Does geothermal power plan obey thermodynamics second law?

4 Responses to Does geothermal power plan obey thermodynamics second law?

1. scottsdalehigh64 says:

   June 20, 2012 at 10:09 am

   No, this does not violate the second law of thermodynamics. The law states that in a closed system, the entropy of the system does not decrease with time.

   First, we have to define the system. The source of the energy is the nuclear fission of radioactive elements within the earth. No solar energy is involved. Thus, the closed system can include the earth and exclude the sun.

   Second, we have to determine if the entropy of the system we described go up. The radioactive decay reactions that happen within the earth release energy and do not spontaneously run backward. They increase the entropy of the system, by converting internal energy in the nucleus into thermal energy heating the magma. Thus, the system does not violate the second law of thermodynamics. In fact, no closed system does.l
2. G T says:

   June 20, 2012 at 9:33 am

   There are many implications of the second law. The short answer is no. No system that we know of violates this law. We use a heat source (the earth) to transfer energy to the lower temperature working fluid (usually water). That is the second law at work. Higher temperature transfers energy to lower temperature.
3. asad says:

   June 20, 2012 at 9:17 am

   no
   source=>work=>sink
   if the hot water is source
   and heat is work or energy
   then sink is equal to conversion of heat into energy
4. mavis b says:

   June 20, 2012 at 8:18 am

   First, No. The process does not violate the 2nd law of thermo.
   The prof would be the total energy of the underground system will equal the sum of the energy you get, the heat that is lost, and the mechanical losses from the pipe, valves etc.