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GCSE Design and Technology > Section A - Energy generation and storage > Flashcards

Section A - Energy generation and storage Flashcards

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1
Q

Explain how power is generated from coal, gas and oil

Explain how power stations produce electricity (how conventional power stations work)

A

The fuel is burnt releasing heat energy which heats up water producing steam (at very high pressure and temperature).
The kinetic energy of the steam turns the turbine which turns the generator, producing electricity

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2
Q

3 types of fossil fuels

A

Coal
Gas
Oil

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3
Q

State the parts to a coal-fired power station

A

Coal
Boiler
Cooling Tower
Turbine
Generator
Grid system

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4
Q

Over how many years are fossil fuels formed

A

Formed over millions of years

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5
Q

State the parts to a kinetic pumped storage system

A

Lower level reservoir
High-level reservoir
Turbines and electrical generators

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6
Q

Name the organism each fossil fuel is formed from

A

Coal : Trees
Oil and Gas = Marine Organisms

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7
Q

majority of electricity in UK is produced by

A

Fossil fuels

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8
Q

Fossil fuels are _____

A

Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources - will eventually run out

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9
Q

Renewable resources ____

A

Renewable resources are naturally replenished

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10
Q

What is created by burning fossil fuels - what is the effect

A

Burning any fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide. This adds to the greenhouse effect and possible global warming

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11
Q

Why are fossil fuel power stations normally found near rivers or the sea

A

A water supply is needed for cooling, therefore fossil fuel power stations normally found near rivers or the sea

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12
Q

How does the UK get coal

A

UK imports coal from abroad

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13
Q

Adavntages of coal

A

Bigger reserves than other fossil fuels

It doesnt require any processing before burning (although it is usually crushed)

Reliable source of energy

There are still sufficient reserves of coal to last hundreds of years

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14
Q

Disadvantages of coal

A

Non-renewable

Burning coal, leads to the production of carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 is a greenhouse gas which leads to global warming

Burning coal leads to the production of sulfur dioxide, SO2, causing acid rain (which damages trees and lakes)

Waste tips, stockpiles and open pits look unsightly and hazardous

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15
Q

Advantages of gas

A

Reliable

It can be burnt directly and does not require crushing like coal

Easy to transport through pipelines

Gas power stations can be started up quickly to deal with sudden demand

(they will remain important as a replacement for less reliable sources, such as wind power on days when there is insufficient wind available for the wind turbines)

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16
Q

Disadvantages of gas

A

Non-renewable

Burning gas, leads to the production of carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 is a greenhouse gas which leads to global warming

Has to be processed before it can be used to remove water and other impurities

Shale gas extracted by pumping pressurised water and chemicals
deep into the ground is believed to cause earthquakes/seismic
shocks and damage to water courses.

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17
Q

Advantages of oil

A

Reliable

Does not need to be processed by refining from crude oil before it can be used

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18
Q

Disadvantages of oil

A

Drilling for oil can lead to pollution of marine ecosystems and
pollution, eg Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010 in the Gulf of
Mexico.

Non-renewable

Burning oil, leads to the production of carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 is a greenhouse gas which leads to global warming

Burning oil leads to the production of sulfur dioxide, SO2, causing acid rain

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19
Q

What are fossil fuels

A

Fossil fuels are a natural fuel such as coal, oil or gas, formed from the remains of living organisms

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20
Q

What is global warming

A

An increase in the temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere caused by the greenhouse effect and increased levels of greenhouse gases

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21
Q

Give example of nuclear fuel

A

Examples of nuclear fuels are uranium and plutonium

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22
Q

Explain how nuclear stations produce electricity (how nuclear stations work)

A

The nuclear fission reaction produces heat energy, which then heats up the water to produce steam. The kinetic energy of the steam produced turns the turbine which turns the generator, producing electricity

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23
Q

Define fission

A

The process in which uranium atoms are split and produce heat

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24
Q

What happens in nuclear reactors

A

Uranium atoms are split to produce heat - known as fission

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25
Q

How much energy can be produced by fission from a relatively small amount of uranium

A

A vast amount of energy can be produced by this process from a relatively small amount of uranium

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26
Q

Advantages of nuclear

A

No production of polluting gases

Reliable

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27
Q

Disadvantages of nuclear

A

Non-renewable

Produces nuclear waste, which is difficult to dispose of safely
(nuclear waste is highly hazardous and can have long lasting effects on the health of humans and animals for thousands of years)

Risk of a big accident, such as Chernobyl

The cost of safely disposing of unused nuclear power stations is high

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28
Q

Examples of non-renewable energy resources

A

Coal
Gas
Oil
Nuclear

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29
Q

Examples of renewable energy resources

A

Wind
Geothermal
Hydroelectric
Tidal
Solar - Heat, Electric
Biomass (any energy obtained from plants or animals)
Waves

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30
Q

Give the percentage of electricity production in UK of different energy sources

A

Coal - 23%
Oil - <1%
Natural gas - 30%
Nuclear - 22%
Renewable - 25%

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31
Q

How is power generated from wind

A

The moving wind has kinetic energy

This energy is
transferred to the rotor (the turning part) of a wind turbine which makes the rotor spin.

