Why is Electrical Energy Important?

It is believed that electricity is present in nature. Based on experimentation and observations, theories have been evolved to explain the behavior of electricity. Electrical energy has been accepted as a form of energy that is most suited for transformation into other forms of energy, such as heat, light, mechanical energy etc …

Conversion of electrical energy into pulses and electromagnetic waves has given rise to computers and communication systems. Its conversion into microwaves finds use in microwave ovens, industrial processes, and radars. Electricity in the arc form serves in arc furnaces and welding. Efficient lighting, lasers, visuals, sound, robots, medical tools are among many other examples of the use of electricity.

What is Electrical Engineering?

Electrical engineering deals with the generation, transmission, utilization, and control of electric energy. Electrical energy is generated at electric power generating stations such as hydroelectric, thermal, and nuclear power stations etc …

In a hydroelectric power station, the potential energy of the head of water stored in dams is converted into kinetic energy by regulating the flow of the stored water through turbines. This kinetic energy, in turn, gets transformed into electric energy by the process of electro-mechanical energy conversion. In a thermal station, the chemical energy of coal, oil, natural gas, and synthetic derivatives is converted by combustion into heat energy. Heat energy is also produced by nuclear fission of nuclear fuels in a nuclear reactor. It is then converted into mechanical energy, which is in turn is transformed by electro-mechanical energy conversion to electric energy, through thermodynamic processes.

What are non-conventional (renewable) Electrical Energy Sources?

Yes, Electrical Energy could be produced through renewable sources too. Conversion of limitless energy from the sun into usable electric energy through photovoltaic energy conversion is achieved by using solar cells. Commercially, electricity is also being generated from renewable energy sources such as wind, biomass, geothermal, tidal, and wave sources.

Wind energy is converted into electrical form through a wind turbine coupled to an electrical generator. Geothermal power generation converts energy contained in hot rocks into electricity by using water to absorb heat from rocks and transport it to the earth’s surface, where it is converted into electric energy through turbine generators. The majority of biomass electricity is generated using a steam cycle where biomass material is first converted into steam in a boiler; the resultant steam is then used to turn a turbine connected to a generator. Tide is a periodic rise and fall of the water level of sea which are carried by the action of the sun and moon on the water of the earth. The large scale up and down movement of sea water represents an unlimited source of energy, if this differential head could be utilized in operating a hydraulic turbine, the tidal energy could be converted into electrical energy by means of electro-mechanical energy conversion.

Electrical Transmission

Electricity permits the source of generation to be remote from the point of application. Electric energy transmission systems are varied, such as power transmission systems and electronic communication systems. Electric energy for conversion into light energy, heat energy, and mechanical energy for use in industries, commercial establishments, and households would require bulk transmission of electric power from the source, which produces energy, to the load centre, where the electric energy is utilized. Electrical power transmission systems consist of chains of transmission towers on the earth’s surface, from which the line conductors carrying current are suspended by porcelain insulators.

What is an Electric System?

An electric system may be viewed as consisting of generating devices, transformers, and transmission systems which interconnect terminal equipments for converting electrical energy into light, heat, or mechanical energy and vice versa. All devices and equipment can be represented by idealized elements called circuit elements. These elements can be interconnected to form networks, which can be used for modeling and analyzing the system behavior. Conversely, networks may be designed to achieve the required performance from a system.