Energy And The National Electricity Grid Flashcards
What are the steps in a coal-powered station? (6)
The large chunks of coal are first crushed into a fine powder. This is called pulverisation.
The coal is then transported to a furnace where it is burnt.
The thermal energy from the burning coal is used to boil water and generate steam.
The steam pushes the blades of the turbine and so the turbine spins.
The turbine is connected to the chart of the generator which then rotates large magnets within wire coils, which generates electricity.
The electric current is sent through the power lines to businesses and homes.
What is a generator?
A device which converts mechanical energy to electrical energy.
What happens during nuclear fission?
Scientists split the nucleus of an atom into two smaller atoms. This releases a huge amount of energy.
What is nuclear fusion?
When two atoms are brought together to make a new, bigger atom. During both these nuclear reactions, huge amounts of heat and radiation are released.
What does nuclear power use?
Nuclear fission, nuclear fusion and nuclear (radioactive) decay.
What is uranium?
An element which is unstable and undergoes radioactive decay at a very slow rate.
What element do nuclear power stations use?
Uranium.
What is the main difference between a nuclear power station and other power stations?
The way water is heated to produce steam.
How is nuclear power created in a nuclear power station?
A nuclear power station has a nuclear reactor vessel. The power station needs to control the huge amount of energy given off during nuclear fission of uranium in order to generate electrical energy. The nuclear reactor is the device in which the nuclear reactions take place and are controlled. The uranium is formed into pellets which are arranged into long rods, called reactor core. The rods together make a bundle which is inserted into water to prevent overheating and melting. The bundle which is inserted into water to prevent overheating and melting. The bundle of uranium rods also contains control rods which help to control the process.
The large amounts of energy produced by the nuclear fission reactions in the uranium fuel rods heat the water to produce steam. The steam is used to turn large turbines which transfer the kinetic energy to generators which produce electricity in the same way as in other power stations.
What is the National energy grid?
A network of interacting parts which form one big system to provide electricity to all sectors of the economy.
Where does the national grid start?
The power stations where the electricity is generated.
Explain the process of where electricity goes after the power stations?
The power stations then feed the electric current into large power lines called transmission lines. There is a massive network of transmission lines that extends throughout the entire country. The transmission lines are supported by pylons.
How do they prevent the waste of energy when sent through the transmission lines?
The left tic current is rather sent through the transmission lines at very high voltages and low current.
What are transformers used for?
To change the voltages at different points in the grid.
Where does electricity go before entering the National transmission lines?
A transformer.
