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Solar Energy - The Energy Of The Future?
About 47 per cent of the energy that the sun releases to the
earth actually reaches the ground. About a third is reflected directly
back into space by the atmosphere. The time in which solar energy is
available, is also the time we least need it least - daytime. Because
the sun's energy cannot be stored for use another time, we need to
convert the suns energy into an energy that can be stored.
One possible method of storing solar energy is by heating water
that can be insulated. The water is heated by passing it through hollow
panels. Black-coated steal plates are used because dark colours absorb
heat more efficiently. However this method only supplies enough energy
for activities such as washing and bathing. The solar panels generate
"low grade" heat, that is, they generate low temperatures for the amount
of heat needed in a day.
In order to generate "high grade" heat, intense enough to convert
water into high-pressure steam which can then be used to turn electric
generators there must be another method. The concentrated beams of
sunlight are collected in a device called a solar furnace, which acts on
the same principles as a large magnifying glass. The solar furnace
takes the sunlight from a large area and by the use of lenses and mirrors
can focus the light into a very small area. Very elaborate solar
furnaces have machines that angle the mirrors and lenses to the sun all
day. This system can provide sizeable amounts of electricity and
create extremely high temperatures of over 6000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Solar energy generators are very clean, little waste is emitted
from the generators into the environment. The use of coal, oil and
gasoline is a constant drain, economically and environmentally.
Will solar energy be the wave of the future? Could the worlds
requirement of energy be fulfilled by the "powerhouse" of our galaxy -
the sun? Automobiles in the future will probably run on solar energy,
and houses will have solar heaters.
ADDITIONAL FEATURED ESSAYS
Mechanical Energy
Have you ever wondered how a jet aircraft lifts its tremendous weight off the ground, or what gives a runner the stamina
Mechanical Energy
Have you ever wondered how a jet aircraft lifts its tremendous weight off the ground, or what gives a runner the stamina
Geothermal Energy 2
I. Overview of Geothermal Energy Geothermal energy (from the Greek words geo [earth] and therme [heat], thus 'earth heat
A Bird
People never believed either in my existence or that I am a creature with mind and feelings. It happened that some of th
Urban Heat Islands
For more than 100 years, it has been known that two adjacent cities are generally warmer than the surrounding areas. Thi
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