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Enviro Science > UNIT 4 - AOS 2 > Flashcards

UNIT 4 - AOS 2 Flashcards

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1
Q

Fracking

A
  • Method to extract natural gas from shale formations
  • The gas collects beneath an impermeable rock = reservoir
  • Takes several months to develop a well to collect the gas
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2
Q

Steps of fracking

A
  1. Vertical hole drilled and then horizontally (kick-off point)
  2. Hole is lined with steal and cement to create pipes
  3. The drill rig then lowers the frac gun to end of borehole and is fired to punch holes in steel& cement
  4. Water from stored onsite tanks is mixed with sand and chemicals to be pumped into the borehole with pumper trucks (high-pressure) = causes fractures in the shale layer to reach gas reserves.
  5. The segment is plugged and process is repeated further along the borehole.
  6. Plugs drilled out and gas extracted
  7. Waste removed after extraction
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3
Q

Benefits of fracking

A
  • new supplies of gas around world
  • Well can produce for many decades once established
  • Burning natural gas for electricity = makes less CO2
  • Creates jobs
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4
Q

Disadvantages of fracking

A

WASTE WATER
- Large amount containing chemicals, oil, gas and radioactive particles

AQUIFERS
- Chemicals and methane can leak (prevented with cement and steal)

EARTH TREMORS

USE OF WATER AND SAND
- Large amounts are used
- water cant go back into water cycle because it is contaminated.

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5
Q

FF use in pre-1750

A
  • Before industrial revolution & wood was main energy source (biomass)
  • Coal was shown to cave men for heating
  • Romans then used coal
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6
Q

FF us in 1750-1850

A
  • Industrial revolution (coal powered factories, ships, trains and heat for homes)
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7
Q

FF use in 1886

A
  • Petrol engine invented
  • 4-wheeled automobiles
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8
Q

FF use in early 1900s

A
  • WW1 = first fossil fuel conflict
  • ^ prod of vehicles, armour, guns, and ammunition
  • First oil fueled airplane invented
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9
Q

FF use in 1960s

A
  • Coal = major source of fuel used to generate electricity
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10
Q

FF use in 1970s

A
  • Shortages due to oil embargo of key oil-producing countries (world energy crisis)
    = ^ oil $ due to limited supply
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11
Q

The problem with fossil fuels

A

= non-renewable and consumed faster than can be replenished

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12
Q

Peak oil

A

“Point in time where rate of oil extraction will reach peak and then decline”

Predicted many times but never happened because:
- Unreliable patterns of energy use = wrong predictions
- Development of new energy sources (renewables)
- Changing oil prices change consumption rates
- Change of policies = decreased reliance of FF for energy

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13
Q

Notes about energy

A
  • Transferred from 1 body to another
  • Can be stored, transported, transformed, transferred, preserved, degraded
  • Basic unit of energy = Juole (J)
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14
Q

the 2 main types of energy

A

Potential energy = Has the potential to move
Kinetic energy = All forms of kinetic energy (movement)

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15
Q

Types of potential energy

A
  1. GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL ENERGY
    Something above ground that has the potential to fall (e.g. gate preventing water fall)
  2. CHEMICAL POTENTIAL ENERGY
    Energy produced by breaking of chemical bonds (e.g. combustion)
  3. ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL ENERGY
    Electricity can be used to make light, heat, sound and to make things move)
  4. ELASTIC POTENTIAL ENERGY
    A spring, compressed or extended, will move when let go
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16
Q

Types of kinetic energy

A
  1. MECHANICAL
    Kinetic energy produced by a moving machine (gears)
  2. RADIANT
    Light movement and all electromagnetic waves
  3. THERMAL
    Heat is movement of atoms that something is made up of
  4. CHEMICAL
    Is released during a chemical reaction, often in form of heat
  5. SOUND
    movement of atoms or molecules
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17
Q

Energy transformations (def and types)

A

“Energy is changed from one form to another”

Single step (e.g. chemical (battery) -> radiant (torch))

Multi step (e.g. nuclear chemical -> thermal -> mechanical -> electrical)

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18
Q

The energy transformations poster

A

MAIN TRANSFORMATIONS
Combustion (Kinetic thermal)
|
Steam (kinetic thermal)
|
Turbine (kinetic mechanical)
|
Generator (Kinetic electrical)
|
Distribution

  • COAL (Potential chemical) -> Combustion
  • COAL SEAM GAS (potential chemical ) -> Combustion
  • NATURAL GAS (potential chemical) -> combustion
    (stops after combustion and goes straight to distribution)
  • NUCLEAR (potential chemical) -> Steam
  • GEOTHERMAL -> Steam
  • HYDRO-ELECTRIC (Gravitational potential) -> Water released from dam (Kinetic) -> Turbine
  • WIND -> Turbine
  • SOLAR(kinetic radiant) -> PVC cells (kinetic electric)
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19
Q

