Getting Started...
Definition of Electricity :
Electricity is a form of energy or flow of electrical power or charge resulting from the existence and movement of charged particles (such as electrons or protons). It can occur naturally (like lightning) or be generated for use in homes, industries, tractions and technologies etc. Electricity is one of the most widely used forms of energy and we use it as a secondary energy source because it's produced by converting primary sources of energy such as coal, natural gas, nuclear, solar, and wind energy into electrical energy. Primary energy sources are renewable or nonrenewable, but we use the electricity is neither renewable nor nonrenewable.
Usage of Electricity :
Nowadays in the era of technology without electricity, we cannot survive a single day. In modern life our day starts with so many electronic gadgets. From house hold appliances to high technology devices such as lighting, heating, cooling, cooking, home appliances, in industries, medical equipment's, transport, agriculture etc. Basically, without electricity, we'd be back to candles, hand fans or in the jungle life.
Sources of Electricity :
There are so many sources of electricity, they are mainly Renewable sources and Non-Renewable sources.
Renewable sources like Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Hydro-Energy, Geothermal, Bio-mas, etc.
Non-Renewable sources like Coal, Oil, Natural Gas, Nuclear etc.
Renewable Energy...
Solar Energy :
It mainly comes from sunlight. The amount of sunlight that strikes the earth's surface in an hour and a half is enough to fulfill the whole world's energy consumption for a year. When the sun shines onto a solar panel, energy from the sunlight is absorbed by the PV cells in the panel. This energy creates electrical charges that move in response to an internal electrical field in the cell, causing electricity to flow either through photovoltaic (PV) panels or through mirrors that concentrate solar radiation and used it to generate electricity or be stored in batteries or thermal storage.
Wind Energy :
Using the wind i.e. moving air to generate electricity. Wind turbines use the air to make electricity. Wind energy, which transforms the power of an inexhaustible resource such as wind into electricity. It constructed either on land or at high sea, with dozens of wind turbines. These giants have become part of the landscape in recent years. Wind blows and the Turbine blades spin. Rotor turns a shaft inside a generator Lastly the Generator converts motion into electricity.
Hydro-Energy :
Hydro energy means using the power of flowing or falling water to generate electricity. It is generated by converting kinetic energy into electrical energy. Water is stored in a dam or flows in a river. Water flows down from a height. Water hits turbines at the bottom and the Turbines spin connected to a generator. Finally the Generator produces electricity.
Non-Renewable Energy....
Coal Energy :
As we know that Coal is a fossil fuel and it is one of the oldest and most widely sources of power used in the world, basically the OG of the industrial revolution. Coal is crushed into powder and burned in a boiler furnace and it releases a huge amount of heat energy. Inside the boiler, the heat boils water in pipes around the boiler and the water turns into high-pressure steam. The steam is shot at turbine blades and the turbine spins very fast, converting steam’s energy into mechanical energy. The turbine shaft connects to a generator. Inside the generator, magnets spin inside coils of copper wire and electric current is produced which is called electromagnetic induction.
Oil Energy :
We get electricity from Oil by burning it like coal inside the furnace or boiler and it releases heat energy. And the rest process is like Coal Energy. The heat energy turns into high-pressure steam which tends to rotate the turbine shaft and the shaft connected to the alternator rotor shaft. Finally We get electricity from the Alternator, but it's too much expensive compared to coal or gas energy and its also limited quantity.
Also there are other sources of Non-Renewable energies, we discuss later about it.