P3.1 - Energy demands Flashcards
(18 cards)
Main energy resources:
-coal
-oil
-gas
Inside a power station, how are fossil fuels used to generate electricity ?
-fuel burned to heat a boiler full of water
produces steam
[] also produces impurities in smoke when burned which is harmful to the environment
-steam turns a turbine which in turn turns an electricity generator
fossil fuels
a group of energy resources formed from the remains of ancient organisms, including coal, oil, and natural gas. They are non-renewable
-fuels that come from long-dead animals/plants
biofuel definition
biofuel, any fuel that is derived from biomass—that is, plant or algae material or animal waste.
biofuel, any fuel that is derived from biomass—that is, plant or algae material or animal waste.
renewable source
Example of biofuel
-methane when produced by cows to be used in small gas-fired power stations
Where can biofuels be used for?
instead of fossil fuels
- in modified engines for transport/generators in power stations
Biofuel pros:
renewable
- carbon-neutral
Why is biofuel renewable?
-as it is a biological source
-either regrows/replenished by natural processes
-so it used at the same rate that it’s replaced at
Why are biofuels carbon-neutral?
-in theory, carbon that organisms absorb from the atmosphere
-will balance the amount that is released when biofuel is burnt
nuclear fuel
takes energy from atoms
Why is nuclear power better than burning fossil fuels?
-more energy is released per kg from uranium atoms than from burning fossil fuels
What is the fuel in nuclear power stations
uranium atoms
-which is sealed in cans in a core reactor
How are nuclear fuels like uranium and plutonium used to generate electricity ?
-nuclei of these elements are unstable and can be split in two
-when this happens, energy is released to the surroundings as heat
-a coolant passing the reactor takes in the thermal energy and then passes it to a heat exchanger through a pipe before flowing back to the reactor core.
-this collected energy is then used to heat water into steam and turn turbines that turn electricity generator
what is the fluid which is pumped through the core in a nuclear power station to retrieve the enrgy?
coolant
what other fuel does a nucleur power station produce
plutonium
How are biofuels like methane from anaerobic digestion of animal/plant waste, or the plants/waste directly used to generate electricity ?
-fuel burned to heat a boiler full of water
produces steam
-steam turns a turbine which in turn turns an electricity generator
NET ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS, AS ORGANISM TAKES IN CARBON AND THAT SAME AMOUNT OF CARBON IS RELEASED WHEN THE FUEL IS BURNT
[] renewable
what are renewable energy resources
Solar Power:
Wind Power:
Hydropower:
Geothermal Energy:
Biomass:
Ocean Energy:
what are the non renewable resources
Petroleum.
Hydrocarbon gas liquids.
Natural gas.
Coal.
Nuclear energy.
