubes: one is inserted into the other and a vacuum is created between them.

This isolates them from the environment and better retains the resulting heat. The advantages are simplicity and reliability. The disadvantages include the high cost of installation.

flat

To make collectors work more efficiently, engineers have proposed the use of concentrators.

The flat-plate collector is the most common type.It was he who served as an example to explain the principle of operation of these devices. The advantage of this variety is simplicity and cheapness in comparison with others. The disadvantage is a significant loss of heat than other subtypes do not suffer.

To improve the already existing solar systems, engineers proposed to use a kind of mirrors called concentrators. They allow you to raise the water temperature from the standard 120 to 200 C°. This subspecies of collectors is called concentration. This is one of the most expensive options for execution, which is undoubtedly a disadvantage.

4th place. Tidal and wave power plants

Traditional hydroelectric power plants work according to the following principle:

1. The water pressure is supplied to the turbines.
2. The turbines start to spin.
3. The rotation is transmitted to generators that generate electricity.

The construction of a hydroelectric power station is more expensive than a thermal power station and is possible only in places with large reserves of water energy. But the main problem is the damage to ecosystems due to the need to build dams.

Tidal power plants work on a similar principle, but use the power of the tides to generate energy.

"Water" types of alternative energy include such an interesting direction as wave energy. Its essence boils down to the generation of electricity through the use of ocean wave energy, which is much higher than the tidal one. The most powerful wave power plant today is Pelamis P-750, which generates 2.25 MW of electrical energy.

Swinging on the waves, these huge convectors ("snakes") bend, as a result of which hydraulic pistons begin to move inside.They pump oil through hydraulic motors, which in turn turn electric generators. The resulting electricity is delivered to the shore through a cable that is laid along the bottom. In the future, the number of convectors will be multiplied and the station will be able to generate up to 21 MW.

History of the use of wind energy

It is impossible to say exactly when the use of wind energy for solving economic issues of a person began. Windmills have been known since ancient Egyptian times. In ancient China, windmills were used to pump water from rice fields. The use of a sail for navigation is known even earlier, from the time of ancient Babylon, and this is only written evidence.

Europe in those days was a collection of wild tribes. With the appearance of signs of civilization, windmills, sailing ships appeared here as well. But for a long period, the use of wind ended there. Too unstable, unpredictable source, it was impossible to count on it without having a fallback.

With the development of production, the first pumps for lifting water from wells appeared. At the same time, the use of windmills as a drive for them began. Such devices still function today, they are simple, reliable and undemanding in operation.

Wind generators began to appear with the advent of devices for converting rotational motion into electricity - generators. Wind turbines developed rapidly in the 20th century, although the war stopped many projects in Europe.

Today, the leaders in the use of wind farms are the United States and China. A large number of stations are available in Europe, they are concentrated on the west coast.Most of all in Denmark, which is quite understandable - there are no other sources in this country.

The high efficiency of HPPs, the absence of strong and stable winds in most areas have reduced interest in wind energy. In addition, the equipment that existed at that time did not have high productivity, did not make it possible to produce enough energy. The issue was resolved by using gasoline or diesel generators, more reliable and ready to produce the desired result at the right time.

Today, interest in wind energy has grown significantly. New, more efficient developments have appeared that can provide a sufficient number of consumers. In addition, there are strong neodymium magnets that allow you to independently manufacture generators with the ability to work at a slow rotational speed, which radically changed the situation and aroused great interest among designers.