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Environmental Science A2 > Energy > Flashcards

Energy Flashcards

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1
Q

What was the industrial revolution

A

Transforming economies such as agriculture to large industries such as manufacturing

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2
Q

What were some impacts of the industrial revolution

A
  • economic growth
  • a more efficient division of labour
  • growth in technological innovations
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3
Q

What was seen to increase after the industrial revolution

A

The amount of coal

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4
Q

What does per capita mean

A

per person

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5
Q

What normally is meant by finding per capita

A

Finding an average/mean

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6
Q

What are some countries that have the highest per capita energy consumption

A
  • canada
  • usa
  • qatar
  • singapore
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7
Q

What are some countries that have the lowest per capita energy consumption

A
  • madagascar
  • rwanda
  • congo
  • malawi
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8
Q

What factors determine energy consumption

A
  • affluence
  • climate (temperature)
  • access to water
  • industries
  • environmental awareness and change
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9
Q

Example of affluence and energy consumption

A

Canada has a high affluence, so they are able to purchase high end things such as washing machines etc

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10
Q

Example of climate and energy consumption

A

If its a colder climate, there will be more energy needed for heat and vice versa

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11
Q

Example of access to water and energy consumption

A

Might drive up per capita, as water may need to be pumped from aquifers etc

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12
Q

Example of industries and energy consumption

A

Heavy industries require high amounts of energy, which increases per capita energy consumption and vice versa

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13
Q

Example of environmental awareness and change and energy consumption

A

This will decrease the per capita energy consumption

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14
Q

What factors could cause a change in a country’s energy demand and consumption

A
  • change in climate
  • change in industries
  • increase in developments of energy efficient appliances
  • increase in affluence
  • change in cost of energy
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15
Q

Examples with change in climate for energy demand

A

The UK may need more air con in housing etc instead of heating, this increases per capita energy use

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16
Q

Examples with change in industries for energy demand

A

The UK may need to turn towards servicing industries instead of large industries, this will decrease per capita energy use

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17
Q

Examples with increase in development of energy efficient appliances for energy demand

A

It allows for a decrease in per capita energy use

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18
Q

Examples with increase in affluence for energy demand

A

Leads to an increase in per capita energy use, as more people are able to buy appliances such as washing machines, which require a lot of energy

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19
Q

Examples with change in cost of energy for energy demand

A

Causes people to use less energy, as it’s now more expensive, this will decrease per capita energy use

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20
Q

How can we meet increased world energy demand in the future

A
  • invest in the development if renewables
  • exploit more non-renewables
  • investing and developing more nuclear power
  • pop control
  • increase in energy efficient appliances
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21
Q

Definition of renewable and how this feature may affect energy use

A
  • Is an infinite resource - meaning its for the long term future
  • They reform quite quickly
  • examples: solar, wind, HEP
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22
Q

Definition of non-renewable and how this feature may affect energy use

A
  • Energy source that is finite (fixed amount)
  • examples: coal, oil, gas, nuclear
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23
Q

Definition of abundance and how this affects energy use

A
  • How much is available to us
  • ^ the amount of resource = ^ amount of using it
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24
Q

Define local constraints and how this affects energy use

A
  • Energy resources aren’t evenly distributed across the world
  • Access to resources may be reduced by planning authorities
  • example - topography and rock type
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25
Q

Define intermittency and how this affects energy use

A
  • Comes and goes
  • Resource that is available then not available
  • example - solar, wind , HEP
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26
Q

Define predictability and how this affects energy use

A
  • Knowing when a resource is available
  • example - tidal, fossil fuels
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27
Q

Define energy density and how this affects energy use

A
  • Amount of energy per unit volume
  • Energy dense = produce high temperatures
  • example - ^ Dense - Nuclear (uranium)
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28
Q

Define resource availability and how this affects energy use

A
  • Linked to abundance - amount of energy available
  • about equipment and expertise to access the resource
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29
Q

Define ability to convert and how this affects energy use

A
  • How easy for it to be made more usable
  • Being able to store and save for later
  • example - windmill-grind flower-can now use to create electricity
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30
Q

Define applicability to use and how this affects energy use

A
  • Some resources are better suited for other uses
  • example - oil - vehicle use
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31
Q

Define ease of storage and how this affects energy use

A
  • Some energy may need to be converted to electricity in order to store it
  • example - fossil fuels are easiest to store, as you can physically pick it up - coal and oil
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32
Q

