The Generation of Electricity

Electricity generation is the process of generating electric power from other sources
of primary energy. The fundamental principles of electricity generation were discovered
during the 1820s and early 1830s by the British scientist Michael Faraday. Before we further
explore about generation of electricity. We need to look around our house. Pretty much that
we own and use operates on electricity. And by the time, electricity is cant escape from our
daily life. So, in this state, do you know what is electricity itself?
Electricity
Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and flow
of electric charge. Electricity gives a wide variety of well-known effects, such
as lightning, static electricity, electromagnetic induction and electrical current. In addition,
electricity permits the creation and reception of electromagnetic radiation such as radio
waves.
In electricity, charges produce electromagnetic fields which act on other charges.
Electricity occurs due to several types of physics:

electric

charge:

property

of

some subatomic

particles,

which

determines

their electromagnetic interactions. Electrically charged matter is influenced by, and

produces, electromagnetic fields.

electric field (see electrostatics): an especially simple type of electromagnetic field

produced by an electric charge even when it is not moving (i.e., there is no electric
current). The electric field produces a force on other charges in its vicinity.

electric potential: the capacity of an electric field to do work on an electric charge,

typically measured in volts.

electric current: a movement or flow of electrically charged particles, typically measured

in amperes.

electromagnets: Moving charges produce a magnetic field. Electrical currents generate

magnetic fields, and changing magnetic fields generate electrical currents.

Electricity in Nature
There is electricity in nature as well as electricity that is human-made. We see
electricity in nature as lightning, and as the way some things attract each other and stick
together. Not only lightning, theres plenty of electricity in nature that we can find around us
and discover how it works, including lightning. this is the electricity in nature kinds:

Lightning
Lightning and thunder happen simultaneously, but lightning travels near the speed
of light while thunder moves at the speed of sound, approximately 866,000 times slower
than the speed of light, which explains the delay between the two phenomena.
The discharge of a lightning bolt can reach 30 million voltsthe equivalent of 2.5
million car batteries!
Every second between the time a lightning bolt strikes the ground and the time we
hear the thunder corresponds to 300 metres. So, if we count 3 seconds, the lightning
struck 900 metres away.
Electric fish
There are actually fish speciescertain types of rays, eels and catfishwhich have
special organs that emit electrical discharges.
They use these discharges to paralyze prey, defend themselves or locate objects.
Electric eels (Electrophorus electricus), which live in South American rivers,
produce enough electricity to power a dozen 40-watt lightbulbs.
Solar storms
The sun's activity intensifies every 11 years, creating storms on the surface of our
star which, in turn, disrupt the Earth's magnetic field. These magnetic storms have the
potential to cause serious problems for power transmission systems.

 The Sun's temper tantrums

Solar cycles are a relatively unknown and complex phenomenon. However,
scientists have observed that the number of sunspots appearing on the sun's surface
reaches its maximum every 11 years. These dark spots have been under observation for
nearly 400 years, since the invention of the telescope, and are the source of solar flares in
which huge amounts of energy are suddenly released. The strongest are as powerful as
40 billion atomic bombs! This energy heats the surrounding gases, ejecting huge bubbles
of ultrahot matter from the Sun. These masses of protons and electrons, known as plasma
plumes, can eventually hit the Earth.
Earth
The flow of gas and particles released by the Sun travels at an incredible speed of
300 to 1,200 km/s! Even at that, it will take a few days for this solar wind to travel the
150 million kilometres separating the Sun and the Earth. We already know that photons
reach the Earth in eight minutes. Charged particles move more slowly and take two to
five days to reach us. Luckily, the magnetic field diverts most of them. Those that do
penetrate into the atmosphere generate powerful electric currents that move and vary in
intensity. These electric currents can travel at an altitude of about one hundred kilometres
(the ionosphere) for a few minutes, a few hours and even a few days. The result is the
beautiful phenomenon we know as the Northern lights or Aurora Borealis in the
Northern hemisphere and the Southern lights or Aurora Australis in the Southern
hemisphere.
Static Electricity
As we described before, that electricity gives a wide variety of well-known effects
including static electricity. But, do you even wonder what is static electricity exactly?
Static electricity is an imbalance of electric charges within or on the surface of a
material. The charge remains until it is able to move away by means of an electric
current or electrical discharge. Static electricity is named in contrast with current electricity,
which flows through wires or other conductors and transmits energy.[1]
A static electric charge is created whenever two surfaces contact and separate, and at
least one of the surfaces has a high resistance to electrical current (and is therefore

