Climate Change

The electricity generation process involves a considerable number of energy changes, without regard for the primary power source that is used. Historically, electricity has been generated using fossil fuels, particularly coal. More lately, power stations have begun to use oil and gas as their energy source. Oil-fired power stations are not unusual in oil making countries, eg Indonesia. Gas burns more cleanly and efficiently than coal. It releases half as much carbon dioxide and more than 1000 times less sulphur dioxide per unit of energy.

Burning fossil fuels in power stations

The heat released from burning fossil fuels is used to boil water to produce steam. The steam is heated to really high temperatures in order that it is at high pressure and can turn gigantic steam turbines. Some of the energy of the steam is changed into movement, or kinetic energy, as the turbines spin. The turbines are hooked up to the coils of giant generators. The coils carry a current and act as electromagnets. As the turbines spin, they produce an electric current in the fixed coils surrounding them. This is fed into a power supply grid and carried to wherever in the network it is needed.

Power stations can’t store surplus electricity, so electricity generation has to match demand. The power firms have to judge how much power will be required. During periods of hot weather, electricity demand may increase as more folks use air conditioning to keep their houses and offices cool. If power corporations’ estimates are wrong, people may experience power cuts.

Power stations aren’t really efficient, and between 50 and 70 % of the energy contained in the ordinary fuel is wasted. Some of the heat energy will heat the encircling air and escape thru the boiler chimneys. The heat energy locked away in the steam cannot all be moved to the spinning turbines. Though the steam is cooler when it leaves matched against when it enters the turbines, it’s still warm. The steam is carried to the cooling towers, where it cools sufficiently to compact back to water. The warm water is then emptied Into a nearby stream or sea, where it can cause thermal (heat) pollution. Hot water holds less oxygen than cold water. The addition of a large amount of luke-warm water can cause animals, such as fish, to ‘suffocate’, as they are unable to extract enough oxygen from the water.

Combined heat and energy generating plants

Some power stations, called mixed heat and power generation plants (CHP), try to make use of the waste heat. They pipe the waste hot water to surrounding businesses and houses to provide heating. There are numerous such units in Germany, and many tiny towns are reaping rewards from this cheap energy source. However , this is only possible with tiny and medium-sized energy generation stations that are built close to cities. In many states, especially the United Kingdom, power stations are found in more remote locations and so this power source wouldn’t be as practical as even solar power.

Sarah Green is an environmental campaigner, activist, and robust believer in home made energy. In her spare time, she reports on DIY alternative energy plans and kits.

Electricity is mostly generated at an amount that meets what is demanded, as it is tricky to store surplus energy. Nevertheless it’s feasible to store smaller quantities of energy for personal and domestic uses. Batteries and fuel cells both produce electricity by employing electrochemical reactions. Flywheels store energy as they spin.

The battery

A convenient store of energy is the electric cell or battery. These are used each day to power torches, radios, toys and lots of other gizmos. The most common form of battery contains carbon and zinc separated by a solution of ammonium chloride. When the battery is attached to an electric circuit, its stored chemical power is changed into electric energy. The battery continues to supply an electrical current until all the chemicals have reacted with one another. Then, the battery is said to be ‘flat’. Batteries comprising nickel and cadmium (Nicads) can be recharged by passing a tiny electrical current thru the battery for one or two hours. This makes them last much longer.

Flywheels

Space stations use solar generating panels and fuel cells as their energy source. This energy is then stored in batteries. These batteries are large and expensive and need to be replaced each 5 years. But new space stations and satellites may use flywheels to store the energy. These can last as long as 20 years. Flywheels are employed in engines, but now scientists are designing far more efficient versions. When energy is used to spin a flywheel, the energy is converted to kinetic energy. The flywheel stores the energy mechanically in the form of kinetic energy. The quicker the flywheel spins, the more energy it stores. This energy can be converted to electricity. The new flywheels will be as small as just fifteen centimetres across, and made of highly strong, yet lightweight, materials. They will spin up to 600,000 times each minute, and can store 8 times more energy than a battery of the same mass.

Fuel Cells

It’s feasible that in the near future, car engines, batteries in laptops and even power stations might be replaced by fuel cells. Fuel cells date back to 1839, but until recently, only the US State Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) made use of them.

All fuel cells are energy converters, and work on identical elementary principle. They have two electrodes separated by an electrolyte, a substance that conducts electricity. A fuel like hydrogen enters at one electrode and oxygen enters at the other. They undergo a reaction, which produces an electrical current. When the fuel is hydrogen, the only waste product is pure water.

Fuel cells have many advantages. They convert energy much more efficiently than typical power sources: as an example, a fuel cell is two times as efficient as a vehicle gas engine and produces virtually no pollution. Additionally, they do not contain moving parts, so don’t produce any noise or vibration. An operating fuel cell is so very quiet and does not have wear and tear. However , there are a considerable number of issues to beat. Now, fuel cells are extremely costly, although this is thanks to the fact that only small numbers are being made. The price will fall once large quantities are produced. There are also issues of trustworthiness with some fuel cells. Additionally, some larger fuel cells have a poor power to weight and volume ratio. This suggests that for their weight or volume, they produce relatively small quantities of power.

Sarah Green is an environmental campaigner, activist, and robust disciple of being energy self-sufficient. In her free time, she reports on alternative DIY energy blueprints and kits, for example the ben ford homemade energy download.

A WETT inspection will probably be required for any home that has a wood burning appliance. WETT stands for Wood Energy Technology Transfer, and it involves making sure that a fireplace, woodstove and chimney in a home are up to code and safe. In addition to getting a WETT inspection before you buy a home, it is also important to get regular WETT inspections every year if your current home has a fireplace or woodstove in it.