Define ease of transportation and how this affects energy use

A
  • Fossil fuels are easiest to transport
  • example - coal - by planes
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33
Q

Define environmental impact and how this affects energy use

A
  • Fossil fuels - production of CO2
  • HEP - building reservoirs and dams
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34
Q

Define technological developments and how this affects energy use

A
  • Some energy sources require more technological developments than others
  • example - nuclear
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35
Q

Define political and economic influences

A
  • International agreements that may stop you using some resources
  • example - paris agreement
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36
Q

What is the formation of coal

A
  • Dead plant matter is submerged in swamp environments
  • undergoes heat and pressure over hundreds of years
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37
Q

How is coal extracted

A
  • Open cast mining - mining on the surface (it’s easier and simpler)
  • Deep mining - exploitation of coal or mineral deposits underground (more expensive and more technical developments)
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38
Q

What is coals’ main uses

A
  • Used to generate electric power
  • Used to heat homes
  • Used for cooking
  • Used in steel industries
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39
Q

What is the formation of oil

A
  • Forms underground over millions of years
  • From prehistoric organisms decomposing by high amount of heat
  • at the bottom of the ocean
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40
Q

How is oil extracted

A
  • Trapped below surface
  • It migrates through porous and permeable rock
  • Can use oil drilling to remove the oil
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41
Q

What is oils’ main uses

A
  • To propel vehicles
  • Heat buildings
  • Produce electricity
  • Petrol chemical industries (fertilisers)
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42
Q

What is the formation of gas

A
  • Marine organisms that die and sink to the bottom of the ocean and get covered with sediments
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43
Q

How is gas extracted

A

-Trapped below surface
- Migrate through porous and permeable rock
- Can use hydraulic fracking to remove it (fluid pumped at high pressures into the rock to create narrow paths for the gas to move through)

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44
Q

What are gas’ main uses

A
  • Generate electricity
  • To heat buildings and homes
  • Use for gas cooking
  • Air conditioning
  • Water heating
45
Q

What are some main features of fossil fuels

A
  • Low intermittency
  • High predictability
  • Don’t require advanced technology developments
  • Reliable sources
46
Q

Arguments FOR the continued use of fossil fuels

A
  • They are abundant
  • More reliable than renewables
  • Very predictable
47
Q

Arguments AGAINST continued use of fossil fuels

A
  • The extraction and combustion cause enviro impacts
  • Transportation can cause damage e.g oil spills
  • Finite resources
48
Q

What are some environmental impacts of coal during extraction

A
  • Mining can cause damage etc
  • Land subsidence
  • Acid mine drainage
49
Q

What are some environmental impacts of coal at or after use

A
  • Sulphur dioxide - acid rain
  • CO2 - climate change
  • Excess C02 cause ocean acidification
50
Q

What are some environmental impacts of oil during extraction

A
  • Cause habitat loss
  • Oil spills
  • Water contamination
  • Air pollution
51
Q

What are some environmental impacts of oil at or after use

A
  • CO2 emissions can cause climate change
  • Transportation can cause damage
  • SMOG
52
Q

What are some environmental impacts of gas during extraction

A
  • Habitat loss
  • Air pollution
  • Affect on human health
  • Habitat fragmentation
53
Q

What are some environmental impacts of gas at or after use

A
  • CO2 emissions can cause climate change
  • Transportation could cause damage to the environment
  • Combustion - excess CO2
54
Q

What is primary oil recovery

A
  • Drilling into the ground
  • Until reaching an oil well
  • Oil reaches the surface on its own pressure
  • (20% recovery)
55
Q

What is secondary oil recovery

A
  • Increase pressure in oil well
  • So more oil reaches the surface
  • By pumping water from the bottom
  • (20% recovery)
56
Q

What is tertiary oil recovery

A
  • Doing something to change properties of oil, to make it less viscous and can move easier through porous and permeable rock
  • e.g adding CO2
  • (20% recovery)
57
Q

What are the benefits of tertiary oil recovery

A
  • You can stay at one extraction point for longer - reduce damage
  • Obtain more fossil fuels for the future - increase economy and profit
  • Carbon capture - some carbon left behind when pumped into the oil
58
Q

