Chapter One

Introduction

◘ Importance of Electrical Energy

◘ Generation of Electrical Energy
◘ Sources of Electrical Energy
◘ Comparison of Sources of Energy

By:Yimam Alemu (MSc)

1.1 Importance of Electrical Energy
Convenient form
Easy control
Greater flexibility
Cheapness
Cleanliness
High transmission efficiency

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 Cont.…
In comparison with other final energies, electrical energy is superior to all
other forms of energy due to the following reasons.
 (i) Convenient form: It can be easily converted into other forms of
energy. Example
◘ Electrical energy can be converted into light (e.g. Electric bulb)
◘ Electrical energy can be converted into heat (e.g. Heater)
◘ Mechanical energy (e.g. Electric motors) etc.
 (ii) Easy control: The electrically operated machines have simple and convenient
starting, control and operation. For instance, an electric motor can be started or stopped
by turning on or off a switch. Similarly, with simple arrangements, the speed of electric
motors can be easily varied.
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 Cont.…
 (iii) Greater flexibility: It can be easily transported from one place to
another with the help of conductors.
 (iv) Cheapness: Electrical energy is much cheaper than other forms of
energy. Thus it is overall economical to use this form of energy for
domestic, commercial and industrial purposes.
 (v) Cleanliness: Electrical energy is not associated with smoke, fumes or
poisonous gases.
 (vi) High transmission efficiency: The consumers of electrical energy
are generally situated quite away from the centres of its production.
 The electrical energy can be transmitted conveniently and efficiently from the centres of
generation to the consumers with
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ECEG-3154 help Note of overhead conductors known as4
transmission lines.
 Cont.…
 Electrical energy has also disadvantages.
◘ The most important disadvantage is probably the danger of high
voltages and currents for human beings.
◘ Another one is that it is difficult to store electrical energy in an efficient
way. Therefore, the production of electric power needs to be controlled
at each instant to match the consumption.
 Nevertheless, electrical energy nowadays is one of the most important
energy forms and constitutes the basis of the modern society.

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1.2 Generation of Electrical Energy
 The conversion of energy available in different forms into electrical energy
is known as generation of electrical energy.
 Energy is available in various forms such as pressure head of water,
chemical energy of fuels, nuclear energy of radioactive substances etc.
 All these forms of energy can be converted into electrical energy by the use
of suitable arrangements.

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 Cont.…
 An alternator coupled to a prime mover and the prime movers driven by
the energy obtained from various sources
 For example, chemical energy of a fuel (e.g., coal) can be used to produce
steam at high temperature and pressure.
 The steam is fed to a prime mover which may be a steam engine or a steam
turbine.
 The turbine converts heat energy of steam into mechanical energy which is
further converted into electrical energy by the alternator.

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1.3 Source of Electric Energy
 The various energy sources are classified into two main groups.
a) Non-conventional or renewable energy sources.
b) Conventional or non-renewable energy sources.
a) Non-Conventional or Renewable Energy Sources
 These energy sources are available abundantly in nature and can be reused
again.
 The various non-conventional energy sources are as follows.
i) Solar energy ii) Wind energy iii) Hydraulic energy
iv) Tidal energy v) Wave energy vi) Geothermal energy
vii) Ocean thermal energy
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Advantage of Non-conventional energy sources
 The leading advantage of non-conventional energy sources are
◘ They are abundantly available in nature.
◘ They do not pollute the atmosphere.
◘ They are available in large quantities.
◘ They are well suited for decentralized use.
◘ The plants using these sources have very less (theoretically no)
maintenance cost.

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Disadvantages of Non-conventional energy sources
 The Disadvantage of non-conventional energy sources are
◘ They are available at very low intensities are
◘ These sources are available in nature during particular periods which is
uncertain.
◘ Less efficiency of the power plants.
◘ High initial cost.

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b) Conventional or Non-renewable Energy Sources
 These are the energy sources which once used cannot be recovered any
more.
 They are depleting in nature.
 The various non-renewable energy sources are
i) Thermal energy from Coal coke, Petroleum products like petrol, Diesel,
Kerosene etc. and Natural gas.
ii) Nuclear Energy.

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Advantages of Conventional Energy Sources
 Following are the advantages of conventional energy sources.
◘ Their efficiency is more.
◘ Their initial cost is comparatively less.
◘ Their intensities are high.
Disadvantages of Conventional Energy Sources
 The disadvantages of Conventional energy sources are
◘ Their running and maintenance cost is high.
◘ They are depleting in nature.
◘ They cause pollution to atmosphere by different means.
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Sun
 The Sun is the primary source of energy.
 The heat energy radiated by the Sun can be focused over a small area by means of
reflectors.
 This heat can be used to raise steam and electrical energy can be produced.
 However, this method has limited application because :
◘ it requires a large area for the generation of a small amount power
◘ it cannot be used in cloudy days or at night
◘ it is an uneconomical method.
 Nevertheless, there are some locations in the world where strong solar radiation is
received very regularly and the sources of mineral fuel are scanty or lacking. Such
locations offer more interest to the solar plant builders.
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Wind
 This method can be used where wind flows for a considerable length of time.
 The wind energy is used to run the wind mill which drives a small generator.
 To obtain electrical energy from a wind mill continuously, the generator is arranged to
charge the batteries.
 These batteries supply the energy when the wind stops.
 This method has the advantages that maintenance and generation costs are negligible.
 However, the drawbacks of this method are
◘ variable output,
◘ unreliable because of uncertainty about wind pressure and
◘ power generated is quite small.

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Water
 When water is stored , it possesses potential energy because of the head created.
 This energy converted into mechanical energy with the help of water turbines.
 The turbine drives the alternator which converts mechanical energy into electrical
energy.
 This method of generation has become very popular because it has low production and
maintenance costs.
Fuels
 The main sources of energy are fuels viz., solid fuel as coal, liquid fuel as oil and gas
fuel as natural gas.
 The heat energy of fuels is converted into mechanical energy by steam engines, steam
turbines, internal combustion engines etc.
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 The prime mover drives the alternator which converts mechanical into electrical energy.
Nuclear energy
 Large amount of heat energy can be liberated by the fission of uranium
and other fissionable materials.
 It is estimated that heat produced by 1 kg of nuclear fuel is equal to that
produced by 4500 tones of coal.
 The heat produced due to nuclear fission can be utilised to raise steam with
suitable arrangements.
 However, there are some difficulties in the use of nuclear energy.
◘ high cost of nuclear plant
◘ problem of disposal of radioactive waste and dearth of trained
personnel to handle the plant.
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 Cont.…

Energy utilization
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 1.4 Comparison of Sources of Energy

S.No Particular Water Power Fuels Nuclear Energy

1 Initial cost High Low Highest

2 Running cost Less High Least

3 Reserves Permanent Exhaustible Inexhaustible

4 Cleanliness Cleanest Dirtiest Clean

5 Simplicity Simplest Complex Most complex

6 Reliability Most reliable Less reliable More reliable

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