Laws of thermodynamics

A

1st LAW
Energy is not created or destroyed (it changes through different forms)

2nd LAW
When transformed, some energy is degraded to a lower quality form (energy is not 100% efficient)

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20
Q

How to find efficiency of energy transformation

A
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21
Q

How to manage the impacts of human energy use

A

Rehabilitation

22
Q

Land rehabilitation & types

A

“Process of returning land to its former state”

Mechanical: Physically moving components of a site (soil = abiotic)

Biological: reintroducing life (vegetation= biotic)

23
Q

Base Load

A

Generation resources that run continuously throughout the year and operate at stable output to meet minimum demands

24
Q

Peak Load

A

Shorter period when electricity is in high demand

25
Q

Oil

A

= NON-RENEWABLE
= FOSSIL FUEL

  • Formed from decomposition and compressions (with heat) of remains of org’s
  • Extracted from earth
  • Used for = heating, electricity, transportation
  • 25-30% efficient

ADV:
- High energy content
Readily available

DIS:
- Most energy lost during transport
- Releases CO2 when combusted
- Extraction can impact surrounding enviro

26
Q

Coal

A

= NON-RENEWABLE
= FOSSIL FUEL

  • Formed from decomposition and compression (with heat) to become sedimentary rock = coalification
  • Extracted through surface or underground mining
  • Used for = Heat, electricity
  • 25-30% efficient

ADV:
- Cheap
- Fulltime energy resource (burnt throughout whole day)

DIS:
- Destructive to enviro
- Combustion ^ gases in atmosphere

27
Q

Petroleum

A

= NON-RENEWABLE
= FOSSIL FUEL

  • fossilization (compressions & heat) of organic remains (marine organisms)
  • Extracted from ground in oceans & transported by pipe lines
  • Used for: Transportation, electricity, petrochemical industry (plastics, fertilizers)
  • 25-30% efficient

ADV:
- Low cost of production
- High Abundance

DIS:
- Non-renewable
- Possible oil spills during transportation

28
Q

Coal seam gas

A

= NON-RENEWABLE
= FOSSIL FUEL

  • Created when methane generated during coalification is absorbed into pores of coal and held in reservoirs.
  • Extracted through fracking
  • Used for: electricity
  • Efficiency: 50%

ADV:
- Cleaner than other fossil fuels

DIS:
- During fracking ground water is contaminated

29
Q

Natural gas

A

= NON-RENEWABLE
= FOSSIL FUEL

  • Mixture of hydrocarbon gases found in basins
  • Extracted using high pressure pipes and welding techniques
  • Used for: heating and electricity
  • Efficiency: heating = 90% & electricity = 30%

ADV:
- Lower emissions
- Domestic availability

DIS:
- High upfront vehicle costs
- Lack of fueling infrastructure

30
Q

Nuclear fission (uranium)

A

= NON-RENEWABLE
= NON-FOSSIL FUEL

  • Uranium is used in nuclear reactors to produce heat = electricity
  • Uranium is mined and transported
  • Used for: Medical needs (e.g. x-ray)
  • 90% efficient

ADV:
- Very little pollution
- Less transportation and mining costs

DIS:
- Explosive
- Harmful waste

31
Q

Nuclear fusion

A

= NON-RENEWABLE
= NON-FOSSIL FUEL

  • Produced when two hydrogen atoms crash = breaking and forming energy (lasts 0.3 seconds)
  • Produced in nuclear reactor
  • Used for: Space exploration, criminal investigation, medical diagnosis & treatment

ADV:
- Sustainable
- Can create four times more energy per kg than fission and coal

DIS:
- nuclear Reactors are expensive

32
Q

solar energy

A

= RENEWABLE

  • Through conversion of sunlight into energy with solar panels
  • Extracted using solar panels through its different layers with different electron amounts it.
  • Used for: remote houses, external lighting
    Efficiency : 20%

ADV:
- Remote energy
- No pollution

DIS:
- Cannot be collected at night
- Amount of light varies
- High initial cost.

