On today’s episode we’re talking about electrical transmission lines. Hey I’m Grady and this is Practical Engineering. Stringing power lines across the landscape to connect cities to power plants may seem as simple as connecting an extension cord to an outlet, but the engineering behind these electric superhighways is more complicated and fascinating than you might think. As power plants grew larger and further away from populated areas, the need for ways to efficiently move electricity over long distances has become more and more important. Since then, things have changed, and most of us get our electricity from the grid, huge interconnected areas of power producers and users. Electricity didn’t have far to travel between where it was created and where it was used. This is where voltage is reduced for municipalities and final end user delivery.In the past, power generating plants were only able to serve their local areas. Where the lines are buried underground, the electrical transformer boxes are located on individual properties.Įlectrical substations can often be seen fenced with rows and rows of distribution lines coming in and leaving. For overhead lines, you’ll notice transformers on the poles that take the voltage down. That distribution can be overhead or underground. Once it reaches the household or end user, the owner is responsible for paying by volume usage. Transmission lines transport the electricity to distribution stations.Įlectricity leaves the power plant as high voltage, and is stepped down to lower voltage at the stations, where it is then brought to the end user. Step up transformers step up the voltage (and step it back down when it gets close to the end use). Much like natural gas pipelines that take high volume, high pressure gas through large diameter pipeline and move it to smaller diameter, lower volume pipeline as it gets closer to the end user, the electrical grid works the same way. The magnet turns, producing a small current in that wire. In a large generator, a magnet will be attached at the end of a rotating shaft that is wrapped with the conducting material. The electrical current happens when the conductive material wire moves across a magnetic field.
That turbine turns mechanical energy into electricity. When that balance is offset, electricity is created.Ī turbine might be powered by water, steam, gas, or other energy sources. The number of positive and negative particles are equal in an atom, until something sets that balance off. The outside of the atom is surrounded by electrons (negatively charged particles).
Atoms contain a nucleus with protons (positively charged particles) and neutrons (neutral particles). This electrical energy is then available to transport to the consumers of this electricity.īut let’s step back and look at electricity from the atomic level. Here, an energy source such as hydroelectric, solar, or wind is used to create electrical energy. It all begins at the power generation plant. Other than that, we flip a switch, and without thinking about it, expect our appliances to operate. Electricity is one of those things we, as consumers, often take for granted, until the power goes out, perhaps during a storm.
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