Energy solutions to air pollution and global warming

Question 1

List the variety of energy systems

Answer 1

Nuclear Energy
Coal with CCS
Natural Gas
Liquid or solid biofuels
Wind Energy
Wave Energy
Geothermal Energy
Hydroelectric Energy
Tidal Energy
Solar Photovoltaic Energy

Question 2

Explain Nuclear Energy

Answer 2

1. 9-25 x more CO2 emissions/unit energy vs wind energy
2. Increased ability for nations to acquire Uranium for nuclear weapons
3. Potential of catastrophic accidents
4. Production of radioactive waste

Question 3

Explain Coal with CarbonCaptureStorage (CCS)

Answer 3

1. Requires 25% more energy to operate than a conventional coal plant

Question 4

Explain Natural Gas

Answer 4

1. Combustion leads to more CO2, CH4 however other fossil fuels not used up
2. Shale fracking leads to an increase in water and can lead to ground water contamination or even small earthquakes

Question 5

Explain Liquid or solid biofuels

Answer 5

1. Not a preferred option but is key to eliminating air pollution and eliminating combustion and carbon

Question 6

Explain Wind Energy

Answer 6

1. Conversion of kinetic energy of the wind into electrical energy

Question 7

Explain Wave Energy

Answer 7

1. Capturing energy from ocean surface waves and producing electrical energy

Question 8

Explain Geothermal Energy

Answer 8

1. Dry Steam. (180 to 360 dgC). These emit carbon dioxide, nitrogen monoxide, sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide.
2. Flash Steam (180 to 360 dgC). These emit carbon dioxide, nitrogen monoxide, sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide.
3. Binary geothermal plant

Question 9

Explain Hydroelectric Energy

Answer 9

Water falling from a reservoir behind a dam, it is very sustainable and easily controlled

Question 10

Explain Tidal Energy

Answer 10

Kinetic energy of ebbing (tide going away) and the flowing of current

Question 11

Explain Solar Photovoltaic Energy

Answer 11

An array of cells with material converting solar radiation into direct current electricity

Question 12

Illustrate alpha decay

Answer 12

Parent -> Daughter + Alpha Particle

Question 13

Illustrate beta decay

Answer 13

Parent -> Daughter + Beta Particle

Question 14

Illustrate positron emission

Answer 14

Parent -> Daughter + Positron

Question 15

Illustrate electron capture

Answer 15

Parent + Electron -> Daughter + X-Ray

Question 16

Show how to be able to calculate the half life of a decay process

Answer 16

t(1/2)/yr = 0.693/lambda(y^-1) = ln(2)/lambda where lambda is the decay constant.

Decay constant (lambda) = ln(N(o)/N)/t

Question 17

Show how to calculate the rate of radioactive decay

Answer 17

The rate of decay is expressed as:

-dN/dt = lambda*N

which is the same as

N = N(o)e^-lambdat but in the exponential version

Question 18

Explain how variability of wind/water/sunlight systems can be optimised

Answer 18

1. Interconnecting resources
2. Resources bundled to one commodity and fill in gaps using hydroelectricity
3. Demand-response management**
4. Oversising peak generation capacity, produce more hydrogen(xs) for industry, transportation.**
5. Storing electrical power on site and in batteries
6. Forecasting winds/cloudiness to reduce reserves

** - needs clarifying

Question 19

Illustrate gamma emission

Answer 19

Parent (Excited state) -> Daughter + Gamma Ray

Question 20

Illustrate spontaneous fission

Answer 20

Parent (Unstable) -> Neutrons

Parent (Unstable) -> Daughters