DO NOW:

!
!

Explain how fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil)

are used to make electricity in a Power Plant.

!

Be specific:You may work with your team to get

the answer.

!

Bonus: draw a labeled diagram!

AGENDA:

1. View energy conservation
brochures and letters.

2. Notes on the Power Grid.

!

How a Thermal Power Plant Works

1. Fuel is fed into a boiler, where it is burned to release thermal energy.
2. Water is piped into the boiler and heated, turning it into steam.
3. The steam travels at high pressure through a steam line.
4. The high pressure steam turns a turbine, which spins a shaft.
5. Inside the generator, the shaft spins coils of copper wire inside a ring of magnets.
This creates an electric field, producing electricity.
6. Electricity is sent to a switchyard, where a transformer increases the voltage,
allowing it to travel through the electric grid.

Courtesy!of!Tennessee!Valley!Authority!!

Electricity Generation: Closer Picture of What Happens inside a Coal Power Plant

Coal Power Plant

Courtesy!of!Tennessee!Valley!Authority!!

How does electricity get from

the power plant to us?

!

Here is the PROCESS.

Sustainability Certification Course: Energy

Module 2.0: Fundamentals of Energy

Power Grid: The network of power plants,

transformers, transmission lines, and power lines
Diagram 1: Example
Power
Grid businesses.
that bring electricity
to Electric
homes
and

VOLTS (electrical pressure).

Most generators produce electricity at

25,000 volts.

!
!

Transformers at the power plant boosts the

voltage to between 175,000-750,000 volts.

(Higher voltage is more efficient)

!
!

High voltage transmission lines

carry electricity long distances

(up to 300 miles) to a

substation.

Substations are typically located in communities.

Here transformers change the very high voltage
electricity back into lower voltage electricity

(about 10,000 volts)

From the substation, power lines

distribute the electricity

throughout the community

(at about 7,200 volts).

From
the
substation,
power
lines


In your neighborhood, a
distribute the electricity

small transformer drum
throughout the community.

on a pole converts the

power to even lower
levels to be used in your
house: 220 volts.

!

The voltage is reduced to

220 Volts for larger
appliances, like stoves and
clothes dryers, and 110
volts for lights, TVs and
other smaller appliances.

From the substation, power lines

distribute the electricity

throughout the community.

A CIRCUIT BREAKER

is a safety device designed to
switch off power when there
is a problem with the
electrical line.

!
!

From the substation, power lines

distribute the electricity

throughout
the community.
The electricity
in your

house passes through a

METER, which tells the
utility company how much
electricity youve used.

!

Then it sends you a bill!

Thats the Power Grid

Diagram 1: Example Electric Power Grid

IF TIME:
Video on the Smart Grid

!
!
!

POWER IS DELIVERED:

Weve determined

!

POWER IS USED:

POWER (Watts) = ENERGY/ TIME (hrs)

!

I dont get this slide?