Power Generator FAQs
What is the difference between a power generator and a dynamo?
The difference is something akin to the difference between the plane the Wright brothers flew in and a modern commercial jet. Both a dynamo and a power generator do the same thing, they produce electricity. The dynamo came before the generator, and it was powered via a hand crank. A generator is powered by spinning the blades; most modern power plants achieve this with pressurized steam. So whether it’s a nuclear plant, a hydroelectric plant, or a coal fired plant, the goal is to spin the turbine within a generator.
What is unclean about a coal fired power plant?
The thing that separates a coal plant from a hydroelectric one is waste. A coal plant and a hydroelectric plant both have exhaust. The hydroelectric plant however only spits out water, which returns to the normal flow of the river out to sea. It floods the reservoir footprint, which is a small price to pay for a supply of power that is effectively without harmful exhaust. A coal plant at best has millions of tons of carbon dioxide as waste emission each year. That is assuming the plant scrubs its waste gas to remove the ash particles, the acidic compounds (the very same compounds that form acid rain) and other acutely harmful materials from the plant.
What is the best source of clean energy for me as a consumer?There is no one size fits all answer to this question. Coastal areas are ideal candidates for offshore wind energy, and areas with a sizable river and a good location for a reservoir are positioned well for hydroelectric power. Neither of these options, as great as they are, morph well into a personal fit however. Making a personal reservoir large enough to meet your own power needs would likely break zoning regulations in any metropolitan area. However rooftop wind turbines can be a good fit for personal use, and solar panels also scale well for any size of application, from running a calculator to running a factory.
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