Chapter 20 - Conventional Energy Alternatives Flashcards
nuclear energy
the energy that holds together protons and neutrons within the nucleus of an atom. Several processes, each of which involve transforming isotopes of one element into isotopes of another element(s), can convert nuclear energy into thermal energy, which is then used to generate electricity
nuclear fission
the conversion of energy within an atom’s nucleus to usable thermal energy by splitting apart atomic nuclei
nuclear fusion
the conversion of the energy within an atoms’s nucleus to usable thermal energy by forcing together the small nuclei of lightweight elements under extremely high temperature and pressure. development of nuclear fusion is still remains elusive
nuclear reactor
a facility within a nuclear power plant that initiates and controls the process of nuclear fission in order to generate electricity
chernobyl
site of a nuclear power plant in Ukraine, where in 1986 an explosion caused a nuclear reaction accident
three mile island
nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania that in 1979 experienced a partial meltdon
Fukushima daiichi
Japanese nuclear power plant damaged in a tsunami associated with the march 2011 Tohoku earthquake.
meltdown
the accidental melting of the uranium fuel rods inside the core of a nuclear reactor, causing the release of radiation
bioenergy (biomass energy)
energy harnessed from plant and animal matter, including wood from trees, charcoal from burned wood, and combustible animal waste products, such as cattle manure. fossil fuels are not considered biomass energy sources because their organic matter has not been a part of living organisms for millions of years and has undergone considerable chemical alterations since that time
biomass
(1) in ecology, organic material that makes up living organisms; the collective mass of living matter in a given place and time. (2) in energy, organic material derived from living or recently living organisms, containing chemical energy that originated with photosynthesis
biofuel
fuel produced from biomass energy sources and used primarily to power automobiles. can be burned at a power plant to produce electricity
biopower
power attained by combusting bioenergy sources to generate electricity
ethanol
the alcohol in beer, wine, and liquor, produced as a biofuel by fermenting biomass, generally from carbohydrate-rich crops such as corn
biodiesel
denial fuel produced by mixing vegetable oil, used cooling grease, or animal fat with small amounts of ethanol or methanol (wood alcohol) in the presence of a chemical catalyst
cellulosic ethanol
ethanol produced from the cellulose in plant tissues by treating it with enzymes. techniques for producing cellulosic ethanol are under development because of the desire to make ethanol from low value crop waste ( residues such as corn stalks and husks), rather than from the sugars of high values crops