33
Q

Wind power

A

= RENEWABLE ENERGY

  • Formed through the spinning of blades on a wind turbine that are equipped with a generator.
  • Rotator transforms the kinetic energy into mechanical energy -> then to electrical through generator
  • Used for: Pumping water, grinding grains
    Efficiency: 25-45%

ADV:
- Cost effective
- Clean and renewable

DIS:
- Construction can disturb locals or enviro
- Can negatively impact wildlife if not correctly designed
- Only suits windy areas & intensity of wind is unpredictable = not constant

34
Q

Hydro-electric power

A

= RENEWABLE

  • The water gains potential energy just before spilling over the dam or wall. It then is converted to kinetic energy as water flows downhill.
  • Extracted by the water crashing and flowing through turbines creating mechanical kinetic energy and then is out through generator.
  • Used for -> Powering homes, businesses and factories.
    Efficiency 90%

ADV:
- Provides essential backup power during major electricity outages
- Doesn’t produce emissions

DIS:
- only viable in certain locations
- Due to intense use of water and land imbalances can be created impacting the environment

35
Q

tidal power

A

= RENEWABLE

-tidal turbines are placed into the water (tidal power stations) and capture the kinetic energy to be transferred to generators to generate electricity.
- Not super efficient -> doesn’t provide energy for much of world although it is renewable.

ADV:
- no fuel needed
- no by-products
-

DIS:
- Few sites are suitable
- Cause disruption to aquatic ecosystems where stations are build.

36
Q

Wave power

A

= RENEWABLE

  • Absorbers that float on the waters surface move up and down with each wave, connected to a water column on the ground surface this generates electricity.
  • Used for: homes, industries, businesses
  • Seen in west coast continents
  • Efficiency = 30-40%

ADV:
- Predictable
- High energy density

DIS:
- High initial investment
- Disruption to marine life
- Only effective in certain locations.

37
Q

Geothermal

A

= RENEWABLE

  • Is when waer is heated from earth by going down cracks in earth.
  • Extracted using geothermal powerplants which draw these fluids/steam from underground reservoirs to the surface. Due to the heat it drives turbines to generate electricity before being reinjected into the reservoir.
  • Used for: heating and cooling homes, industrial processes
  • efficiency : 12% of its inputs are converted to electricity which is lower than other powerplants

ADV:
- Plants are long lasting
- Energy is always available
- no emissions produced

DIS:
- Powerplants are damaging environment
- Costly

38
Q

Biomass

A

= RENEWABLE

  • Uses organic material from living organisms and either.
    Extraction of the electricity is from burning, bacterial decay to create heat and electricity.
  • Used for heating and electricity
  • Not efficient as they require the input of other energy providers to produce enough energy

ADV:
- Waste management
- Renewable
- Biomass crops can grow anywhere

DIS:
- Low efficiency
- Health issues can develop from widespread use

39
Q

Biofuel (ethanol)

A

= RENEWABLE

  • Uses materials obtaining starch
  • Extracted by crops are cooked to convert starch to glucose -> it is fermented to produce ethanol -> then distilled for higher concentration (gasoline added so it can’t be consumed)
    Used for: mixed with petrol for cars

ADV:
- Reduces the amount of petrol needing to be produced
- Less tropospheric ozone is formed

DIS:
- Increases emissions = photochemical smog
- Conflicts with food production
- Costly.

40
Q

Hydrogen

A

= RENEWABLE

  • extraction is when either the hydrogen is burnt to produce heat or fed into fuel cells to create electricity
  • Used for: generating electricity, powering vehicles
  • Efficiency 60%

ADV:
- Renewable
- Numerous sources of hydrogen (water)meaning it can be produced locally

DIS:
- Difficult to transport
- Storage complications (hydrogen stored under high pressure)
- Expensive to pull hydrogen from water
-

41
Q

Name 4 regulatory frameworks that govern Australia’s energy

A
  • Powering Australia
  • Fuel security
  • Trajectory for low energy building
  • Future fuels and vehicles strategy
42
Q

Powering australia

A

Focus on creating jobs, reducing pressure on energy bills and reducing emissions by boosting renewable energy.

43
Q

Fuel security

A

Put in measures to support long-term fuel supplies for Australia

44
Q

Future fuels and vehicles strategy

A

Mainly aim is to reduce emissions in road transport while stimulating industry development

45
Q

Trajectory for low energy building

A

Plan to achieve zero energy and carbon-ready commercial and residential buildings in Australia

46
Q

What is pumped hydro energy storage

A

Source of energy by two water reservoirs at different elevations generating power as water moves down from one to another.

47
Q

What is large-scale battery system

A

Can act as a large-scale power generator connected into the electricity transmission system

48
Q

Compare and contrast pumped hydro energy storage and large-scale battery systems in terms of their sustainability

A
  • Bot not 100% efficient
  • Risk of Pumped hydro is dam safety (dam failure can occur which can affect downstream communities and the environment). Whereas risk of batteries is thermal runaway leading to explosions and fires (risk is very low)
  • Both can impact environment
    Batteries over small area of land and close to energy demand whereas pumped hydro-energy storage is larger and likely to be further away.
49
Q

renewable energy

A

source of energy that lasts indefinitely

50
Q
A

Enviro Science (24 decks)

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