ENERGY SOURCES Flashcards
(24 cards)
2 ENERGY SOURCES
RENEWABLE ENERGY
NONRENEWABLE ENERGY
replenished/regenerated on a human time scale
RENEWABLE ENERGY
cannot be replenished or regenerated on a human time scale
NONRENEWABLE ENERGY
RENEWABLE
Geothermal
Solar
Wind
Biomass
Hydroelectric
NONRENEWABLE
Nuclear Energy
Fossil fuels
Petroleum
Natural Gas
Coal
*black combustible rock made up of elemental carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur | made of plant remains million years ago
*Carboniferous Period: most extensive coal
*Continuous burial and compaction transforms decaying vegetation into peat
*precursor of coal (50% carbon)
*formed at 4-10 km deep surface
COAL
worlds primary source of energy that provides most energy supporting all various activities [How are fossil fuels formed?]
FOSSIL FUELS:
*hydrocarbon mostly methane
*simple, chemical compound made up of Carbon and Hydrogen atoms
*lighter than air and highly flammable
NATURAL GAS
*naturally-occurring liquid composed of complex hydrocarbons found in geological formations underneath Earth’s surface
*large quantities of microscopic organisms
*Latin: petra (rock) | oleum (oil)
*Kerogen: waxy; made into hydrocarbons through Catagenesis formed within specific depth, pressure, temp range known as “oil window”
*If temp increases beyond oil window, oil converted to natural gas: thermal cracking
PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS:
heat energy produced by nuclear fission or fusion
NUCLEAR ENERGY
split heavy atoms to lighter one
NUCLEAR FISSION
PROBLEM WITH NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
1.Temperature of fuel rods
*Fukushima Daiichi NPP Japan, 2011
Generation of Radioactive Wastes
2.Bataan NPP Philippines, 1976
US Commercial NPP Pennsylvania, 1979
Chernobyl NPP Pripyat, 1986
combined 2 light atoms = heavy
*Uranium-235 and Thorium-232
*radioactive elements usually decay
*transformed into fuel rods generate heat, boils water, generates steam to drive turbines and produce electricity
*contained in nuclear power plant uses high grade materials (radioactive)
NUCLEAR FUSION
heat energy trapped in Earth’s surface
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY:
*Heat water with volcanic rocks for agricultural and self use
*Regulate temperature
*Convert water into steam = electricity
*Use of natural flow of water = electricity
HARNESSING GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
*In early part of Earth’s history, it was warm enough to cause the surface to melt
*After billions of years, earth cooled significantly. However, radioactive elements serve as traps.
RATE OF CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE
: collection of individual wind turbines
WIND FARM
: produced with wind turbine
WIND ENERGY
*generated by energy from falling water
*Flow of water = circulates turbine
*Generator = mechanical to electrical
*Excess water discharged at water forms
HYDROELECTRICITY:
*Harness hot water (reservoir)
*Evaporate (steam)
-(increase)temperature = (increase)pressure
*Steam - circulate turbine = mechanical
*Mech. Energy - Electricity by generator
*Steam - cooling tower = converted to water
*Injection Well: inject back to reservoir
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY PROCESS
diversion structure constructed along stream to divert water and allow it to flow through a canal called headrace.
WEIR:
difference in elevation of high & low
TIDAL RANGE:
SOLAR ENERGY
*coming from the sun
*Utilized for all results:
-No ozone layer
-Earth = Venus
-Temperature change
*direct conversion of light into electricity at the atomic level, consisting of semiconductor materials made into thin sheets (WAFER)
- gets electrons (negative/electricity)
PHOTOVOLTAIC
