How Power is Generated
The process of generating power is a complex one and includes many steps that contain the application of chemical, heat, mechanic, and most importantly magnetic energy. Generating electricity from chemical energy, which is called fossil fuel, is the main idea in this process. At the beginning of the process, the fuel is pumped and burned inside the generator and caused mechanical energy. This step happens inside cylinders in the generator. After that, the mechanical energy is moved by a spindle, which is located inside coils surrounded be magnetic poles. When the spindle rotates inside the coils, low voltage power is generated by the magnetic poles at an average of between 50 and 60 volts. The generated low power is then transferred from the magnetic poles to the contact coils, which are connected to two cables. The Low voltage power cannot be used or transferred until it becomes high voltage. For this reason, the two wires are connected to a step-up transformer. The step-up transformer’s job is to convert low voltage power to high voltage power, which is between 50,000 and 60,000 volts. A lot of the power that has been produced from the generator will be lost in the form of heat while transporting it over a long distance. Therefore, the step-up transformer and the generator are located near each other in one place called power plant. After raising the value of voltages, it is transported by overhead transmission line to another power plant near the city. Next, the power is placed into the step-down transformer to reduce the voltage from high voltage to a medium voltage, which is what consumers need. The voltage suitable for use is between 110 and 220 volts. Finally, after the medium voltage is produced, it is distributed by an electrical network to feed the entire city.
Reference:
- Woodford 2015 ‘Power plants’, Explainthatstuff, viewed 15 Oct 2015, <http://www.explainthatstuff.com/powerplants.html>.
- Electropaedia logo 2014 ‘Electricity Generation from Fossil Fuels’, Electropaedia logo, viewed 15 Oct 2015, < http://www.mpoweruk.com/fossil_fuels.htm>.