What is subsea production wells

A
  • Below ocean floor
  • No platforms at the surface
  • Gas can be extracted from 2-3 km deep
  • They have floating drilling vesicles and platforms
  • Pipe products up to a floating ship or platform
59
Q

What does ROV stand for

A
  • Remotely operated vehicle
60
Q

What does AUV stand for

A
  • Automated unmanned vehicle
61
Q

What are ROV’s and AUV’s used for and what do they do

A
  • Help to access places that are hard, expensive or dangerous for humans to go to
  • Carry out remote surveys or sensing (gravimetry)
  • Can identify natural seeps
  • Can help with maintenance jobs and simple repairs
62
Q

Describe the process of hydraulic fraction

A
  • Shaft is drilled
  • Horizontal hole
  • Fracking fluid is pumped into shaft (water,chemicals and sand)
  • Fracture the rock
  • Fracking fluid pumped out
  • Sand left behind - keeps fractures open
  • Gas can escape and can be collected
63
Q

What are some arguments for fracking

A
  • Generates income
  • Reach goal for demand low-cost energy
  • Increases rate at which natural gas can be recovered
64
Q

What are some arguments against fracking

A
  • Release of greenhouse gases
  • Contamination of fresh drinking water
  • Requires large consumption of energy
    Need to drill multiple holes
65
Q

What was said about the fracking case study in lancashire

A
  • Preston new road
  • Fracking was banned at the site following the seismic event of a 2.9ML
  • They have until the end of 2024 to fill the hole with concrete
66
Q

What are tar sands

A
  • Use bitumous oil (thick,sticky and low-grade)
  • Extract the sand
  • blast or wash it with hot water or steam
  • Recover the oil
  • Return the sand
67
Q

Case study of tar sands in canada and the impacts

A
  • Largest industrial project in human history
  • 170L a barrel
  • Now become economically viable
  • Gathers 3 million barrels a day
    They use:
  • Open pit mining - most is extracted
  • Deep pit mining - Hard to reach areas
    Impacts:
  • Habitat loss
  • Contribute to air pollution
68
Q

What are oil shales and how are they extracted

A
  • kerogen is stuff before oil with is viscous and low quality
  • Mine the shale
  • Heat the shale
  • kerogen - less viscous is collected
69
Q

What is enhanced gas recovery

A
  • EGR, recovers hard to reach gas (recovers last 10-20%)
  • Inject CO2 or N2
  • Increased pressure forces gas upwards
70
Q

What is a methane hydrate

A
  • A crystalline solid that consists of a methane molecule surrounded by a cage of interlocking water molecules
71
Q

Where are methane hydrates found

A
  • In permafrost regions and deep ocean sediments under high pressure and low temperatures
72
Q

What is an extraction method for methane hydrates

A
  • Injecting CO2 or other substances which can replace methane hydrate structure releasing the methane
73
Q

What are some impacts of the extraction of methane hydrates

A
  • Methane leakage
  • Subsidence
  • Water quality concerns
  • Disrupt to marine ecosystems
74
Q

What is meant by the term coal gasification

A
  • Process of obtaining gas from coal
75
Q

Why do we use coal gasification

A
  • Gas may be more applicable for a specific use
  • Coal may be too deep to recover
76
Q

What do some industries call coal gasification

A
  • Syngas
77
Q

What is the process of coal gasification

A
  • Burn coal underground in controlled conditions
  • Produces CO2 + H2 + CH4
78
Q

What is meant by the term ‘coal liquefaction’

A
  • Process of obtaining liquid hydrocarbon from coal
79
Q

Why do we use coal liquefaction

A
  • Applicability to use
  • Coal can be converted to hydrocarbons
  • Can use syngas and convert it to liquid hydrocarbons
80
Q

Define nuclear fission

A

The process in which a large nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei with the release of energy

81
Q

What is fissile fuel

A

Used as fuel in nuclear reactors as they have the ability to be split by neutrons in a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction

82
Q

Define nuclear fusion

A

Two light nuclei merge to form a single heavier nucleus

83
Q

What are some features of nuclear fuel

A
  • high predictability
  • low intermittency
  • non-renewable + finite
  • easy to store
  • easy to convert to electricity
84
Q

What are some advantages of using nuclear power

A
  • high predictability
  • high energy density
  • it’s reliable
  • low greenhouse gas emissions
  • low intermittency
85
Q

