4.1 Fuel for Electricity Flashcards
What is the turbine coupled to in most power stations?
Turbine coupled to an electrical generator that produces the electricity
Where does the energy to boil the water come from in most power stations?
Burning fossil fuels
Name 3 fossil fuels
- coal
- gas
- oil
How are fossil fuels obtained?
They are obtained from long dead biological material
How is gas used in some gas fired power stations?
Hot gases may drive the turbine directly
How fast can a gas fired turbine be switched on?
Very quickly
What is a biofuel?
A fuel obtained from living or recently living organisms
Where can biofuels be used in power stations?
In small scale, gas fired power stations
What type of source of energy is biofuel?
Renewable source of energy
Name the fuel used in a nuclear power station
Uranium 235 and plutonium 239
Name the process that uses he energy released from splitting the nucleus of a uranium atom
Nuclear fission
Why is nuclear energy reliable and renewable?
There are lots of uranium nuclei, so lots of fission can happen releasing lots of energy
How is the energy used from nuclear fission?
Used to heat water, turning it into steam to drive a turbine
Why is nuclear power better than power from fossil fuels?
Much more energy is released per kilogram of uranium than fossil fuels
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear and fossil fuel power stations
Nuclear:
Ad: more energy per kilogram, no greenhouse gases
Dis: radioactive waste that has to be stored safely for a long time
Fossil fuels:
Ad: no radioactive waste
Dis: releases greenhouse gases