Most Insurance Company’s require a WETT Inspection anytime a Wood Burning appliance is installed or when buying a new home. There are strict requirements that affect clearances that many older stoves and fireplaces will not meet.

In order to be a certified provider of WETT inspections, inspectors first have to go through a code compliance course to make sure they have the knowledge. Then they can choose to become a certified tech or advisor, earn their certification in chimney sweeping, or earn a WETT certification in SITE basic.

Complete inspection of any wood burning appliance involves an evaluation of every part of the heating system, from the floor pad to the chimney cap. All of these parts are covered in the codes, so compliance can only be determined if every part is inspected.

The chimney is usually the most difficult part of the system to inspect properly. Flue liners are subject to cracking inside masonry chimneys, or buckling and corrosion in the case of metal chimneys. It is difficult to inspect a chimney liner unless it has just been cleaned.

There is no actual process provided by WETT, so every inspector will have his own way of doing things. The inspection typically involves a visual inspection of everything, and if the inspector is concerned about anything he sees, then he will make a recommendation about the unit and whether any repairs are needed.

In many cases, insurance companies will require you to have your units WETT certified, although this is a bit of a technical problem because of how the process works. WETT inspectors do not certify appliances, although they do provide certified inspections for the insurance company to show that all parts of the fireplace are in good working order.

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The Scope of a Level 1 WETT Inspection is termed as “Readily Accessible”, which includes the following items:
The inspection of “readily accessible” components of:
(1) A wood/solid-fuel burning appliance, or
(2) A site-built fireplace, and
(3) The venting system for:
a) The proper use of required components, and
b) clearance to combustibles, and
c) readily visible system obstructions or deposits.

The Purpose of a Level 3 WETT Inspection is to:
1) When a Level 2 inspection is deemed insufficient because of a detected or suspected compliance issue or hazard that cannot be fully verified without access to concealed areas, or
(2) after an incident that may have caused damage to any concealed parts of the system or building construction related to the system.

The Process of performing a Level 3 WETT Inspection includes:
(1) The inspection by invasive means of concealed areas of the system by a WETT certified SITE Comprehensive Inspector, including the removal of nonstructural building components and/or the disassembly of parts of the system.
(2) The possible use of specialized tools and equipment.
(3) A comprehensive written report of the findings and possibly including inspection checklists.

The chimney is usually the most difficult part of the system to inspect properly. Chimneys which run up through the house are often inaccessible at critical points, such as ceiling and attic penetrations. In some cases, even though you can see sections of the chimney, they cannot be reached with a tape measure to confirm their clearance to combustible building materials. Flue liners are subject to cracking inside masonry chimneys, or buckling and corrosion in the case of metal chimneys. It is difficult to inspect a chimney liner unless it has just been cleaned.

A standard home inspection includes a visual assessment of the components of the fireplace, hearth and chimney. However, depending on your area and the property insurance you choose, a WETT inspection may be required.

Many insurance companies in Canada are requiring Wood Energy Technology Transfer (WETT) inspections, an inspection of wood burning appliances, before issuing insurance. A WETT-inspector will visually inspect the safety of any wood-burning appliances. Call the Barrie Home inspector for all your wood burning inspection requirements.

A WETT Inspection by the Barrie Home Inspector will ensure that your system is installed and operating correctly, and that it poses no threat to your home and family. Our WETT inspectors will also tell you how to properly maintain your system to make sure your family is safe year after year.

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Wood-burning stoves are an efficient source of supplemental and/or zone heating. Their energy efficiency rating is 40-65 percent of available usable heat; by comparison, most furnaces operate at about 70 percent efficiency.

A flat black finish is best, radiating 90-98 percent of usable heat. Paints and enamels radiate 70-90 percent, while shiny metallic finishes offer efficiencies of less than 60 percent. The three general types of wood stoves are: box (radiating), airtight (circulating) and pellet-fed.

Any combustible flooring or floor covering beneath the appliance and/or within the area extending horizontally at least 450 mm (18 in) beyond the appliance on any side equipped with a door, and 200 mm (8 in) beyond the appliance on the other sides, shall be protected by a continuous, durable, noncombustible pad that will provide ember protection thick metal sheet or a grouted ceramic floor-tile surface installed in accordance with the National Building Code of Canada shall be considered a durable pad. A floor pad shall not be placed on top of a carpet unless the pad is structurally supported to prevent displacement and distortion.

The clearance between a solid-fuel-burning appliance and a fuel oil storage tank shall be at least 1.5 m (5 ft). except that the authority having jurisdiction may permit a lesser clearance in accordance with CSA Standard B139.

Clearances represent the minimum distance that a woodburning appliance can be installed from anything that could overheat and potentially burn. The closer you are to a fire, the more intense the heat will be. Think about standing in front of a bonfire: if you stand too close, the heat is unbearable. You have to either step back to put distance between yourself and the
fire, or put your hands in front of your face to provide a shield.

A combustible is anything that will burn, including wallpaper, wood studs, certain types of insulation (e.g., polystyrene), and paneling. Even so-called “fire-resistant” gypsum board (drywall) panels are considered combustible.
Even if a wall has a non-combustible surface of tile or brick, it is still considered combustible if this surface is mounted on combustible material such as gypsum board and wood studs. Only a wall of concrete or brick without wood behind it, or one made of metal studs with a totally non-combustible covering, can be considered non-combustible.

The WETT Certified Inspector provides a detailed inspection of your wood burning appliance and your flue pipe or chimney system. Most insurance companies will require a WETT Certified Inspector to inspect your new home or newly installed wood burning appliance prior to issuing insurance on your home. The best WETT Inspection site is www.wett-inspecition.com which provides superior WETT Certified Inspections in Bariie, Alliston and Orilla.

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