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Energy Resources Flashcards

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1
Q

technological development timeline

A
  • period of development before practical use
  • further development improved: refined, efficient, effective, cheaper
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2
Q

why is it difficult for new technologies to be financially viable during early development?

A

competition with existing tec, whose costs have been payed for and have economic benefits of mass production

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3
Q

e.g of why it is difficult to calculate full energy costs

A

e.g burning fossil fuels -> pollution -> acid rain -> financial impacts elsewhere (building damage, crop losses, forestry damage, health affects of atmospheric pollution e.g vehicles)

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4
Q

why do renewable energy projects cost more?

A

loan needed for spenny equipment (but low running cost) so higher interest payments so at a financial disadvantage

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5
Q

when could a future energy gap be created?

A

between the time of depleted fossil fuels (or too spenny) and dev of new tec/ infrastructure

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6
Q

enviro impacts of energy consumption

A

enviro damage could affect political polices and public opinion
increasing affluence and population caused growth in demand which current supplies cannot meet

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7
Q

+ of Nuclear Power

A
  • efficient
  • no CO2
  • no greenhouse gases
  • cheap to produce
  • steam produced can heat homes
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8
Q

– of Nuclear Power

A
  • decommissioning plant takes 20 years and very spenny
  • produce heat pollution
    dangerous e.g Chernobyl
  • enviro contamination
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9
Q

fission

A

when neutron slams into large element e.g Uranium 235 forcing it to become larger and more unstable, therefore causing it to fissure and split into 2, releasing huge amounts of energy

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10
Q

fast reactors

A

maintains the speed of neutrons at high energies

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11
Q

slow reactors

A

slow thermal neutrons are slowed by heavy isotope water which makes collisions more accurate and frequent, making it more efficient

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12
Q

fast breeder reactors

A

neutrons causing fission are not slowed by any moderator. Sodium instead of water is used so does not slow the neutrons down

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13
Q

plutonium reactors

A

a fast breeder reactor where uranium- 238 (not fissile) is converted through neutron bombardment within a reactor to produce new fissile material

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14
Q

thorium reactors

A

thorium- 232 is not fissile but can be converted to Uranium- 233 which is fissile, as thorium is a fertile fuel

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15
Q

fissile material

A

material that can undergo nuclear fission when struck with a low energy neutron, e.g Uranium- 235 and plutonium- 239

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16
Q

fertile material

A

material that can be converted to fissile material to neutron absorption e.g Uranium- 238 and thorium- 232

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17
Q

reactor core

A

where nuclear fission takes place which contains the fuel e.g uranium and controls pins e.g borium - also where heat is generated

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18
Q

nuclear blanket

A

surrounds the reactor core that absorbs the energy from the fusion neutrons and removes heat. Also produces Tritium fuel for nuclear fusion

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19
Q

half life

A

the length of time it takes for the radioactivity of the original isotope to decay by half

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20
Q

the liquid fluoride thorium reactor (LFTR)

A

has a fertile blanket of thorium fluoride which produces Uranium- 233 after decaying. It is fuel efficient and has a lack of nuclear waste

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21
Q

how is wave power harnessed?

A

the kinetic energy of the vertical movement of the water/ waves

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22
Q

wave point absorber

A

a floating structure which rises and falls as waves pass, movement turns a generator

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23
Q

wave overtopping/ terminator device

A

breaking waves force water into a storage reservoir (above sea level).
water flows back to sea passing through a turbine - generates electricity.
sea walls can be used to increase wave height -> volume of water that enters reservoir

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24
Q

oscillating wave surge converter

A

as waves pass water moves vertically and horizontally producing a cycle. oscillating movement pushes a flat plate, which moves pistons to pump fluid over a turbine to generate electricity

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25
Q

surface annenuator wave power

A

a hinged floating device with moving sections that push and pull pistons as waves pass, forcing a fluid over a turbine- generating electricity

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26
Q

oscillating water column wave power

A

rise and fall of water as waves pass forces water up and down in a submerged chamber.
air is forced in and out of flows over turbines- generating electricity

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27
Q

locational constraints of waver power

A

kinetic energy is greatest where:
- wind velocities high
- consistent winds in strength and direction (allows wave height to increase)
- long fetch to allow waves to build up

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28
Q

design problems of wave power

A
  • equiptment must be able to withstand storms/ corrosion
  • difficult to anchor equiptment off stormy coasts or in deep water
  • expensive to transport electricity from isolated areas
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29
Q

environmental impacts of wave power

A

limited !
- equipt manufacture/ installation affects
- anchoring affects seabeds BUT can also create new habitats

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30
Q

petroleum primary recovery

A

petroleum in the reservoir trap is forced to the surface by the natural pressure contained in the trap. this pressure may result from several forces

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31
Q

water drive system (primary recovery)

A

water beneath petroleum presses upwards, when oil is penetrated it is pushed upwards and the water replaces it in the rock pores - most effective

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32
Q

gas cap drive (primary recovery)

A

if the drill penetrates a layer of oil with a gas cap above it, the gas layer will expand rapidly causing a downwards pressure on oil forcing it to move up through the well

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33
Q

solution gas drive (primary recovery)

A

gas dissolved in the oil may be released as bubbles when the gas trap is pierced. as the oil moves up, the gas in the oil expands and the growing bubbles push the oil to the surface

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34
Q

why do primary recovery methods only account for 5-30% of the total volume recovered?

A

loss of natural pressure over time from reduced permeability, increased viscosity and less force driving it through the well

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35
Q

secondary recovery

A

aims to maintain reservoir pressure by injecting natural gas into the reservoir above the oil, forcing the oil downwards, and then injecting water below the oil to force it upward.
injecting carbon dioxide/ nitrogen into the oil can also be used as it makes the oil more fluid. the primary recovery gas can also be used, or used as a product.

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36
Q

tertiary recovery

A

most expensive approach, so therefore the least used (COOG) as 12% of petroleum is recovered this way.
it is used to recover the last of oil reserves, after primary and secondary recovery

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37
Q

steam flooding (tertiary)

A

injecting steam into the remaining oil. the steam is at a high pressure so heats up the oil when injected, decreasing its density and viscosity, and increasing its flow rate

37
Q

oilfield bacteria

A

some bacteria reduces the permeability of the water filled pores which forces injected water into the oil- filled pores, pushing the oil out. some bacteria species produce CO2 gas which helps to increase pressure within the rock pores, forcing out the oil. some species also are surfactants (decreases surface tension) which reduces the viscosity of the oil

38
Q

detergents (tertiary)

A

injected detergents reduces the viscosity of the oil reducing the ability of the oil to stick to the rock surface, thus making it easier for the oil to be flushed to the surface

38
Q

how many barrels of oil does the USA produce a day

A

5.8 million

39
Q

primary extraction (short definition)

A

natural gas pressure forces oil to the surface when the trap is initially pierced

40
Q

secondary extraction (short definition)

A

maintains pressure by injecting gas and water into the oil reservoir to force it to the surface

41
Q

tertiary recovery (short definition)

A

enhanced oil recovery (spenny) to recover oil that cannot be recovered other than using steam, detergents or bacteria

42
Q

tar sands

A

low grade oil (bitumous oil) which contains mainly very long chain hydrocarbons.
it is ‘heavy’ low viscosity oil that does not flow easily. it is treated with hot water and around 75% of the oil is recovered

43
Q

oil shales

A

mined when the oil is extracted by heating the shales to drain off the fluid hydrocarbons. recoverable deposits are much greater than the total reserves of crude oil, but extraction is spenny so current estimates of economically recoverable reserves are low

44
Q

directional drilling

A

wells can be drilled that are not vertical. this means it is possible to drill underneath locations otherwise unavailable e.g underneath urban areas, and following weaker/ softer rock (quicker)

45
Q

carbon capture and storage (CCS)

A

capturing and storing the CO2 produced by fossil fuels from extraction sites underground, in attempt to make fossil fuels more ‘green’ and continue their use for longer - could be seen as green washing

46
Q

fracking (hydraulic fracturing)

A

using high pressure to open fissures in surrounding shale rock along which oil or gas can flow towards a recovery well.
water, sand, solvents and explosives can be pumped into fissures to increase recovery rate

47
Q

concerns of fracking

A
  • larger volumes of water required
  • toxic metals naturally present in the rock becoming mobile
  • natural gas and chemicals injected entering aquifers
  • earthquakes and tremors of rock displacement above
48
Q

tight oil and gas

A

large volumes of crude oil and gas are trapped in pore spaces of horizontal shale rock that have low permeability

49
Q

what are the only countries that allow fracking

A

USA, Canada, China and Argentina

50
Q

limitations of hydrogen fuel cells

A
  • highly explosive, worse when pressurised
  • if in liquid form, has to be stored at low temps
  • hydrogen leaks through most metals as too small
51
Q

lithium and sodium hydrides

A

line the walls of fuel cells
hydrogen loosely bonds to walls of store
safe, durable, compact and green

52
Q

secondary fuel

A

fuel directly from the environment that can be converted into other energy forms - secondary fuels

53
Q

e.g 2 secondary energy fuels

A

electricity and hydrogen (synthetic methane)

54
Q

word equation for nuclear fission (same as coal, different source)

A

nuclear energy –> thermal energy –> potential energy (pressure) –> kinetic energy (turbine) –> electrical energy (generator)

55
Q

tidal power word equation

A

GPE –> kinetic energy –> kinetic in turbine/ piston –> electrical energy (generator)

56
Q

how can electricity be stored?

