P3 - Energy Resources

Question 1

State all of the fossil fuels.

Answer 1

Coal
Oil
Natural gas

Question 2

How is energy generated in a coal power station?

Answer 2

Coal will be used as a fuel.
Coal is burned in the furnace. Burning coal heats water in a boiler.
Water is turned to steam in the boiler.
The steam turns the turbine.
That turns an electricity generator.
Steam is cooled in cooling tower
Generator makes electricity. Transformer changes the voltage

Question 3

How is energy generated in a nuclear power station?

Answer 3

Within the containment structure a reactor vessel houses control rods containing radioactive material in the form of pellets of Uranium or plutonium. These fuel rods create heat, which is transferred to water within the steam generator. From here, the radioactive heated water is used to heat a separate water system in the steam generator, which is linked to a turbine. The Turbine is connected to a generator, which produces electricity from the steam-powered turbines. The steam from this process is then converted back to liquid water in the condenser ready to go back to the reactor vessel to create another cycle.

Question 4

What fuel do nuclear power stations use?

Answer 4

Uranium or plutonium

Question 5

What fuel do fossil fuel power stations use

Answer 5

Coal, oil and natural gas