an electrical insulator). The effects of static electricity are familiar to most people because
people can feel, hear, and even see the spark as the excess charge is neutralized when brought
close to a large electrical conductor (for example, a path to ground), or a region with an
excess charge of the opposite polarity (positive or negative). The familiar phenomenon of a
static shockmore specifically, an electrostatic dischargeis caused by the neutralization of
charge.
what is Causes of static electricity? Materials are made of atoms that are normally
electrically neutral because they contain equal numbers of positive charges (protons in
theirnuclei) and negative charges (electrons in "shells" surrounding the nucleus). The
phenomenon of static electricity requires a separation of positive and negative charges. When
two materials are in contact, electrons may move from one material to the other, which leaves
an excess of positive charge on one material, and an equal negative charge on the other.
When the materials are separated they retain this charge imbalance.
Lightning is a dramatic natural example of static discharge. While the details are
unclear and remain a subject of debate, the initial charge separation is thought to be
associated with contact between ice particles within storm clouds. In general, significant
charge accumulations can only persist in regions of low electrical conductivity (very few
charges free to move in the surroundings), hence the flow of neutralizing charges often
results from neutral atoms and molecules in the air being torn apart to form separate positive
and negative charges, which travel in opposite directions as an electric current, neutralizing
the original accumulation of charge. The static charge in air typically breaks down in this way
at around 10,000 volts per centimeter (10 kV/cm) depending on humidity.[8] The discharge
superheats the surrounding air causing the bright flash, and produces a shock wave causing
the clicking sound. The lightning bolt is simply a scaled up version of the sparks seen in more
domestic occurrences of static discharge. The flash occurs because the air in the discharge
channel is heated to such a high temperature that it emits light by incandescence. The clap
of thunder is the result of the shock wave created as the superheated air expands explosively.
AC and DC
before we find out what is electricity, now we will explore the way electricity work.
We cant operate electricity thing if there arent flowed by electricity current. And for
electricity current itself have to type the ways it flow; either in an alternating current
(AC) or in adirect current (DC). Electricity or "current" is nothing but the movement of

electrons through a conductor, like a wire. The difference between AC and DC lies in the
direction in which the electrons flow. In DC, the electrons flow steadily in a single
direction, or "forward." In AC, electrons keep switching directions, sometimes going
"forward" and then going "backward." Alternating current is the best way to transmit
electricity over large distances.
We will serve you the differences between AC and DC in table below :
Alternating Current

Direct Current

Amount of

Safe to transfer over longer city

Voltage of DC cannot

energy that

distances and can provide more

travel very far until it

can be carried

power.

begins to lose energy.

Cause of the

Rotating magnet along the wire.

Steady magnetism along

the wire.

direction of flow
of electrons
Frequency

The frequency of alternating

The frequency of direct

current is 50Hz or 60Hz

current is zero.

depending upon the country.

Direction

It reverses its direction while

It flows in one direction in

flowing in a circuit.

the circuit.

It is the current of magnitude

It is the current of

varying with time

constant magnitude.

Flow of

Electrons keep switching

Electrons move steadily in

Electrons

directions - forward and backward.

one direction or 'forward'.

Obtained from

A.C Generator and mains.

Cell or Battery.

Passive

Impedance.

Resistance only

Power Factor

Lies between 0 & 1.

it is always 1.

Types

Sinusoidal, Trapezoidal,

Pure and pulsating.

Current

Parameters

Triangular, Square.

And for the advantages and disadvantages of AC and DC, this will serve in table too :

AC

DC
ADVANTAGES

It loses far less power over long electrical Can be made in the form of tiny hence
lines

electricity is extremely easy in take it and

more practical

It is the most used system as a result

The system that is more simple

Given that its the standard system used in Not easy to a short circuit
electrical mains power
Power

lines

can

be

thinner

to

than The electrical circuit is simpler

comparable DC lines
DISADVANTAGES
AC power can run at various frequencies

Limited electricity supply, therefore need to

make rechargeable/ cass

A shortage of ac can not be brought, this is Unstable and easily down if transferred over
because the flow of ac could not be placed at long distances.
a forum such as batteries and other.

Wet and Dry Cell

Electricity can also be generated from the battery element. It has two type of battery
that consist of wet and dry cells. The difference between wet cell and dry cell batteries is the
makeup of the electrolyte. The electrolyte is the material that conducts electricity in the
battery. Wet cells have liquid electrolytes, while dry cells have solid electrolytes, usually in
the form of a paste or powder. Wet cells were invented before dry cells, and theyre still used
in some applications today. Car batteries are a type of wet cell battery. Dry cell batteries are
more common. The batteries that run your TV remote control, for example, are dry cell
batteries.

Dry Cell Characteristics

The more visible of the two battery types, the dry cell battery, was first made from
zinc and carbon and was invented by Carl Gassner in 1887. All dry cell batteries have a
metal electrode or graphite rod encompassed by an electrolyte paste, all within in a metal
container. In an acidic dry cell, the electricity-generating reduction reaction typically
takes place in a paste comprised of ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) and manganese dioxide
(MnO2). In a longer-lasting alkaline dry fcell, potassium hydroxide (KOH) or sodium
hydirxide (NaOH) reacts with manganese dioxide. Other batteries might use silver oxide
(Ag2O), mercury Oxide (HgO) or nickel/cadmium. Dry cells can be either primary or
secondary cells.

