Electricity - Power to the People
Liam G asked:
We are all aware of the importance of electricity and the elementary role it plays in our day to day lives. It is only when there is a power failure that we truly appreciate the effect it has on our lives.
It all starts with a source of energy, and within the UK 74% of this energy comes from fossil fuels, primarily coal, natural gas and oil. Other sources include nuclear power, which supplies 19% of the UK’s energy demand and the following 7% is supplied by other sources such as hydro-dams, wind farms, solar panels etc.
It’s important to note that electricity is a secondary source of energy, meaning it relies on a primary source of energy to be created. These primary sources are the ones listed above, and can further be broken down into renewable and non-renewable sources.
As highlighted a primary source of energy is required to generate electricity, this source of energy is used to superheat water in a boiler to create steam. The steam outputted from this boiler is of such a high pressure that it can be used to turn the blades of a turbine. The turbine works to turn the linear motion of the steam into circular motion. Connected to this is a generator which houses a large magnet surrounded by coiled copper wire, the motion of the blades in turn, rapidly spin the magnet which creates an electrical current in the copper coil.
From the generator the electricity heads to a transformer, where its voltage is stepped up considerably (typically 345,000 volts), which allows it to be transferred a very long distance without any loss.
The electricity is then placed on the national grid, where to begin with it is carried by huge transmission lines, capable of handling the high voltages. Throughout the grid there are numerous step-down transformers which serve to reduce the voltage to a more manageable 12,000 volts suitable for the distribution lines.
Before the electricity reaches your home it is stepped down once more to 240 volts. This takes place in the small transformers that you commonly see at the top of your neighbourhood power line pole.
Once in your home the electricity passes through a fuse box and meter which allows your utilities supplier to calculate your electricity bills. Considering the journey the electricity has to make from the power station to your home, electricity prices are pretty justifiable in that the whole process takes no more than a fraction of a second.
We are all aware of the importance of electricity and the elementary role it plays in our day to day lives. It is only when there is a power failure that we truly appreciate the effect it has on our lives.
It all starts with a source of energy, and within the UK 74% of this energy comes from fossil fuels, primarily coal, natural gas and oil. Other sources include nuclear power, which supplies 19% of the UK’s energy demand and the following 7% is supplied by other sources such as hydro-dams, wind farms, solar panels etc.
It’s important to note that electricity is a secondary source of energy, meaning it relies on a primary source of energy to be created. These primary sources are the ones listed above, and can further be broken down into renewable and non-renewable sources.
As highlighted a primary source of energy is required to generate electricity, this source of energy is used to superheat water in a boiler to create steam. The steam outputted from this boiler is of such a high pressure that it can be used to turn the blades of a turbine. The turbine works to turn the linear motion of the steam into circular motion. Connected to this is a generator which houses a large magnet surrounded by coiled copper wire, the motion of the blades in turn, rapidly spin the magnet which creates an electrical current in the copper coil.
From the generator the electricity heads to a transformer, where its voltage is stepped up considerably (typically 345,000 volts), which allows it to be transferred a very long distance without any loss.
The electricity is then placed on the national grid, where to begin with it is carried by huge transmission lines, capable of handling the high voltages. Throughout the grid there are numerous step-down transformers which serve to reduce the voltage to a more manageable 12,000 volts suitable for the distribution lines.
Before the electricity reaches your home it is stepped down once more to 240 volts. This takes place in the small transformers that you commonly see at the top of your neighbourhood power line pole.
Once in your home the electricity passes through a fuse box and meter which allows your utilities supplier to calculate your electricity bills. Considering the journey the electricity has to make from the power station to your home, electricity prices are pretty justifiable in that the whole process takes no more than a fraction of a second.
