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  • General

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  • 地热能

    A geothermal power plant with cooling towers and pipelines, set against a mountainous landscape.

     

    Why is there so much heat coming from below?
    ::为什么下面有这么多热量?

    A visit to an active geothermal area is likely to be very interesting. Some of the most active ones in the U.S. are Yellowstone in Wyoming and Lassen Peak in California. These places are not available for  energy  production. But the  Geysers  Geothermal Resource Area in California is used for energy. A  magma chamber  deep below produces dry superheated steam. This steam can be harnessed.
    ::访问活跃的地热区可能非常有趣。 美国最活跃的地热区有怀俄明州的黄石公园和加利福尼亚州的Lassen Peak。 这些地方不能用于能源生产。 但加利福尼亚州的Geysers地热资源区被用于能源。 深处的岩浆室会产生干燥的超热蒸汽。 这种蒸汽可以被利用。

    Geothermal Energy
    ::地热热能

    Geothermal energy  stems from Earth's internal  heat .  Hot springs  and geysers are produced by  water  that is heated by  magma  or hot   below the surface.
    ::地热能来自地球的内部热量,热泉和热泉是由地表下岩浆加热或热水产生的。

    At a geothermal power plant, engineers drill wells into the hot rocks. Hot water or steam may come up through the wells. Alternatively, water may be put down into the well to be heated. It then comes up. The hot water or steam makes a  turbine  spin. This makes electricity. Pictured below is an example of a geothermal power plant ( Figure   ).
    ::在地热发电厂,工程师将水井钻入热岩中,热水或蒸汽可能从水井中涌出。或者,水被放入要加热的水井中,然后它会升起。热水或蒸汽可以使涡轮机旋转。这样电就可以发电。下面是地热电厂的例子(图 )。

    A geothermal power plant with steam rising from the facility, set in a hilly landscape.

     

    A geothermal power plant in operation.
    ::一座地热发电厂正在运行。

    Geothermal Energy as a Resource
    ::作为一种资源的地热热能

    Because the hot water or steam can be used directly to make a turbine spin, geothermal energy can be used without processing. Geothermal energy is clean and safe. It is renewable. There will always be hot rocks, and water can be pumped down into a well. There, the water can be heated again to make more steam.
    ::由于热水或蒸汽可以直接用于涡轮旋转,地热能可以不经加工使用。 地热能是清洁和安全的。 它是可再生的。 总会有热岩,水可以抽进井中。 在那里,水可以再次加热,以产生更多的蒸汽。

    Geothermal energy is an excellent resource in some parts of the world. Iceland gets about one fourth of its electricity from geothermal sources. In the United States, California leads all states in producing geothermal energy. Geothermal energy in California is concentrated in the northern part of the state. The largest plant is in the Geysers Geothermal Resource Area. Geothermal energy is not economical everywhere. Many parts of the world do not have underground sources of heat that are close enough to the surface for building geothermal power plants.
    ::地热能源是世界某些地方的极好资源。 冰岛从地热源获得的电力大约占其电力的四分之一。 在美国,加利福尼亚州在地热能源生产方面领先各州。 加利福尼亚州的地热能源集中在该州北部。 最大的工厂在Geysers地热资源区。 地热能源并不经济。 世界上许多地方没有地热源,而地下热源离地表很近,无法建造地热电厂。

    KQED: Geothermal Heats Up
    ::KQED:地热热向上

    Where Earth's internal heat gets close to the surface, geothermal power is a clean  source  of energy. In California, the Geysers supplies energy for many nearby homes and businesses. 
    ::在地球内部热量接近地表的地方,地热发电是一种清洁的能源来源。 在加利福尼亚州,Geysers为附近的许多房屋和企业提供能源。

    Summary
    ::摘要

    • Most geothermal energy being used now is in regions where hot material comes to the surface.
      ::目前使用的大多数地热能源都位于热材料浮出水面的区域。
    • Hot rocks are everywhere below Earth's surface. Geothermal energy could be used anywhere with drilling.
      ::地表下到处都是热岩 地热能可以用来任何地方钻探
    • Geothermal energy is clean and does not release greenhouse gases.
      ::地热能源是清洁的,不会释放温室气体。

    Review
    ::回顾

    1. How is geothermal energy harnessed?
      ::如何利用地热能源?
    1. What is the ultimate source of geothermal energy?
      ::地热能源的最终来源是什么?
    1. What is positive about geothermal energy?
      ::地热能源有什么好处?
    1. What is not so good about geothermal energy?
      ::地热能源有什么不好?