Electricity Flashcards
What is electricity?
Electricity is an energy currency, not a primary energy resource. Electricity is a secondary source of energy, meaning we must use other primary sources of energy, such as coal or wind, to make electricity
How is electricity generated in power plants?
Most power plants in the U.S. use natural gas, coal, nuclear fission, or other energy sources to superheat water into steam. The high-pressure steam then turns the blades of a turbine, which is connected to a generator that produces an electric current
What were the major energy sources used to generate electricity in the U.S. in 2021?
The major energy sources were natural gas (38.23%), uranium (18.91%), and renewables (19.96%)
What is the process of delivering electricity?
Power plants generate electricity that is delivered to customers through transmission and distribution power lines. High-voltage transmission lines carry electricity over long distances to meet customer needs. Transformers at substations increase (step up) or reduce (step down) voltages to adjust to the different stages of the journey from the power plant on long-distance transmission lines to distribution lines that carry electricity to homes and businesses
What is the difference between electric power transmission and distribution?
Electric power transmission is the bulk movement of electrical energy from a generating site, such as a power plant, to an electrical substation. The interconnected lines that facilitate this movement form a transmission network. This is distinct from the local wiring between high-voltage substations and customers, which is typically referred to as electric power distribution
How is electricity usually shipped to a populated area?
Electricity is usually shipped to a substation near a populated area. At the substation, the high voltage electricity is converted to lower voltages suitable for consumer use, and then shipped to end users through (relatively) low-voltage electric distribution lines
How does electricity flow from power plants to neighborhoods?
The electrical charge is carried by transmission lines held up by large towers, which stretch across huge distances. From the transmission lines, the electricity reaches a substation, where the voltage is lowered so it can be sent on smaller power lines. The electricity is then sent through distribution lines to your neighborhood
What is the nature of electricity?
Electricity is a secondary source of energy, meaning we must use other primary sources of energy, such as coal or wind, to make electricity
What is Reliability in the context of electricity?
Reliability in electricity refers to the ability of a power system to withstand instability, uncontrolled events, cascading failures, or unanticipated loss of system components. It means being able to consistently depend on power delivery to homes, buildings, and devices, even in the face of physical and cyber events that cause power disruptions
What does Capacity mean in the context of electricity?
Capacity in electricity refers to the maximum level of electric power (electricity) that a power plant can supply at a specific point in time under certain conditions
What is Baseload power?
Baseload power refers to the minimum amount of electric power needed to be supplied to the electrical grid at any given time. This demand can be met by unvarying power plants, dispatchable generation, or by a collection of smaller intermittent energy sources
What is Peak demand in electricity?
Peak demand represents the moment when demand is highest on the grid as a whole. It is a period in which electrical power is expected to be provided for a sustained period at a significantly higher than average supply level
What are Power pools in electricity?
Power pools, also known as power exchanges, are used to balance electrical load over a larger network (electrical grid) than a single utility. It is a mechanism for interchange of power between two and more utilities which provide or generate electricity
What is the difference between energy conservation and energy efficiency?
Energy conservation includes any behavior that results in the use of less energy. Energy efficiency involves the use of technology that requires less energy to perform the same function
What is an example of energy efficiency?
A compact fluorescent light bulb that uses less energy to produce the same amount of light as an incandescent light bulb is an example of energy efficiency.
