EG1 CH.5

Question 1

What is the basic design/idea on generating electricity that most power plants use?

Answer 1

Some method to rotate a magnetic field around a conductor that produces alternating current.

Question 2

What is the reason that alternating current is produced when generating electricity?

Answer 2

Because the magnetic field has two opposing poles (+ & -) that changes the flow of electricity at certain rates.

Question 3

What are are some common types of energy production?

Answer 3

Steam, hydroelectric, wind, combustion engine, solar, and nuclear

Question 4

Steam is commonly used to generate electricity by moving a turbine. What are some common heating elements that produce that steam?

Answer 4

Fossil fuels, nuclear, geothermal, and solar

Question 5

What pressure range is steam usually at to move a turbine?

Answer 5

2400 - 3500 PSI

Question 6

T or F: The turbine is directly connected to the generator.

Answer 6

True

Question 7

What are some sources of fossil fuels?

Answer 7

coal, petroleum, and natural gas

Question 8

What is cogeneration?

Answer 8

When excess heat is captured from steam and used for another purpose.

Question 9

How does a combined system work in a natural gas plant?

Answer 9

The hot exhaust from burning natural gas is used to produce steam and run additional generators.

Question 10

There are two ways crude oil can be used to produce electricity. What are they?

Answer 10

In a boiler or in a combustion turbine.

Question 11

T or F: Crude oil in a boiler set up uses cogeneration for additional heating.

Answer 11

True

Question 12

T or F: Crude oil in a combustion turbine set up can use a combined cycle set-up to produce steam and spin additional turbines

Answer 12

True

Question 13

What percentage of US energy comes from nuclear?

Answer 13

20%

Question 14

Where does geothermal plants get the heat to produce steam?

Answer 14

They use the heat from geysers or hot springs to produce steam.

Question 15

T or F: Geothermal plants can use cogeneration.

Answer 15

True

Question 16

What are the two ways that solar can produce electricity?

Answer 16

Photovoltaic and parabolic trough

Question 17

How do photovoltaic cells work?

Answer 17

They use semi-conductors to produce electrical power in the form of direct current.

Question 18

How do parabolic troughs work?

Answer 18

They harness the heat of the sun to heat up salt to a molten state, which passes through a boiler that produces steam.

Question 19

What are some other fuels sources for steam plants?

Answer 19

Biomass and resource recovery

Question 20

What are the two basic methods of obtaining mechanical motion using water?

Answer 20

Gravity-fed or Dam

Question 21

How does a hydroelectric dam work?

Answer 21

Water is back up into a reservoir and channeled into a penstock, where it passes across a turbine connected to a generator.

Question 22

What is pumped hydro electric storage?

Answer 22

When water is pumped from the reservoir to another reservoir during nighttime hours for use during hours of high demand.

Question 23

How do wind turbines work?

Answer 23

Wind turbines capture wind into mechanical motion which spins a turbine.

Question 24

What is the most common fuel source for back-up generators?

Answer 24

Diesel