Natural sources of Energy.

 Natural sources of Energy:-  There are some following natural sources of energy of which may be converted into electrical energy.   

1. Water        2.Fuels       3. Nuclear Energy      4. sun

5. Wind         6. Biomass.

1. Water:-  The potential energy of water collected at higher level or the kinetic energy of water flowing at high velocity can be used to run the turbines.These turbines or prime-mover are known as hydraulic turbines. Generators are coupled to these prime -movers which convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.In this case capital cost is very high but running cost is very low as no fuel is used.The largest hydro-electric power station is built in south America on the river Parana. It has 18 turbines generating 12600 million watts (12600 MW). In India one of the major hydro -electric power project is Bhakra Nangal project. The dam is erected across the river Sutlej and a lake called Gobind sager is crected behind it. Bhakra power plant has two power houses.overall capacity is 1200MW.

2.Fuel:- The most common source of energy is fuel.In nature ,fuel is available in solid,liquid or gaseous.

(a) solid fuel :-The main solid fuel is coal,which is available in nature in a very huge quantity.By the combustion of coal in the boiler heat energy is produced which is utilized to produce steam.The steam is utilized to run the the steam turbines to which generator are coupled.The electrical energy is generted.

(b) Liquied fuel:- From petroleum bulk of oil fuels ranging from petrol to heavy oil are obtained from the refineries. The main liquid fuel is diesel.In this case,diesel oil is injected into the piston cylinder of a diesel engine,where combustion of oil takes place which developes mechanical energy.

(c) Gaseous fuels:- Natural gas, when available in abundance at site,is used to run the gas turbines or it is burnt to produced steam which is used to run the turbines.A generator is coupled to the turbines to generate electrical energy.

3. Nuclear Energy:- The heavy substance whose nucleus whose can be broken into fragment is called nuclear fuel. The only substance found in nature which fissions and is capable of propagating nuclear chain  reaction is uranium .By fission of nuclear ,binding energy is released in the form of heat energy.which is utilized for conversion of water into steam.steam is utilized to drive steam turbines.A generator is coupled to the turbines to generate electrical energy.

4. Sun:-  This is primary sources of energy . Sun radiates energy in the form of electro-magnetic waves, which includes heat ,light, and lot of ultra violet radiation. The solar plant converted sun light into  the electrical energy. 

5.Wind:-  wind pressure is developed due to heating and cooling of the atmosphere which generates convection currents. This wind pressure is utilised in wind mills to drive small generators. The energy generated by the generated is used to charge the bank of batteries for continuous use.power generation in this case is limited and depend upon the velocity of wind.

6. Biomass:-  Biomass contain chemical energy .It can be burnt to give energy. you might have seen people in village burning cowdung cakes as fuel. This is a crude method of using biomass. A better method is to convert biomass into a gas called biomass. Biogas is prepered in the biogas plant.In this case biomass is mixed with water and a slury is made.By the action of bacteria on the biomass ,biogas is produced which is stored in the tank.