Thermal energy in Brazil, production and use

Abstract

The human being has become mechanical and unable to supply his or her individual and collective needs through subsistent processes; one would need mechanized means for a large-scale production. The energy production enabled the success and dynamics of the process in the industrial revolution, between the 18th and 19th centuries. With the various options for energy production (coal, water, wind, etc), comes the challenge of environmental awareness in measuring the demand for natural raw materials. The main objective of the article is to analyse information about the operation of thermoelectric plants and the use of products and by-products, such as waste and other important aspects. These aspects include the understanding of thermoelectric energy production processes and its advantages and disadvantages, evaluation of the applications of residues and analysis of the cost-benefit of its acquisition, along with the examination of demand for the types of energy used in Brazil. As a regional reference point in Santa Catarina -Brazil – the Jorge Lacerda Complex was the starting point for this study. The data collected and gauged from this work came exclusively from bibliographical research of students and guidance from third-year teachers, from São José School, city of Itajaí -SC. Here they concluded that biomass, as a renewable source in energy generation is already part of the Brazilian electric matrix representing 8.2%. This value is more than twice the amount used worldwide, but it still symbolizes only a complementary source, which concretely results in less harmful waste production. Thermoelectric energy, although not clean, is a less polluting option - compared to other non-renewable ones - and contains technologies that reduce environmental impacts. Examples include the reuse of water, filters at the top of the chimneys to reduce the emission of pollutants, and the use of ashes for cement production. Thus, this article sought to cohesively structure the production of thermoelectric energy, making it clear how the process and impacts on the social environment occur. Information can transform realities, through research, the future can be transformed.