What are some advantages of using nuclear power

A
  • high predictability
  • high energy density
  • it’s reliable
  • low greenhouse gas emissions
  • low intermittency
86
Q

What are some disadvantages of using nuclear power

A
  • Many environmental impacts
  • High radioactive waste
  • Risks of accidents
  • High levels of technological developments
87
Q

Explain how a molten salt reactor differs from a more traditional nuclear reactor

A
  • Molten salt is used as the coolant
  • Operate at a higher temperatures
  • Operate at a lower pressure
  • Salt is corrosive
88
Q

Explain how plutonium can be used in nuclear reactors and why this may be better solution than using uranium 235

A
  • plutonium has a high energy density compared to uranium 235
  • plutonium is more efficient in terms of fuel usage
  • plutonium reactors can help reduce the amount of nuclear waste generated - as they can consume some of the waste generated by uranium reactors
89
Q

Explain how thorium can be used in nuclear reactors and why this may be more advantageous than traditional uranium 235

A
  • thorium is abundant
  • we bombarded thorium with neutrons to create U233
  • thorium can be used in the fuel rods and ‘breeding’ can take place in the reactor
90
Q

Advantages of thorium reactors

A
  • have mined it in the past and we’ve stored it
  • production of nuclear weapons this way is harder to produce
  • less nuclear waste is produced and it’s less harmful than uranium
91
Q

Disadvantages of thorium reactors

A
  • expensive
  • current reactors would need redesigning
92
Q

What is nuclear fusion

A
  • fusing two heavy atoms of hydrogen together to create heat energy
  • happens in the sun and stars naturally
    (need high pressure and high temperatures)
93
Q

Conditions required for nuclear fusion to take place

A
  • very high temperatures
  • atoms with heavy nuclei
  • form of a plasma
  • magnetic field
  • a vacuum
94
Q

Reason for very high temperatures

A

^ temps = ^ kinetic energy - atoms moving around faster = more likely to collide

95
Q

Reason for atoms with heavy nuclei

A
  • heavy atoms = faster momentum
96
Q

Reason for form of a plasma

A
  • Turns to plasma at temps above 15,000°c
  • Needs H+ to be concentrated in one place
97
Q

Reason for magnetic field

A
  • Holds plasma in place or else it would damage machinery
98
Q

Reason for a vacuum

A
  • Air would increase the rate of transfer of energy - would cool it down
99
Q

What is a tordial reactors

A
  • donut shape
  • requires the 5 conditions
  • most common type being tested
  • for success - will need to maintain fusion for long period of time. And it needs to produce more energy than it uses
100
Q

What is laser fusion

A
  • doesn’t require a plasma
  • works by directing laser beams at small spheres of heavy hydrogens
  • solid H+ heats up and expands in all directions
  • potential to be carried out as small scale
101
Q

Overview of three mile island

A
  • partial meltdown of a reactor occurred in 1979, led to concerns about nuclear safety
102
Q

What were the human, environmental and economic impacts of three mile island

A

Human
- increased concern about health effects of radiation exposure on local pop
- psychological impacts
Environmental
- contamination of surrounding area
- radioactive materials released
Economic
- costs of cleanup
- compensation for affected individuals

103
Q

Overview of Chernobyl

A
  • occurred on April 26th 1986, at a nuclear plant power plant. During a safety test, led to a series of explosions causing release of radioactive materials
104
Q

What were the human, environmental and economic impacts of chernobyl

A

Human
- deaths of plant workers
- increase in thyroid cancers
Environmental
- release of radioactive materials = pollution
- mutations in plants and species observed
Economic
- costs of cleanup
- loss of agricultural land

105
Q

Overview of Fukushima

A
  • Japan 2011, triggered by a powerful earthquake and tsunami, led by a series of meltdowns and hydrogen explosions
106
Q

What were the human, environmental and economic impacts of fukushima

A

Human
- evacuations
- health concerns
Environmental
- release of radioactive materials
- water pollution
Economic
- high cleanup costs
- decrease in property values in region

107
Q

Overview of Windscale

A
  • windscale fire, October 1957 - was a fire in 1 of the 2 reactors that released radioactive material to surrounding areas
108
Q

What were the human, environmental and economic impacts of windscale

A

Human
- potential health effects
- impacts on local pop
Environmental
- land, air and water contamination
- radioactive waste released
Economic
- cleanup costs
- financial burdens on government

Environmental Science A2 (2 decks)

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