ways to generate electricity Flashcards
(28 cards)
How does hydroelectric generation work
A source of water spins the turbines in dams or run river stations
How does nuclear energy work
The heat from nuclear reactions make steam which spins turbines
How does fossil fuel energy generation work
burning coal makes heat and steam which spins turbines
How does wind energy generation work
Wind pushes the fans of the wind turbines which spins the turbines
How does solar energy generation work
The solar panel collects energy from the sun and converts it to electricity, during the night the electricity is stored
How does ocean/wave electricity generation work
The vertical rise and fall of the waves compresses an air column spinning turbines and generating electricity
How does biomass electrical generation work
Energy generated from burning plants and animal matter, creates steam and heat which spins turbines
How does hydrogen electricity generation work
How does natural gases electricity generation work
Fossil fuels made of methane is extracted and sent to processing plants. It is then burned and the heat and steam turns turbines
How does geothermal electricity generation work
Naturally occuring steam and hot water under the earth’s surface from heated rocks creates steam and spins turbines
advantages of ocean wave/tidal generation
-renewable
-they are predictable
-low operating costs
advantages of biomass generation
-no acid rain
- no heavy metals
advantages of natural gases
-less harmful to the environment than coal
- easily stored
- more abundant than fossil fuels
advantages of geothermal generation
- low operating cost
advantages of hydroelectric generation
-No combustion emissions
-low operating costs
-90% efficient
advantages of nuclear generation
-From small amount of fuel lots of energy is produced
- no GHG
- low operating costs
advantages of wind generation
-Low operating costs
- renewable
advantages of fossil fuel generation
- large fossil fuel reserves
- low economic cost
advantages of solar generation
- renewable
disadvantages of hydroelectric generation
-large areas must be flooded for reservoirs
-expensive to build
- submerged vegetation that decays leads to methane gas
disadvantages of nuclear generation
-excess waste must be stored
- uranium mining is harmful to the environment
-expensive to build
disadvantages of fossil fuel generation
-Conversion of heat to energy is very inefficient
- Toxic chemicals are produced
-Non renewable
disadvantages of wind generation
-Not predictable
- Very noisy
-Spils the view
-Danger to birds
disadvantages of solar generation
- Not very concentrated
-Solar cells are not very efficient
