Lesson 7

Question 1

is a fossil fuel derived from large quantities of microscopic aquatic organisms such as algae and planktons. The remains of these organisms remain settled to the sea or lake bottoms millions of years ago and were buried beneath fine sediments anoxic conditions.

Answer 1

Petroleum

Question 2

is the insoluble organic portion of sedimentary rocks. It is a waxy mixture of different organic materials (like algae and pollen) and is insoluble in organic solvents because of the high molecular weight of the compounds present.

Answer 2

Kerogen

Question 3

is a hydrocarbon mostly made up of methane (CH4). This gas is lighter than air and is highly flammable. Petroleum and natural gas migrate upwards and are sometimes stored within porous reservoir rocks, such as sandstone, until they become trapped by impermeable layer of rock to prevent further migration.

Answer 3

Natural gas

Question 4

uses water of at least 200oC. Hot water from the reservoir rises to the surface and is “flashed” or turned into steam because of the rapid drop in pressure. This is the most common type of geothermal power plant.

Answer 4

flash power plant

Question 5

fluids that are of lower boiling point than water.

Answer 5

Binary fluids

Question 6

Binary power plants use binary fluid. These are used
because the water’s temperature is less than 200oC and is not enough to vaporize the water as it travels to the surface. But since it still carries geothermal energy, the heat from the water is transferred to the binary fluid which transforms it to vapor through a heat exchanger.

Answer 6

Binary power plants

Question 7

is the oldest. This is the type of power plant in areas where the temperature in the reservoir is very high that water is turned to steam.

Answer 7

dry steam power plant