Chapter 5 Flashcards
What is combustion of fossil fuels
The fossil fuel is combusted in a furnace releasing thermal energy
What is Evaporation of water
The temperature of water increases to a point where it begins to evaporate
Describe how steam is used to turn a turbine
Steam is forced through the turbine at a high pressure which makes it turn
Describe the condensing in the cooling towers
Hot steam enters the cooling towers causing it to condense back to water
A disadvantage of the cooling tower
Takes considerable energy from the steam and ejects it into the atmosphere. This reduces the efficiency
State the efficiencies of conventional fossil fuel power plants
Above or below 40%
Definition of a direct renewable energy source
Renewable energies take energy from renewables such as wind and waves and convert this into electricity directly
Four examples of a direct renewable
Wind
hydroelectric
Wave
Tidal
Definition of an indirect renewable energy
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
Two examples of indirect renewable energy sources
PV and Biomass
Energy transfer in wind turbine
Kinetic energy of wind
Kinetic energy of hub blade and main shaft
Kinetic energy of high speed shaft
Electricity
Energy transfer in solar
radiant energy
Electrical energy
Transfer of energy in hydroelectric
Gravitational potential energy
Kinetic energy
Kinetic energy as it rotates
Electrical energy
Energy transfer in tidal
Gravitational potential energy
Kinetic energy
Kinetic energy as it rotates
Electrical energy
Kinetic energy of waves
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
Kinetic energy in biomass
Chemical energy
Thermal energy
Thermal energy
Kinetic energy
Electrical energy
4 stages of transmission of electrical energy
Producing electricity in the power station
The step up transformer
Transmission lines
Step down transformer
Definition of a SMART grid
A computer controlled electricity network that switches input from one energy source to another as demand for energy varies on the grid
3 Benefits of a SMART grid
Maximises renewables
Minimises fossil fuels
Control electricity demand
What is an interconnnector
A cable which joins two nations together over land or sea
Economic benefits of an interconnector
Nations fuel security is increased greatly
Enables nations to import energy from one to the other
Environmental benefits of interconnectors
Electrical energy can be exported from one nation to another
Connections to nations such as Norway facilitates storage of renewable energy
What does CHP stand for
Combined heat and power
State another name for CHP
Co-generation
Disadvantages of traditional power plants
Energy is wasted and does not add value to the electricity production process
How do CHP plants differ from traditional power plants
They make use of thermal energy in steam unlike traditional power plants
Advantages of CHP plants
Increased efficiency
Transmission losses are produced
Carbon emissions reduced
Energy bills minimised
