Alternative energy sources: 5 main types
Non-traditional energy sources include the energy of the sun, wind, and also that which is produced by human muscular efforts. Find out the details below.
Practical alternative energy: types
Alternative energy sources are a variety of promising ways to obtain, as well as transmit the resulting electricity. At the same time, such energy sources are renewable and bring minimal harm to the environment. These energy sources include solar panels and solar stations.
They, in turn, are divided into 3 types of energy production using:
- photocells;
- solar panels;
- Combined options.
It is popular to use systems of mirrors that are up to high temperatures, resulting in steam, which, passing through a system of pipes, turns a turbine. Windmills and wind farms generate electricity using wind energy, which turns special blades connected to generators.
The use of wave energy, as well as ebbs and flows, is popular.
As experiments have shown, such power plants are capable of generating about 15 kW, which is much more powerful than solar and wind power plants.
From geothermal sources, hot water is widely used to generate electricity. It is interesting to use kinetic energy in some rooms, for example, in gyms, where the moving parts of the simulators are connected by means of rods to generators, which, as a result of people's movement, generate electricity.
Non-traditional energy sources: methods of obtaining
Non-traditional sources of energy supply are primarily the generation of electricity using wind, sunlight, tidal wave energy, and also using geothermal waters. But, besides this, there are other ways using biomass and other methods.
Namely:
- Getting electricity from biomass. This technology involves the production of waste biogas, which consists of methane and carbon dioxide. Some experimental installations (Michael's Humireactor) process manure and straw, which makes it possible to obtain 10–12 m 3 of methane from tons of material.
- Getting electricity thermally. Converting thermal energy into electricity by heating some interconnected semiconductors consisting of thermoelements and cooling others. As a result of the temperature difference, an electric current is produced.
- Hydrogen cell. This is a device that from ordinary water by electrolysis allows you to get a fairly large amount of hydrogen-oxygen mixture. At the same time, the cost of obtaining hydrogen is minimal. But such power generation is still only in the experimental stage.
Another type of electricity generation is a special device called a Stirling engine. Inside a special cylinder with a piston is a gas or liquid. With external heating, the volume of liquid or gas increases, the piston moves and makes the generator work in turn. Further, the gas or liquid, passing through the pipe system, cools and moves the piston back. This is a rather rough description, but it makes it clear how this engine works.
Alternative energy options
In the modern world, due to some limitation of natural resources of heat and electricity, some people use alternative energy sources. One of the main areas of alternative energy is the search and use of non-traditional types and sources.
Sources with which you can get electricity:
- Are renewable;
- Can successfully replace traditional ones;
- We are constantly improving, developing and researching.
Equipping high-power piezoelectric elements of turnstiles in the subway and at railway stations makes it possible, when stepping on special plates, to generate electricity from the pressure of human weight. Such operating installations have been installed as an experiment in some cities in China and Japan.
Green energy is the production of biogas, which can later be used to heat seaweed houses. It has been established that up to 150,000 m 3 of gas can be obtained from 1 ha of water surface occupied by green algae. Using the energy of dormant volcanoes, water is pumped into the volcano, under the influence of heat and high temperatures, it turns into steam, which enters the turbine through special pipes and turns it. Currently, there are only 2 such experimental installations in the world. The use of waste water with the help of special cells, which contain special bacteria that oxidize organic matter, leads to the fact that during chemical processes, electrons are generated and, as a result, electricity.
Energy sources at home: options
In connection with the increase in energy tariffs, many people are beginning to think not only about saving energy, but also about additional sources of energy. Some people prefer to make their own DIY, and some prefer any ready-made solutions, which may include certain options.
Namely:
- Installation of solar panels on glass, which have high transparency, so that they can be placed even in multi-storey buildings. But at the same time, their efficiency even in sunny clear weather does not exceed 10%.
- To illuminate some areas of the room, LEDs and LED lamps on small batteries connected to a solar panel are used. It is enough to charge during the day, thus, the battery in order to get lighting in the evening.
- Installation of traditional solar panels that allow you to charge batteries and from them, through an inverter, partially power household appliances and lamps. It is also possible to generate hot water during the warm season by installing a vacuum pump and a heat collector on the roof.
Residents living in urban areas, unfortunately, have a limited choice of additional energy sources, unlike those who live in country houses. In a private house, there are much more opportunities to make an autonomous power supply. And also to make autonomous independent heating systems for a country house or in the country.
Heating for a private house: alternative energy sources
Among the most common ways to generate electricity is the driving force of the wind. It is enough to put a high mast with moving blades connected to a generator near the country house in order to receive electric current and charge the batteries.
To get heat, you can use, when using them, you can take heat from almost anywhere:
- Air;
- Water;
- Earth.
The principle of their operation, as in a refrigerator, only when air or water is pumped through the pump, heat is obtained. Homemade designs are in no way inferior to industrial ones. At home, you can make such structures yourself, just find the drawings and make a windmill to get cheap electricity literally out of thin air. There are other types and opportunities to get electricity and.
It is effective to use an ordinary generator, especially in the northern regions of Russia, since, with a lack of sunlight, the panels are simply useless.
The same applies to thermal convectors, which are designed to heat water. It is somewhat easier to use a biofuel boiler to produce heat; pressed sawdust, granules, including straw and peat, are used as the material for the furnace. But such biofuel boilers are somewhat more expensive than gas-fired ones.
Do-it-yourself current and heat: alternative energy for the home
Free electricity for an apartment or a private house has always been of interest to people, since in recent years the tariffs for heating and electricity have only been growing. And to save money, many people are trying to find options for getting heat and energy for free. To do this, they make different systems, including trying to invent an eternal source, and come up with unusual and new ways to generate current and heat.
Relative free energy (assembling solar panels with your own hands):
- You can buy parts in China;
- Collect everything yourself;
- As a rule, an assembly diagram is attached to each kit.
- All this allows you to independently assemble a panel and a power circuit, in particular an apartment or a private house.
Fuel-free free energy is obtained from electromagnetic waves - any fluctuations can be converted into electricity. True, the efficiency of such circuits is very small, but, nevertheless, with the help of specially made devices, you can charge phones and other small household appliances.
True charging will take quite a long time.
To generate heat, some craftsmen use methane, which in turn is obtained from animal manure and other waste. A properly made system is a good option for generating thermal energy and heating the house, as well as for cooking.
Sun and wind as alternative forms of energy
An alternative to obtaining both heat and electricity is relevant for many people Small solar energy is the use of silicon-based solar panels, the amount of energy received depends on the number of batteries, the latitude of the location of the house or other premises.
The technology of obtaining energy using generators is interesting, it is enough to connect a charge controller to the generator and connect the entire circuit with batteries, so you can get enough energy.
The use of special thermoelectric converters of heat energy into electricity, in other words, the use of a thermocouple made of semiconductors, is topical. One part of the pair is heated, the other is cooled, as a result of which free electricity appears, which can be used in everyday life. It can be used as a power generator for children, it is enough to connect a swing with a dynamo in the playground in order to receive a small percentage of electricity that can be used to light the playground.
Attention, only TODAY!