Energy Sources

Question 1

Explain the basic features of the typical power station that burns fossil fuels for energy?

Answer 1

• The fossil fuel is burned to convert its stored chemical energy into heat (thermal) energy
• The heat energy is used to heat water (or air in some stations) to produce steam
• The steam turns a turbine, converting heat energy into kinetic energy
• The turbine in connected to a generator, which transfers kinetic energy into electrical energy

Question 2

Explain a nuclear power station

Answer 2

• It is the same as a normal power station - but with fission of uranium and plutonium producing the heat to make steam to drive the turbines

The main difference is the boiler

• Nuclear power stations take the longest time to start up - natural gas power stations take the shortest of all the fossil fuel power stations

Question 3

Renewable energy sources: Wind turbines - explain, advantages and disadvantages?

Answer 3

• Lots of wind turbines up in exposed places
• Each wind turbine has its own generator insides it, the electricity is generated directly from the wind turning the blades, which turns the generator

✓ There’s no pollution (except when they’re manufactued)

✓ No fuel costs and minimal running costs

✓ There’s no permanent damage - and IF you remove them you remove the noise and the bad view

✗ They create an eye sore

✗ They can be very noisy

✗ They are dependant on the weather - it is impossible to increase supply when theres extra demand

✗ The initial costs are quite high

Question 4

Renewable energy sources: Solar cells (explain, advantages and disadvantages)

Answer 4

Solar cells generate eletric currents directly from sunlight

Used in remote places, and to power electric road signs and satellites

✗ They use quite a lot of energy during manufacture

✗ Initial costs are high

✗ Only avaliable in the daytime

✗ Although they can be connected to the national grid - the cost of doing this can be enormus compared withthe value of the electricity generated