7.1 Fossil Fuels Flashcards
the fossil fuels
coal, oil, and natural gas
advantages and disadvantages of FF
Advantages: high energy content, cheap, abundant
Disadvantages: finite resource (not sustainable), extraction can destroy habitats, produces GHG emissions, power plants need a lot water & discharge of waste water can cause thermal pollution
What is coal, where are the largest reserves, where is it obtained from, negative impacts
= hard soil that contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulphur (most available FF)
- China, USA, Russia, India
- obtained from deep or open mines BUT exposure to coal dust can cause black lung disease
- coal mining can contaminate aquatic systems w toxic metals
- burning coal produces ash w metal oxides and alkali requiring disposal
how is oil obtained, largest reserves, negative impacts, what are oil refineries
- pumped from underground reservoirs –> offshore extraction caused Gulf of Mexico Deewater oil spill
- drilling can pollute underground aquifers
- Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Canada, Iran, Alaska
- oil refineries separate oil for different uses (e.g. fuel oil for ships, gasoline for cars
- waste from the refinery process contains metals and toxic compounds
- oil produces less CO2, NOx, SO2
what is natural gas, what are the largest reserves, negative impacts
= mostly methane but also ethane, butane, propane, and pentane
- Russia, Iran, Qatar, US, Turkmenistan
- leaks are difficult to detect bc no colour, odor, or taste so hydrogen sulphide is added to help detect it with smell
- lower nitrogen and sulphur than oil and coal = less harmful emissions
negative impacts of hydraulic fracking for shale gas
- contaminate groundwater
- pollute surface waters w/ waste products
- contribute to seismic activity
Where are most nuclear plants, where is uranium mined, how is the power generated for electricity and a negatice
- North America, Europe, and parts of Asia
1. uranium is mined in Canada, Australia, US
2. the ore is processed and purified before used in reactors
3. neutrons start a chain reaction and energy is produced from splitting of uranium atoms (nuclear fission)
4. the heat generated is used to turn water into steam & steam fed through pipe to a stream turbine
5. the steam rotates the turbine blades which produce electricity
–> used nuclear fuel can generate lots of heat & contain radioactive mat so it’s stored in lead containers in cooling ponds
radioactive waste management
- generated at all stages
- low level waste filtered & disposed of into the env. (e.g. through wastewater discharge or emissions)
- said waste (towels and gloves used on site) are buried underground or stored in lead-covered stainless steel containers
What causes the dispersal of radioactive material?
- chemical corrosion of the container
- microbial action
- geological change (earthquake)
- human activity (terrorism)
Chrnobyl, Ukraine. What happened and what was done to prevent more damage?
- April 26 1986
- operators overrode a safety method during routine test so fire started leading to a huge explosion
- explosion caused release of radioactive plume & wind blew it towards Europe, Norway, Sweden, UK
- helicopters dropped materials into reactor to stop fire & tunnels filled with concrete were dug underneath reactor to isolate aquifers and surface waters
- official detahs were 31 but many born w defects (thyroid)
Fukushima, Daiichi. What happened, what was done to help?
- earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011 caused high waves to breach seawalls near nuclear plant & flooded it so generators used to cool the plant stopped working
- the plant overheated and production of gases and explosions released radioactive mat into atmos
- no deaths but increase in thyroid cancer
this accident changed people’s minds about nuclear energy
advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power
Adv: no CO2 production, causes less deaths compared to FF
Disadv: risk of accidents, lots of nuclear waste w/ high radioactive levels, high initial cost & shutting down cost
adv of renewable energy & reason to switch
Adv: less primary pollutants, reduces GH emissions, provides jobs and energy security
Why switch: decline in FF reserves & its prices increasing, tech development improving efficiency of renewable and capital cost, gov support though subsidies
solar power
- due to tilting of the earth highest solar radiation during summer
- 2 types of solar panels:
1. solar thermal panels (used to heat water & buildings
2. photovoltaic panels (used to convert sunlight to electricity)
solar thermal and photovoltaic panels
ST: Fited onto roofs of buildings
- air can be warmed, water can be heated & stored for when required OR stored to transmit its heat
P: efficiency 10-20%
- cost of production & setup high BUT running costs are low
- manufacture of these panels produce GHG but no emission once setup and running
- panels called heliostat can track moments of sun maximizing amount of electricity produced
solar power adv and disadv
Adv: can be used in remote areas, low running cost + sunlight free, no GHG emissions when running
Disadv: weather dependent, high initial cost, panel production causes pollution, no electricity produced at night
wind power sites, adv, disadv + facts about offshore wind production
= aero-generators
- sites are usually located on top of hills for wind & lack of disruption
Adv: can be used in remote areas, operational cost low, once set up doesn’t cause air pollution
Disadv: noise can mess up bird migratory routes, can kill birds w turbines, wind dependent, high setup cost, electricity produced needs storing
Offshore wind production: winds are stronger BUT reduced fishing grounds, vibrations from aerogenerators impact sea life, destruction of shipping routes
hydropower, hydroelectric power, dams, who are the largest producers of HEP
- most used renewable energy
- hydroelectric power = HEP –> flowing water drives turbines connected to generator which converts mechanical into electrical energy
- dams are built to store water to raise height of water before reaching turbines which increases the amount of power generated
- China, Brazil, Canada + Paraguay generates most of its energy as HEP via the Haipu Dam it shares w Brazil & exports extra energy to Brazil & Argentina
adv and disadv of HEP
Adv: low running cost, dam construction can increase water resources & reduce risk of flood downstream, reservoir can provide ecosystem for fisheries, doesn’t produce air pollution
Disadv: high setup cost, dam construction can cause people to move, loss of habitat, disruption of migratory routes, decomposition of biota flooded can result in methane and CO2 emission
what is geothermal energy and the adv and disadv
- heat energy from the interiors of the earth
- geothermal systems are created by holes drilled into heated areas, pressurized water is passed and collected as steam to drive turbines that generate electricity
Adv: cheap to operate, low CO2 emission, reliable supply in some areas
Disadv: drilling is expensive, poisonous gases from within earth can be released (methane, CO2, ammonia)
what is energy security, who are major exporters, threats to energy security
= the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price
- Saudi Arabia, Russia, Canada
- some countries rely on imports for their needs
Threats: political instability or conflict w exporting country, accidents of natural disasters, exhaustion of source, risk of terrorist attacks on source
e.g. of the US increasing energy security
- majority of energy from FF
- attempts to be more independent: diversifying energy sources to include renewables, increasing energy efficiency
availability of energy
Geology: abundance of FF, easy access to geothermal power
Topography: e.g. hillsides suitable for wind power and rivers for hydropower
