Chapter 5

Question 1

What is combustion of fossil fuels

Answer 1

The fossil fuel is combusted in a furnace releasing thermal energy

Question 2

What is Evaporation of water

Answer 2

The temperature of water increases to a point where it begins to evaporate

Question 3

Describe how steam is used to turn a turbine

Answer 3

Steam is forced through the turbine at a high pressure which makes it turn

Question 4

Describe the condensing in the cooling towers

Answer 4

Hot steam enters the cooling towers causing it to condense back to water

Question 5

A disadvantage of the cooling tower

Answer 5

Takes considerable energy from the steam and ejects it into the atmosphere. This reduces the efficiency

Question 6

State the efficiencies of conventional fossil fuel power plants

Answer 6

Above or below 40%

Question 7

Definition of a direct renewable energy source

Answer 7

Renewable energies take energy from renewables such as wind and waves and convert this into electricity directly

Question 8

Four examples of a direct renewable

Answer 8

Wind
hydroelectric
Wave
Tidal

Question 9

Definition of an indirect renewable energy

Answer 9

Take energy from a renewable source such as the sun using a physical characteristic of the material being used and convert this into electrical energy

Question 10

Two examples of indirect renewable energy sources

Answer 10

PV and Biomass

Question 11

Energy transfer in wind turbine

Answer 11

Kinetic energy of wind
Kinetic energy of hub blade and main shaft
Kinetic energy of high speed shaft
Electricity

Question 12

Energy transfer in solar

Answer 12

radiant energy
Electrical energy

Question 13

Transfer of energy in hydroelectric

Answer 13

Gravitational potential energy
Kinetic energy
Kinetic energy as it rotates
Electrical energy

Question 14

Energy transfer in tidal

Answer 14

Gravitational potential energy
Kinetic energy
Kinetic energy as it rotates
Electrical energy

Question 15

Kinetic energy of waves

Answer 15

Radiant energy from sun
Kinetic energy of wind and waves
Kinetic energy of waves causes tubes in surface of ocean to gain kinetic energy
Kinetic energy from oscillation tubes turn a generator forming electrical energy

Question 16

Kinetic energy in biomass

Answer 16

Chemical energy
Thermal energy
Thermal energy
Kinetic energy
Electrical energy

Question 17

4 stages of transmission of electrical energy

Answer 17

Producing electricity in the power station
The step up transformer
Transmission lines
Step down transformer

Question 18

Definition of a SMART grid

Answer 18

A computer controlled electricity network that switches input from one energy source to another as demand for energy varies on the grid

Question 19

3 Benefits of a SMART grid

Answer 19

Maximises renewables
Minimises fossil fuels
Control electricity demand

Question 20

What is an interconnnector

Answer 20

A cable which joins two nations together over land or sea

Question 21

Economic benefits of an interconnector

Answer 21

Nations fuel security is increased greatly
Enables nations to import energy from one to the other

Question 22

Environmental benefits of interconnectors

Answer 22

Electrical energy can be exported from one nation to another
Connections to nations such as Norway facilitates storage of renewable energy

Question 23

What does CHP stand for

Answer 23

Combined heat and power

Question 24

State another name for CHP

Answer 24

Co-generation

Question 25

Disadvantages of traditional power plants

Answer 25

Energy is wasted and does not add value to the electricity production process

Question 26

How do CHP plants differ from traditional power plants

Answer 26

They make use of thermal energy in steam unlike traditional power plants

Question 27

Advantages of CHP plants

Answer 27

Increased efficiency
Transmission losses are produced
Carbon emissions reduced
Energy bills minimised