Unit 6 Flashcards
Uranium->Nuclear energy through nuclear fission (10 cards)
What is biomass?
Organic matter used as a fuel, especially in a power station for the generation of electricity.
Name 4 non-renewable energy sources.
Oil
Coal
Natural gas
Uranium / Nuclear energy
Name 5 renewable energy resources.
Biomass
Wind
Solar
Geothermal
Hydropower
What is hydraulic fracking?
When a drilling rig pumps a liquid down a small well or pipe causing fractures from the pressure allowing gas to flow out and into gas containers.
What is combustion?
A chemical reaction that creates the energy needed to generate power, creates CO2.
What’s Nuclear fission?
When a neuron strikes a large atomic nucleus releasing more neutrons and heat energy. The additional release causes a chain reaction. The heat produces steam powering the generators.
Why is biomass emissions better than CO2?
Since the modern carbon was recently in the atmosphere it has no net increase unlike fossil carbon which was unlocked from millions of years of storage.
What’s a photovoltaic cell and how does it work?
A device that converts sunlight into electricity through the photovoltaic effect where energy from light goes into solar arrays. The holes in the arrays get filled by freedom electrons creating an electron flow or a current.
What are hydrogen fuel cells?
A battery like container where hydrogen and oxygen are continuously inserted to produce energy.
What’s cogeneration?
Using a fuel to generate electricity and to produce heat which can improve efficiency to as high as 90%.
