Power Storage for the National Grid Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Power Storage for the National Grid - Coursework Example The high voltage electric power is majorly distributed by electrical transmission lines measured in voltage. The UK National grid is particularly honored for using hydropower, nuclear and thermal energy power in high voltage power transmission for use in economic growth, powering industries, companies, organization and machinery, and development of new technologies. For effectiveness and efficiency, the transmission of the electric power ought to be transferred at the high voltage and the lowest current. In the UK, the National grid therefore employs this technique by taking up a series of specific voltage levels to cover satisfactorily for power transmission, storage and use aided by the use of transformers. Transformers are step-up electricity voltages from the primary generator electricity output after which it is transmitted via the National grid electric cables. After reaching the end user, is used to power electrical appliances, machinery and other electrical consumption purpos es. Why electric power systems need storage. The single most important idea behind system power storage is to ensure sustainability and capacity for the power generated to supply the entire consumers without deficiencies. This is ensured by the program of storing energy which is known as the national grid storage system. The National grid storage system commonly stores power by the use of batteries, use of excess electricity to run electrolytes for developing and making hydrogen which can be stored and used afterwards for the purposes of operating fuel cells to produce electricity when the need arises. It is based on large scale energy storage in order for surplus electricity to be stored for future use when the demand is elevated or when need to use arises (Broom 2011). The reasons why electric power systems need storage are several and the most important of all is for the reason of sustainable use of energy. The most basic reason for power storage is for future use. It is realized that different levels of power are demanded from time to time and depending on the energy operations of the consumers. For power systems to respond effectively and efficiently to rapid changes in the use of power, power systems storage becomes vital as a back-up power plant. During the power generation there is ever a varying size gap between what power is produced and what is demanded (Electrical Energy Storage Technology Options: December 2010). This is dependent on how fast the power is built up from the generating source or how fast the demand for electric power rises. Consequently, slow power generating grids will not be able to meet the ever changing and rising electric power demands of the consumers, leading to an obligatory increase in production of electric power to meet the demands, meaning that the electricity power grid will have to sustain a bigger gap. The power storage system protects against this by using grid storage to store the variables and surplus power generat ion which therefore means that it would be able to respond faster to the demands of the consumers, meaning minimal fuel wastage, effective power grid management and reducing the gap between generation and demand (Baxter 2006). Another reason for power system storage is enhancement of power quality and power source balancing. When power is transmitted directly from the point of

Lasers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Lasers - Essay Example Some great things such as military targets and x-ray in medicine have been boosted greatly. This essay discusses lasers in various aspects including its applications in the daily life operations. Application of lasers is just too amazing especially how its unique features are applied in the everyday life. There are wide range of lasers such as unusual ones used commercially that include remote sensing and the ones used in diagnosing images. There are conventional lasers that include optical gain medium put in between two mirrors and pumped by an external source of light and emits bouncing light. This is very similar in other states such as liquids and solids where emissions of light from atoms are triggered thus forcing light to travel to form laser beam. These lasers always have optical cavities that help them in their function (Svelto & Hanna 80-100). It is obvious that lasers emit light via optical amplification due to emission that is motivated from electromagnetic energy but it should be noted that lasers are different from other sources of light. Light in laser is emitted articulately and makes light to be pointed at a particular spot which is very useful in performing their functions such as cutting and lithography. Laser’s coherence keeps their beams collimated in lengthy place thus making the laser pointers to operate as well as high degree of temporal coherence enabling narrow spectrum and pulses emissions. Lasers serve numerous functions that include measurement of range and speed, widely used in media entertainments and other vital applications in scientific research. What makes laser even more interesting is the output which is the narrow that is as a result of diffraction limited. It is also amazing that the laser beams can be directed to small points while obtaining a great level of irradiance or even powerfully concentrated to a point at a further distance. Time duration of a laser beam and its position depends on the purpose and function of the laser however it is worth noting that some lasers produce a wide spectrum of light (Svelto & Hanna 505-516). Lasers include of a gain media which provides energy due to its ability to magnify light by inspired emission and the other object that act as an optical feedback. The gain medium is so unique and interesting because it increases the power of light after it has gained energy from another source and this process is called pumping. Energy supplied to the gain medium may be through flash light or may be another laser and is supplied as an electrical currents or light with wavelength that differs. Many lasers get their feedback from optical cavity which involves a couple of mirrors where light bounces in between the mirrors as it goes through the gain medium as it gets amplified every other time. The mirrors have different purposes where one of them acts as an output coupler which is somewhat clear making some light to go through although this property depends on design o f the cavity. From the explanations, it is important to note that lasers come in different shapes and sizes depending on the functions they are designed to (Steen & Mazumder 25-40). Laser light have so many things that make it different from other types of light which makes it important and very useful. Laser light is considered to be highly monochromatic due to the fact that it has a single definite