Exam 3 Flashcards
(28 cards)
Point Source vs. Non-Point Source
Point Source is solution that easily identifiable
Non Point Source Pollution comes from a large land area of forest or farmland for example– where pesticides and fertilizers seep into the water supply
What are the eight categories of water pollution?
Disease Causing Agents Oxygen demanding wastes Water soluble inorganic chemicals inorganic plant nutrients organic chemicals sediment or suspended matter radioactive substances thermal pollution
What are the principle components of a pressurize water nuclear reactor?
Reactor, primary circuit, secondary circuit, steam generator, turbine, generator
Describe the series of steps involved in generating electrical power?
- The reactor carries out a fission and heats water
- The primary circuit carries heated water to the steam generator
- secondary circuit - unpressurized water heated and turned into steam
- steam passes through Turbine that turns the generator
- generator produces electricity
- condenser turns the steam back to water
Advantages and disadvantages of nuclear reactor
Adv.
- reduces the reliance on fossil fuels,
- not producing greenhouse gasses
- reliable in running 24 / 7
Dis.
- it is not renewable (uranium depletion)
- hard to dispose of waste
- high cost 5 -10 mil to make plant
Does Nuclear power have a future?
The future of nuclear power plants is reliant upon three aspects: it’s waste control, resource conservation and popular opinion.
There has been reason to believe that there are areas that are fit to store the dangerous nuclear waste generated through nuclear power plants. Deep bore holes can handle the waste and remain out of the concerns of people, whose popular opinion has the power to put an end to nuclear power if their health is too much at risk. Additionally– uranium is expected to deplete. Switching over to thorium may prolong this process.
Why is there an impending energy crisis?
We are running low of a finite source of fossil fuels and must look towards more renewable energy sources
How can we reduce global energy consumption?
Reducing global energy consumption comes down to a little effort from everyone to make a drastic difference. Some examples include everyone turning off lights when leaving rooms, turning off faucets, restricting appliance regulations, passive solar heating.
Describe Photovoltaic Cells and how they work
Solar cells - sunlight in converted directly into electricity
Describe Biomass, advantages and disadvantages
Something once living converted to energy
biomass seems really promising turning corn into alcohol to replace fossil fuels but it produces greenhouse gasses
Describe Hydropower, advantages and disadvantages
Uses a dam on a river to store water in a reservoir. Water released from the reservoir flows through a turbine, spinning it, which in turn activates a generator to produce electricity.
reducing fossil fuel emissions, reliable
effects the streams and ecosystem, can’t build a dam anywhere
Describe Geothermal, advantages and disadvantages
use steam coming from geysers to directly heat buildings… a lot of steam can be used to power a turbine.
adv. do not require the clearing of large areas of land, renewable source, no greenhouse gasses
requires an appropriate location, initial cost can be expensive
NIMBY vs. NIMTOO in terms of the people groups to which they apply and the primary concerns of these people groups.
- Similarities: neither of them want nuclear waste in their area.
- Difference: NIMBY - normal citizens - concerns: afraid of health concerns of toxic waste, also their property value
- NIMTOO - politicians - concerns: getting reelected :
What is the main problem resulting from the NIMBY attitude specifically with regards to developing the proposed US long term nuclear waste storage site which was actually not developed (where was it?)
- The main problem : we don’t have a suitable long term storage site
Initially was to be discarded in the Yucca Mountain, NV
In comparison to the current locations at which these wastes are actually stored (where, and how safe are they)?
The waste is just sitting at the nuclear power plants, and security at the sites are very poor
- The plants are running out of storage capacity
4 major nuclear power plant accidents
50s England , 70s Pennsylvania , chernobyl 80s, fukashima 00s
Beta Radiation
consists of an electron released from nuclear disintegration
Gamma Radiation
electromagnetic radiation, acts like a wave
light, radio, X-rays
travels at speed of light
enrichment in regards to nuclear reactors
enrichment means concentrated or purified
How much water is used per person in north america each day?
About 150 2-liter soda bottles?
Disease Causing Agents
Principal types of Water Pollution
bacteria, viruses and parasites enter water from domestic sewage
Oxygen-demanding Wastes
Principal types of Water Pollution
organic wastes that are decomposed by bacteria which use oxygen
Water-soluble Inorganic Chemicals
Principal types of Water Pollution
acid, salts, toxic metals, mercury and lead comes from burning coal, gasoline
Inorganic Plant Nutrients
Principal types of Water Pollution
high nitrate levels in drinking water lead to illness
