Powering Systems Flashcards
(16 cards)
Fossil Fuel characteristics
Finite, natural resources (coal, oil and gas), typically burnt to provide energy.
Advantages of fossil fuels
Reliable, enough to meet current demand, running costs are low, and cost-effective.
Disadvantages of fossil fuels
Finite, extraction has social and economic impacts, release greenhouse gases when they are burned.
Advantages of nuclear power
Reliable, cheap, clean (low levels of greenhouse gases).
Disadvantages of nuclear power
Finite fuel sources, power stations are expensive to build, maintain and decommission, waste is dangerous and difficult to dispose of, carries risk of nuclear catastrophe.
What are the five renewable energy types?
Wind Power, Solar Cells, Tidal Barrages, Hydro-electrical power, Biomass.
Wind Power
Turbines are placed in an exposed place where they can take advantage of the wind, and the rotating blades turn the generators and produce electricity.
Solar Cells
Generate electric currents directly from electricity.
Tidal Barrages
Dams are built across river estuaries with turbines in them. the flow of the tide spins the turbines and generates electricity.
Hydro-electrical power
Uses a dam to flood a valley. Water trapped in the top or the valley (the higher reservoir) is only allowed into the lower reservoir through turbines connected to generators.
Biomass
Involves burning waste food or crop material to turn water into steam.
Advantages of renewable energy
Smaller environmental impact, clean energy after set up, energy provided is free after set up cost.
Disadvantages of renewable energy
Initial set up costs are quite high, do not produce as much energy as finite resources, some rely on external factors like the wind and the sun so are less reliable, some believe they spoil the landscapes, are noisy, some have a big impact on the environment (e.g flooding in hydro-electric power).
Why does energy need to be stored?
Most large power stations have to be kept running all night, even though electricity demand is very low. This means there is extra electricity being generated at night.
What is a kinetic pumped storage system?
A system operated by a hydroelectric power station.
How do kinetic pumped storage systems work?
Spare night electricity is generated by other power stations is used to pump water in the lower hydro-electric reservoir up to the highest reservoir. This water can then be allowed to flow through the turbines during periods of peak demand to generate electricity.
