Meaning of Thermoelectric Energy (What is it, Concept and Definition)

What is thermoelectric energy:

Thermoelectric energy is the internal energy of the particles of a body and can be detected in the gain or loss of heat .

Thermoelectric energy, also called thermal energy, is the energy that is generated from heat.A conventional thermoelectric power plant generates electrical energy from the heat generated by the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas.

See also Thermal energy.

Thermoelectric energy is used to generate electrical energy through the construction of thermoelectric power plants.Conventional or classical thermoelectric power plants operate using the heat that is released from a thermodynamic water-steam cycle created by boilers.

The boilers rise at high temperatures to the fossil fuels used creating combustion generating gases.The contact with the liquid water causes the gases to become in v apor.

The steam circulates and activates an alternator in the turbine that rotates the axis that crosses the plant that is connected to the generator.The alternator is a system of pressures and temperatures that drives the turbine.

Finally, the generator collects the mechanical energy produced and transforms it into three-phase and alternating electric current.

See also Energy.

Types of thermoelectric power plants

The thermoelectric energy is used by the human for the generation of energy thanks to the construction of thermoelectric power plants.There are several types of power plants, the most common being those described below:

• Conventional thermoelectric or thermal power plant : they use fossil fuels such as coal, oil or natural gas.They use the exothermic reactions through the combustion of fuels to generate the heat needed to produce energy.
• Nuclear thermoelectric or thermal power plant : use nuclear energy within the nuclei of atoms to generate a nuclear reaction capable of generating energy such as uranium nuclear fission plants.
• Thermoelectric power station or combined cycle thermal : uses a combination of steam and water turbines to process natural gas reaching up to 50% more efficiency and energy.
• Thermoelectric or solar thermal power plant : These plants use thermal energy from the sun or nature, therefore, do not require burning fuels being a type of sustainable development plant.

See also Nuclear fission.

Advantages and disadvantages

Thermoelectric or thermal energy has advantages and disadvantages when used by men to generate electricity.

The Advantages of the construction of thermoelectric plants for the generation of electrical energy is that its costs are much cheaper in relation to the generation of energy in a massive way.Also, thanks to new technologies such as thermoelectric combined cycle natural gas plants, 50% more efficiency can be achieved than a conventional plant.

The disadvantages of the use of thermoelectric energy generally lie in the environmental pollution it produces.Some of its effects are:

• Gas emissions that create a greenhouse effect and rain acidity to the atmosphere
• Thermal and steam emissions that can alter the local microclimate
• Open-cycle thermal power plants affect river ecosystems if they directly discharge hot water as waste from the power station.
• The energy source can be depleted, since it is finite and not sustainable.

See also: