Energy Resources - Conservation Flashcards
How can energy conservation be described?
- Using less energy to perform the same function (efficiency)
- Reducing wasted energy
How does heat recovery work in an industrial setting?
- Industrial waste (L/G) is often hot but toxic
- Cold, clean L/G can be fed into a heat exchanger and heat energy from the waste is transferred to the new L/G
What is the most important part of heat recovery?
The two substances do not mix
How can a heat exchanger be designed?
- Long thin pipes for high SA:V
- Made of conductive material such as copper
How does insulation work in an industrial setting?
- Heat loss can be reduced by using an outer layer with low thermal conductivity
- Plastics and textiles
How does high volume storage work in an industrial setting?
- Hot industrial fluids should be stored in tanks at the highest possible volume
- Reduced SA:V retains heat energy for longer as there are less surfaces for heat transfer
What are the optimal shapes for industrial HVS?
- Sphere
- Cylinder (more practical)
How does combined heat and power (CHP) work in an industrial setting?
- Most power stations only have a 40% efficiency as 60% of energy is lost as heat
- CHP utilises this heat for domestic uses such as space heating
What can happen if CHP water is contaminated?
Heat recovery
How does integrated manufacture work in an industrial setting?
- Manufacturing processes occur in the same location
- Prevents steel from being solidified and melted again
- Reduced energy needed for transport of materials
How does industrial recycling work?
- Requires less transport and energy
- Cheaper than manufacturing virgin materials
- Recycling an Al can uses 5% of the energy it take to manufacture one from virgin Al
What are examples of electricity infrastructure management?
- Peak shaving
- High voltage grid
- IT management
- Location of generation
What are two easy ways to conserve energy in transport?
Bulk transport of goods and passengers
How can air resistance impact energy conservation?
- Vehicle aerodynamics and hydrodynamics
- Improved flow of air/water over the vehicle reduces resistance
- Aerodynamic fairings on cabs
How can regenerative braking impact energy conservation?
- Ek of wheels is captured and fed to a battery
- Reduces energy lost as heat due to friction during braking
- Uses an electric motor
How can vehicle weight impact energy conservation?
- Reduced mass leads to a reduced energy requirement to propel a vehicle
- Lighweight materials where strength isn’t important (plastics)
- Steel alloys rather than steel
- Higher energy density batteries
How can wheel design impact energy conservation?
- Pneumatic tyres on road vehicles lose heat due to friction
- Solid wheels lose less energy and can be used by trains/trams
How can fuel combustion impact energy conservation?
- Efficiency of combustion can be improved
- Efficient removal of exhaust gas
- Improve engine temp control
- Ignition control
- Regular engine servicing
What is a vehicle’s optimum speed?
The speed at which the largest distance is travelled using the smallest amount of fuel (around 56 mph)
What is end of life design in transport?
- Vehicles built with components which are easily identifiable and can be deconstructed
- Compostable carpets and seat materials (natural fibres)
What is embodied energy in transport?
- The energy used to produce a vehicle
- Equal to 1.5 years of fuel consumption for an average car
How can embodied energy be decreased?
- Recycling
- Renewable energy use
What are examples of infrastructure and traffic management?
- Smart motorways to reduce congestion (open and close lanes as required)
- Variable speed limits to moderate traffic flow
- Driverless cars can be programmed to maximise energy efficiency
How can building design impact domestic energy conservation?
- Orientation (PSA)
- Shape and surface area (PSA)
- High thermal mass materials
