UNIT 4 - AOS 2 Flashcards
Fracking
- 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
Steps of fracking
- Vertical hole drilled and then horizontally (kick-off point)
- Hole is lined with steal and cement to create pipes
- The drill rig then lowers the frac gun to end of borehole and is fired to punch holes in steel& cement
- 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.
- The segment is plugged and process is repeated further along the borehole.
- Plugs drilled out and gas extracted
- Waste removed after extraction
Benefits of fracking
- new supplies of gas around world
- Well can produce for many decades once established
- Burning natural gas for electricity = makes less CO2
- Creates jobs
Disadvantages of fracking
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.
FF use in pre-1750
- Before industrial revolution & wood was main energy source (biomass)
- Coal was shown to cave men for heating
- Romans then used coal
FF us in 1750-1850
- Industrial revolution (coal powered factories, ships, trains and heat for homes)
FF use in 1886
- Petrol engine invented
- 4-wheeled automobiles
FF use in early 1900s
- WW1 = first fossil fuel conflict
- ^ prod of vehicles, armour, guns, and ammunition
- First oil fueled airplane invented
FF use in 1960s
- Coal = major source of fuel used to generate electricity
FF use in 1970s
- Shortages due to oil embargo of key oil-producing countries (world energy crisis)
= ^ oil $ due to limited supply
The problem with fossil fuels
= non-renewable and consumed faster than can be replenished
Peak oil
“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
Notes about energy
- Transferred from 1 body to another
- Can be stored, transported, transformed, transferred, preserved, degraded
- Basic unit of energy = Juole (J)
the 2 main types of energy
Potential energy = Has the potential to move
Kinetic energy = All forms of kinetic energy (movement)
Types of potential energy
- GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL ENERGY
Something above ground that has the potential to fall (e.g. gate preventing water fall) - CHEMICAL POTENTIAL ENERGY
Energy produced by breaking of chemical bonds (e.g. combustion) - ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL ENERGY
Electricity can be used to make light, heat, sound and to make things move) - ELASTIC POTENTIAL ENERGY
A spring, compressed or extended, will move when let go
Types of kinetic energy
- MECHANICAL
Kinetic energy produced by a moving machine (gears) - RADIANT
Light movement and all electromagnetic waves - THERMAL
Heat is movement of atoms that something is made up of - CHEMICAL
Is released during a chemical reaction, often in form of heat - SOUND
movement of atoms or molecules
Energy transformations (def and types)
“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)
The energy transformations poster
MAIN TRANSFORMATIONS
Combustion (Kinetic thermal)
|
Steam (kinetic thermal)
|
Turbine (kinetic mechanical)
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Generator (Kinetic electrical)
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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)
Laws of thermodynamics
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)
How to find efficiency of energy transformation
How to manage the impacts of human energy use
Rehabilitation
Land rehabilitation & types
“Process of returning land to its former state”
Mechanical: Physically moving components of a site (soil = abiotic)
Biological: reintroducing life (vegetation= biotic)
Base Load
Generation resources that run continuously throughout the year and operate at stable output to meet minimum demands
Peak Load
Shorter period when electricity is in high demand
Oil
= 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
Coal
= 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
Petroleum
= 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
Coal seam gas
= 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
Natural gas
= 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
Nuclear fission (uranium)
= 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
Nuclear fusion
= 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
solar energy
= 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.
Wind power
= 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
Hydro-electric power
= 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
tidal power
= 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.
Wave power
= 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.
Geothermal
= 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
Biomass
= 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
Biofuel (ethanol)
= 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.
Hydrogen
= 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
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Name 4 regulatory frameworks that govern Australia’s energy
- Powering Australia
- Fuel security
- Trajectory for low energy building
- Future fuels and vehicles strategy
Powering australia
Focus on creating jobs, reducing pressure on energy bills and reducing emissions by boosting renewable energy.
Fuel security
Put in measures to support long-term fuel supplies for Australia
Future fuels and vehicles strategy
Mainly aim is to reduce emissions in road transport while stimulating industry development
Trajectory for low energy building
Plan to achieve zero energy and carbon-ready commercial and residential buildings in Australia
What is pumped hydro energy storage
Source of energy by two water reservoirs at different elevations generating power as water moves down from one to another.
What is large-scale battery system
Can act as a large-scale power generator connected into the electricity transmission system
Compare and contrast pumped hydro energy storage and large-scale battery systems in terms of their sustainability
- 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.
renewable energy
source of energy that lasts indefinitely
