Energy Engineer

Overview

Generating Electricity and Power Stations

In the BGE course, Power generation was discussed in the Energy topic. There are several Energy sources that are used on a commercial scale to generate Electricity. Below is a more detailed look at the methods of generating Electricity.

All of the following are used to generate Electricity in very different ways : Nuclear Power, Hydroelectric Power, Wind Power, Wave Power, Geothermal Power. Fossil Fuels (Coal, Oil and Natural Gas) have been the main source of energy since the Industrial Revolution and are formed from the remains of living organisms buried and subjected to heat and pressure over millions of years.

The diagrams below show how the three Fossil Fuels were formed and the video below shows an in-depth look at the process of Coal Mining.

Energy Engineer

As an Energy Engineer, you would design and construct sites to generate energy from wind, sun and water. You could also drill for and extract gas and oil. You would research, design and oversee construction of power generation plants that use renewable and sustainable natural resources. You could also be involved in drilling for gas and oil. You would use mathematical and computer models to research and design new generating sites.

Depending on the type of project you work on, you could decide on the best locations for installations like wind farms, solar panels or hydropower plants. Or you might plan and oversee a production programme for sites like drilling platforms or hydroelectric plants.

Solar Energy Engineer

Training to be an Engineer

A Career as an Energy Engineer

Salary : from £22,000 to £55,000 per year

Typical entry requirements : To enter a degree (SCQF level 9 / 10) usually requires National 5 qualifications and a minimum of three Highers or a relevant HNC / HND. To enter a postgraduate course (SCQF Level 11) you will usually require an honours degree in a relevant subject.

Power Generation Methods

All Fossil Fuels generate Electricity in the same way, by acting as essentially a large kettle. The fuel is used to heat water, with the resulting steam being used to drive a turbine, which in turn drives a generator, generating Electricity. The diagram below shows a simplified cross-section of a Thermal Power Station. The energy changes in a Thermal Power Station are : Burning the fuel (Chemical Energy to Heat Energy); Steam driven turbine (Heat Energy to Kinetic Energy); Generator (Kinetic Energy to Electrical Energy). Note : A Nuclear Power Station works in the same way as a Thermal Power Station, except that the water is heated in a different way (see Nuclear Power - Unit 3).

The video below shows an animation showing the main parts of a Thermal Power Station, as well as some methods for reducing the pollution released by a Power Plant.

Hydroelectric Power uses the energy of water flowing rapidly downhill to generate Electricity. Water at a high point above a dam contains Gravitational Potential Energy; as it flows down the penstock, this energy is converted to Kinetic Energy to turn a turbine and drive a generator.

The energy changes in a Hydroelectric Power Station are : Stored in loch behind dam — Gravitational Potential Energy; Water flowing downhill — Gravitational Potential Energy converted to Kinetic Energy; Turbine and generator — Kinetic Energy converted to Electrical Energy.

Wind Power uses the energy of moving air to generate Electricity. The wind causes the blades of a turbine to rotate, driving a generator to produce Electricity. The energy changes are : Moving air (wind) — Kinetic Energy; Turbine and Generator — Kinetic Energy converted to Electrical Energy.

Solar options include Solar Thermal Power Stations and Photovoltaic Cells. Photovoltaic Cells convert light energy directly into Electricity. The energy changes are : Sunlight — Light Energy; Photovoltaic Cell — Light Energy converted to Electrical Energy. A Solar Thermal Power Station uses focussed sunlight to boil water into steam to drive a turbine and generator in the same way as fossil fuel plants. The energy changes are : Sunlight — Heat Energy; Steam driven turbine — Heat Energy converted to Kinetic Energy; Generator — Kinetic Energy converted to Electrical Energy.

Wave Power and Tidal Turbines convert moving water into electricity. Wave Power Generators drive hydraulic pumps or hydroelectric systems using the motion of waves, while a Tidal Turbine operates similarly to a wind turbine with moving water driving the blades and generator to produce Electricity. The energy changes are : Waves / Tides — Kinetic Energy; Turbine and generator — Kinetic Energy converted to Electrical Energy.

The diagrams and videos referenced illustrate a range of energy generation methods, including novel or prototype approaches.

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