The rotor tuns a generator which makes electricity

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32
Q

Where are the best places to put wind turbines

A

The best places to put wind turbines are on the coast, offshore, on a hilltop, or between hills or mountains, so that the wind supply is reliable

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33
Q

How big do the wind turbines have to be to make much electricity

A

To make much electricity, wind turbines have to be very big

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34
Q

How power is generated from solar

A

We can get energy from it in three different ways

1) We can use it directly in heating

Solar panels can be used to trap the heat from the sun and transfer it into water. The water can then be used for heating

2) We can change it to electricity

To do this Solar Cells can be used
These make electricity when bright light shines on them

They do not make much electricity, so lots of them are needed if much electricity is wanted

3) We can grow plants (Biomass)
We can burn the plants
If we grow a plant called sugar cane we can ferment it to make alcohol which we can use as fuel (especially for cars)

35
Q

How power is generated from tidal

A

The tides are movements of very large amounts of water.

We can get some of the energy out of the tides by building a barrage

As the tides change, the water level on each side of the barrage is different

The water is made to flow through turbines which drive generators to make electricity.

36
Q

How is power generated from hydro-electric

A

Rain falls high on mountains and forms streams and rivers

When the water is high up on the hill, they have potential energy.

If dams are built to hold back the water this energy can be stored. When the water is released it falls.

This changes the waters potential energy to kinetic energy.

The kinetic energy of the water is used to turn a turbine which turns a generator and makes electricity

37
Q

How is power generated from biomass

A

Grow plants so that they can be burnt or use decaying plants or animal materials to produce heat.

38
Q

What is biomass

A

Biomass is growing plants so that they can be burnt, or using decaying plant or animal materials to produce heat

39
Q

Define renewable energy -

A

Energy from a source that is not depleted when used such as wind or soal power

40
Q

what is hydroelectricity

A

The process which uses a dam to block a river in a valley and channels water through turbines that are used to turn generators for producing electricity

41
Q

Advantage of wind

A

Renewable

The energy source is free

No production of polluting gases

42
Q

Disadvantage of wind

A

Requires many large turbines
Unsightly and noisy
Not reliable, the wind does not always blow

43
Q

Advantages of hydro-electric (falling water)

A

Renewable

The energy source is free

No production of polluting gases

Reliable in wet areas

Pumped storage systems allow storage of energy

Can be started up quickly to deal with sudden demand

44
Q

Disadvantages of hydro-electric

A

Only works in wet and hilly areas

Flooding of an area affects the local ecology

45
Q

Advantages of waves

A

Renewable

The energy source is free

No production of polluting gases

46
Q

Disadvantages of waves

A

Can be a hazard to boats

Not reliable

47
Q

Advantages of tides

A

Renewable

The energy source is free

Reliable, tides always occur twice a dat

48
Q

Disadvantages of tides

A

Only a few river estuaries are suitable

Building a barrage affects the local ecology

49
Q

Advantages of solar

A

Renewable

The energy source is free

No production of polluting gases

Reliable in hot countries, in the daytime

50
Q

Disadvantages of solar

A

Only suitable for small amounts of electricity or requires a large number of cells

Unreliable in less sunny countries

51
Q

Advantages of geothermal

A

Renewable

The energy source is free

No production of polluting gases

52
Q

Disadvantages of geothermal

A

Only economically viable in very few places

Drilling through large depth of rock is difficult and expensive.

53
Q

define biofuel

A

A biofuel is any fuel taken from living or recently living organisms

54
Q

Adv of biofuel

A

Renewable - it is a biological source either regrows (vegetation) or is continually produced (sewage and rubbish)

Carbon-neutral - in theory the carbon that the living organism takes in from the atmosphere as carbon dioxide can balance the amount that is released when the biofuel is burnt

Fairly reliable, crops take a relatively short time to grow and different crops can be grown all year round.