A

batteries or fuel cells

57
Q

reasons for fluctuating energy supply

A
  • intermittent resource e.g tidal and solar
  • bulk deliveries of transported energy e.g coal, oil and biofuels
58
Q

reasons for fluctuating energy demand

A
  • weather related
  • seasonality
  • weekday/ end industry use
  • daytime/ nightime
  • behaviour e.g mealtimes, tv
59
Q

peak shaving HEP

A

used to pump water uphill, stores energy as GPE –> kinetic
+ responsive to demand changes, standby to full power in 15 secs to meet sudden demand increase
- needs a continuous power supply to work near reservoir

60
Q

energy storage: rechargeable batteries

A

enables original chemicals to be reformed using electricity
batteries can be reused, so no waste BUT there are safety issues, e.g toxicity, fire risk, leaking/ discharge

61
Q

storage systems: V2G

A

vehicle to grid
stabilises energy by returing 1% of energy to the grid from charging electric cars

62
Q

storage systems: P2G

A

power to gas
surplus energy to electrolyse water (by electrolysis) to turn hydrogen into synthetic methane, or to sequest carbon easier to store methane

63
Q

storage systems: HVS

A

high volume storage
as volume of heat store increases
surface area to volume ratio decreases
rate of heat loss declines as smaller surface area for each unit of store volume

64
Q

storage systems: molten salt

A

container of salt, stores energy as latent heat by breaking the bonds of the salt

65
Q

storage systems: high thermal mass buildings

A

e.g concrete changes temp slowly, it reduces overheating during high temp seasons so no need for AC, also reduces need for heating at the start of winter as material keeps building warm for longer

66
Q

storage systems: electricity supercapacitors

A

electrochemical process with energy density 10-100x higher than early designs (which stored energy on conducting flat plates).
in the future, could be a large scale storage of electricity

67
Q

fuel cells

A

an electrochemical energy conversion device
H2 + O2 –> H2O + electricity
provides a direct current

68
Q

limitations of fuel cells

A
  • spenny
  • durability
  • hydration (how to work at hot/ cold temps)
  • infrastructure
  • storage
69
Q

difference between fuel cells and batteries

A

fuel cells has constant flow of chemicals into cell so never goes dead BUT batteries have chemicals stored inside so goes dead eventually

70
Q

CAFE regulations

A

the Corporate Average Fuel Economy
regulations designed to improve the fuel economy of cars sold in the USA

71
Q

3 key characteristics of nuclear fission

A
  • persistent nuclear waste
  • easier to control
  • produces less energy
72
Q

4 key characteristics of nuclear fusion

A
  • common reactants
  • no nuclear waste
  • harder to do
  • produces more energy
73
Q

neutron –> uranium- 235 —> neutrons and nuclear waste/ fission product

A

nuclear fission

74
Q

deuterium + tritium —> helium, neutron and a shit tone of energy

A

nuclear fusion

75
Q

where is deuterium sourced from?

A

extracted from water

76
Q

where is tritium sourced from?

A

produced by neutron bombardment of lithium

77
Q

conditions for nuclear fusion

A
  • hydrogen in form of plasma
  • heavy nuclei
  • very high temps
  • vacuum
  • magnetic field
78
Q

why are deuterium and tritium used?

A

have more momentum from added neutrons, which means lower thermal energy needed as they have more velocity from increased weight of added neutrons

79
Q

torroidal reactors e.g

A

Tokomak and JET in Oxford

80
Q

torroidal reactor

A

a circular tube surrounded by superconducting magnets.
the gases deuterium and tritium are superheated to a plasma (a superheated gas which becomes charged) and is then controlled and further compressed by the magnetic field, to make it float in the air of the circular tube

81
Q

laser fusion

A

a gold canister the size of a pencil rubber is heated to 3.3 million degrees, which implodes a sphere of deuterium and tritium inside the canister by shooting lasers into a hole at each end

82
Q

hydroelectric power

A

GPE of rain that lands on upland areas can be harnessed as kinetic energy as it flows downhill
also used in dams where water is stored in a reservoir and is let through, this spins a turbine creating kinetic energy that is converted into chemical energy that is stored in the grid

83
Q

enviro impacts of hydroelectric power

A
  • stops natural migration of salmon to breeding grounds
  • sedimentation
  • reduces turbidity downstream
  • reduces availability of nutrients downstream for flood plains
  • affects river regimes
84
Q

high head dams

A

produce more energy at lower costs than low head dams from more kinetic energy

85
Q

low head dams

A

small scale dams with drop less than 65ft and generates less than 15000kw
have 3 types of turbines:
- waterwheels - less efficient, has constant flow, doesnt get blockages
- kaplan turbines - different rotations of blades, harnesses 90% of kinetic energy, most efficient
- helical turbines - safest for fish, water is pushed down spinning the turbine, work in water with high turbidity as does not build up or block turbine, high efficiency with constant water flow

86
Q

biofuels

A

renewable energy from organic materials, primarily plants and microorganisms

87
Q

types of biofuels

A

first gen biofuels - made from edible crops like corn, sugarcane and soybeans. inc ethanol and biodiesel
second gen biofuels - from non edible feedstocks like agricultural residues, woody biomass and algae
third gen biofuels - use of algae and other microorganisms to produce biofuels

88
Q

VAWT vs HAWT

A

Vertical Axis Wind Turbine
vs
Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine

Enviro Science (11 decks)

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