Wet Cell Characteristic

A well cell battery generates power from an electrode and a liquid electrolyte
solution. Early wet batteries consisted of solution-filled glass jars and with an electrode
dropped into each one. About the size of the average toaster, modern wet cells are used
in the ignition system of most cars and are comprised of lead and a solution of sulfuric
acid. A sheet of insulation is typically used to separate the anode from the cathode. Wet
cells can be either primary or secondary cells.

Dry Cell Advantages

Unlike wet cell batteries, dry cells can be operated in any position. Also, since dry
cells are more durable, they are typically used for cell phones, flashlights and other
similar handheld devices. Dry cells are typically used as primary cells, and these
batteries are often used for long periods of storage because they have have a lower
discharge rate than secondary batteries. Lithium ion batteries represent a type of dry cell
battery that is particularly suited to use in cell phones, due to its high energy density, or
its power stored versus weight. This means a small compact, durable battery can deliver
a large amount of power.

Wet Cell Advantages

Wet cell batteries are typically used as secondary batteries and therefore can be
recharged by another power source. This makes them ideal of use in motor vehicles. For
the amount of power that they supply, and as long as they last, wet cell batteries are
considered fairly affordable. If properly maintained, wet cell batteries also have a high

number of charge-discharge cycles. They are also less likely than other batteries to be
damaged by overcharging.

The Generation of Electricity

A power plant or a power generating station, is basically an industrial location that is
utilized for the generation and distribution of electric power in mass scale, usually in the
order of several 1000 Watts. These are generally located at the sub-urban regions or several
kilometers away from the cities or the load centers, because of its requisites like huge land
and water demand, along with several operating constraints like the waste disposal etc. For
this reason, a power generating station has to not only take care of efficient generation but
also the fact that the power is transmitted efficiently over the entire distance. And thats why,
the transformer switch yard to regulate transmission voltage also becomes an integral part of
the power plant.A power plant can be of several types depending mainly on the type of fuel
used. Since for the purpose of bulk power generation, only thermal, nuclear and hydro power
comes handy, therefore a power generating station can be broadly classified in the 3 above
mentioned types. Let us have a look in thesetypes of power stations in details.
A. Thermal Power Station
A thermal power station or a coal fired thermal power plant is by far, the most
conventional method of generating electric power with reasonably high efficiency. It
uses coal as the primary fuel to boil the water available to superheated steam for driving
the steam turbine. The steam turbine is then mechanically coupled to an alternator rotor,
the rotation of which results in the generation of electric power. Generally in India,
bituminous coal or brown coal are used as fuel of boiler which has volatile content
ranging from 8 to 33 % and ash content 5 to 16 %. To enhance the thermal efficiency of
the plant, the coal is used in the boiler in its pulverized form.In coal fired thermal power
plant, steam is obtained in very high pressure inside the steam boiler by burning the
pulverized coal. This steam is then super heated in the super heater to extreme high
temperature. This super heated steam is then allowed to enter into the turbine, as the
turbine blades are rotated by the pressure of the steam. The turbine is mechanically
coupled with alternator in a way that its rotor will rotate with the rotation of turbine
blades. After entering into the turbine, the steam pressure suddenly falls leading to
corresponding increase in the steam volume. After having imparted energy into the

turbine rotors, the steam is made to pass out of the turbine blades into the steam
condenser of turbine. In the condenser, cold water at ambient temperature is circulated
with the help of pump which leads to the condensation of the low pressure wet steam.
Then this condensed water is further supplied to low pressure water heater where the low
pressure steam increases the temperature of this feed water, it is again heated in high
pressure. This outlines the basic working methodology of a thermal power plant.
B. Nuclear Power Station
The nuclear power generating stations are similar to the thermal stations in more
ways than one. How ever, the exception here is that, radioactive elements like Uranium
and thorium are used as the primary fuel in place of coal. Also in a Nuclear station the
furnace and the boiler are replaced by the nuclear reactor and the heat exchanger
tubes.For the process of nuclear power generation, the radioactive fuels are made to
undergo fission reaction within the nuclear reactors. The fission reaction, propagates like
a controlled chain reaction and is accompanied by unprecedented amount of energy
produced, which is manifested in the form of heat. This heat is then transferred to the
water present in the heat exchanger tubes. As a result, super heated steam at very high
temperature is produced.Once the process of steam formation is accomplished, the
remaining process is exactly similar to a thermal power plant, as this steam will further
drive the turbine blades to generate electricity.
C. Hydro-Electric Power Station
In Hydro-electric plants the energy of the falling water is utilized to drive the
turbine which in turn runs the generator to produce electricity. Rain falling upon the
earths surface has potential energy relative to the oceans towards which it flows. This
energy is converted to shaft work where the water falls through an appreciable vertical
distance.