how is large amounts of electricity stored?

Question

amounts large enough for household wattage

Answer 1

There are 2 ways to store large amounts of energy:

1. Super capacitors (hecto- and kilo-Farad range capacitors) made with porous carbon and newer ultracapacitors made from nanotubes.

2. Coils made from superconductive materials*, with L=few terra Henry, are able to store huge amounts of energy - not yet available on market.

*materials with 0 rezistivity when below 100 Kelvin (-173 Celsius)

Answer 2

Hi,

There are several types of electricity and if you are asking about the type used in household applications, it cannot be stored. It is referred to as A/C (Alternating Current), which is the first type of electricity. It can be seen on an an oscilloscope as a sine wave.

The second type is referred to as D/C (Direct Current), which can be stored in either dry or wet cell batteries and in circuit applications, it can be stored with an electronic component called a capacitor; and would be seen on an oscilloscope as square wave or a straight line.

If that was a question as worded on a test, tell your instructor it should be clarified as to type of electricity, either A/C or D/C as there is no way to store A/C.

Good Question,

Darryl S.

Answer 3

Electrical energy is not stored, it is generated as needed. When demand increases the online generators will speed up and produce more electricity. Normally there is plenty of online generating capacity, but when very high demands are present, the voltage may drop and items using electricity will have to drop off line. The utility companies can load shed by opening switches on some feeders.

Answer 4

Large amounts is relative. If you are talking about the amounts generated by a power plant or hydroelectric plant for industrial and residential use, then the only practical way is to use the spare power to pump water to a higher level and then use that water to generate power later by letting it fall. This is done at Niagara Falls to match the continuous supply of water to the irregular needs of people.
If you are talking about large amounts to be available for firing a fusion device, lighting generator, etc., then lots and lots of capacitors or lots and lots of batteries.

Answer 5

Depends on your definition of large

1. Chemically -- eg. batteries - limited use for "large" amounts
2. inertia -- eg. momentum of spinning flywheel
3. charge -- eg. capacitors - limited more than batteries

For VERY large (example, multi-megawatts), it is best to store in its source form:
4. potential kinietic energy -- example water at the high side of the dam
5. potential chemical energy -- example coal, or other combustible
6. potential nuclear energy -- radioactive isotopes in isolated quantities
7. solar energy -- this is not really stored at all, the sun is just releasing its nuclear energy and we chose to use it or not

Answer 6

depends on the strenght of the storage unit. Electricity storage can be infinite.

Answer 7

Electrical energy can not be stored.

Answer 8

every accumulator is marked....

Answer 9

In an electrical storage bin, duh.