55
Q

Examples of energy storage systems

A

Pumped storage systems (kinetic pumped storage system)
flywheels, clockwork, capacitors and rechargeable batteries

56
Q

What are these examples of:

Pumped storage systems (kinetic pumped storage system)
flywheels, clockwork, capacitors and rechargeable batteries

A

Examples of devices used to store energy for use at a later time

57
Q

how do kinetic pumped storage systems work

A

A hydroelectric dam system is used with two reservoirs - one at a low level, and one up a mountain

Rain falls high on high-level reservoirs

When the water is high up on the hill, it has potential energy.

Valves in the system stop the water flowing from the high-level reservoir to the low-level reservoir and stores the potential energy.

When electricity is needed, the valves are opened, allowing water to flow from the high-level reservoir to the low-level reservoir, through turbines

As the water falls its potential energy is being changed to kinetic energy

The kinetic energy of the water is used to turn a turbine which turns a generator and makes electricity

58
Q

When are kinetic pumped storage systems used & why

A

Are a good way of dealing with sudden high demand for electricity.

Used for dealing with sudden high demand for electricity. This is because in moments of high demand, the electrical power supply system might not be able to cope with the demand, so an additional fast-acting top-up is needed.

59
Q

Explain why it is important for the pumped storage system to instantly release electricity when it is at high demand

A

This is because in moments of high demand, the electrical power supply system (E.G. nuclear, coal and gas power stations) might not be able to cope with the demand, so it is important this additional storage system releases electricity instantly so that a power cut is avoided

60
Q

Advantages of kinetic pumped storage systems

A

Pumped storage system instantly releases electricity into the system

Helps avoid the need for power cuts

61
Q

Disadvantages of kinetic pumped storage systems

A

Electricity/power output cannot be sustained for long (only long enough for the other power stations to catch up with demand and avoid the need for power cuts)

62
Q

What is happened to excess electricity (in terms of kinetic pumped storage system)

A

The excess electricity is used to pump the water back up to the top reservoir (at night), ready for sudden peaks in demand the next day

https://bam.files.bbci.co.uk/bam/live/content/zkjywty/small

63
Q

What are capacitors and batterie examples of

A

Capacitors and batteries are examples of types of electrical energy storage

64
Q

What are capacitors and batterie examples of

A

Capacitors and batteries are examples of electrical energy storage

65
Q

What is a capacitor

A

A non-chemical method of storing electricity (most popular non-chemical method of storing electricity)

66
Q

What do capacitors consist of

A

Capacitors consist of two plates of opposite polarity

67
Q

What happens when the capacitor is charged

A

When the capacitor is charged, the positive charges migrate to one plate and the negative to the other

68
Q

Why are supercapacitors used in electric vehicles

A

Supercapacitors are used in electric vehicles because they can be recharged many more times than batteries -

makes them suitable for use in regenerative braking systems where the energy used to slow the vehicle is stored and used to drive the motor

69
Q

Two types of battery

A

Primary (single use)
Secondary (rechargeable)

70
Q

What is a battery

A

Batteries are electrochemical cells that convert chemical energy into electricity.

71
Q

Give an example where batteries are useful

A

Batteries are extremely useful when we need electrical power in locations where mains electricity would be difficult or even impossible to access - such as moving cars

72
Q

Examples of primary types of battery

A

Alkaline batteries
Zinc-carbon batteries

73
Q

Where can alkaline batteries be used

A

Alkaline batteries can be found in electronic devices such as torches, clocks and children’s toys.

Clocks

74
Q

Difference between alkaline batteries and rechargeable batteries

A

Rechargeable batteries are more expensive to purchase than alkaline batteries
- but are cheaper to use as they can be recharged many times

75
Q

Discuss the environmental impact of rechargeable batteries

A

Positive environmental impact as less waste goes to landfill and fewer materials and processes are used in the manufacture of more batteries.

76
Q

Discuss environmental impact for regular batteries

A

Safe disposal is essential as the batteries contain harmful chemicals and metals that must not be allowed to contaminate groundwater supplies

77
Q

What is the typical size of a alkaline battery and rechargeable battery

A

1.5 volts per cell - battery

1.2 volts

need more rechargeable batteries than single use batteries to power a fixed volt device
(in a 12 volt device you would need 10 rechargeable batteries , but only eight single use batteries)

78
Q

Types of batteries (in use)

A

Large lead-acid batteries for cars, trucks, sometime submarines

Miniature batteries - such as those used in hearing aids

79
Q

What do all fuels create when burnt

A

All fuels create pollution when burnt

80
Q

Can storage systems generate power

A

Storage systems cannot generate power

81
Q

Uses of storage systems

A

Useful for when extra supply is needed quickly, or if it is not possible to connect to a supply

82
Q

Examples of finite resources

A

Coal, Gas, Oil

83
Q

what do renewable sources do

A

Renewable sources reduce the risk of pollution

GCSE Design and Technology (16 decks)

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