13. Solar and Wind Power Flashcards
What is renewable energy?
- energy resources that never run out
- no CO2
- limited environmental impact
What is energy?
the amount of work that is being done
What is kinetic energy?
energy associated with motion
electrical, thermal, motion
What is potential energy?
stored energy
chemical, nuclear
What are thermodynamics?
transformation of energy from one kind to another
law of conservation- energy not created or lost
What is solar-thermal and what 2 ways do we see it?
- radiation energy into thermal energy
- flat plate thermal-solar collector and commercial scale
What is the flat plate thermal solar collector?
- solar thermal energy
- transforms radiation energy into thermal energy
- uses sunlight to heat water (isn’t same as ones you use)
- use low-e glass to trap heat and mimic greenhouse effect to heat water
What is solar thermal on the commercial scale?
- radiation energy into thermal energy
- Solucar complex in seville, spain
- US in Mojave desert
What is the basic explanation of Photovoltaic/ PV solar?
radiation energy turned into electricity
requires semiconductor
What’s wrong with photovoltaic/ pv solar?
not that efficient, out of price range
Diamond semiconductor could carry more energy than silicon
Describe PV solar semiconductors
Have a band gap- gap between valence and conduction band
- when sunlight strikes semiconductor, electrons move from valence band, to conduction band, and flow from circuit
- N-type semiconductor: phosphorous (-)
- P- type semiconductor: Boron- doped, (+) charge
- Silicon used
What do wind turbines do?
turn wind into electricity
which state produces the most wind power?
Texas, Iowa, then CA
What 2 main types of energy are there?
kinetic and potential
What 2 types of solar power are there?
photovoltaic (Pv)
solar-thermal
