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| Solar Chargers |
However, nowadays, we have learnt to harness solar energy for various purposes. Solar energy can be used directly to give us hot water during winter or run a refrigerator. It can be used, for room heating in colder regions. Solar energy can be used with the help of 'Photo Voltaic Cells" for producing electricity for driving vehicles and for illumination. In a desert like Rajasthan solar energy, received at the earth surface is recorded200 watts per square meter per hour. Since this is an unfailing source of energy, it would be a great advantage to develop cheap and efficient photocells or photovoltaic devices to harness solar energy. An important advantage of solar energy is that it can be generated where needed. Solar cookers are being used many homes to cook food. Photocells are also becoming common; though their efficiency has to be improved and their price needs to be brought down to promote their wider use. |
Solar Energy |
The energy we get today from the fossil fuels like coal, is in reality sun's energy, trapped in plants millions of years ago. Plants make their food and grow by using solar energy for photosynthesis. Millions of years ago, huge forests got buried in the earth's crust and they got transformed into coal and oil under great pressure and temperature into coal and oil. Accordingly coal and oil are called fossil fuels. |
Hot water and superheated steam of hot springs can be used to generate electricity. In our country there are 46 hydrothermal areas where the temperature of the spring water exceeds 150 Degree C. The thermal energy of hot springs can be used for generating electricity, heating buildings and homes glass-houses in colder areas for growing vegetables. |
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Atomic Energy |
In view of the fast depletion of our non-renewable energy sources like coal and petroleum, and because o pollution resulting from burning of coal and other fossil fuels, there has been a move to find substitute to fossil fuel for obtaining energy. Since the energy of the atom had already been unleashed in the form of a Bomb, efforts were made to release atomic energy in a controlled manner. The device used for this purpose is called atomic reactor. Nuclear reactors produce heat, which is used to generate steam, for rotating turbines for generating electricity. It is estimated that 1 kg f natural uranium. Written as 235 U, generates energy equal t that produced by 35000 kg of coal. Energy production from nuclear fuel like uranium is relatively clean, efficient, and can serve as substitute for coal and petroleum. However, nuclear reactors need to be situated at places fa away from human habitation. They have to be operated under strict safety control, to prevent any accidental leakages of radioactive material. The radioactive wastes have to be carefully disposed off. India is very short of energy and all of you may have heard or experienced power cuts or load=shading We have plan to set up more nuclear power plants and meet our growing need of electric power |
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