Question

Explain how geothermal energy is used in generating electricity.

Answer 1

Geothermal energy: The naturally occurring thermal energy found within rock formations of the earth and the fluids hold within those formations is known as geothermal energy.
The places under the surface of the earth, where the hot magma collects at fairly less depths, are called hot spots of the earth. The hot spots are the source of the geothermal energy which is used to generate electricity as follows:

1. In some geological regions of the earth, the underground water comes in contact with hot spots and changes into steam. The steam so formed gets trapped between the underground rocks and gets compressed to very high pressure. This steam is extracted from the ground by sinking pipes from the surface of the earth. The steam coming up at high pressure is used in running turbines connected to the generator. This in turn produces electric energy.
   
2. In some place, the steam formed under the surface of the earth does not get trapped. Instead it forces its way up through the cracks in the rocks along with hot water and rushes out from the surface of the earth to form natural geysers. The heat energy brought up by the natural geysers is used to generate electricity as stated above.
3. In some geological regions of the earth, there may be hot spots, but the underground water does not come in contact with them. In such regions, two holes are made in the Earth’s crust. Through one hole is pumped in cold water. The cold water on coming in contact with hot spot changes to super heated steam, which emerges out from the other hole. The steam is then made to run a turbine coupled with generator to produce electricity.