Week 1 - Class Test

Question 1

Discuss the process of a typical coal fired power station

Answer 1

1. Chemical energy in the fuel (gas, coal or oil and now wood) is released as heat in the boiler when it
   burns with air.
2. Heat converts water in boiler tubes to steam, which is then used to drive a turbine that converts energy
   into mechanical rotational energy.
3. Rotational energy drives an alternator (generator) to produce electrical energy.

Question 2

Discuss some of the hopes and concerns surrounding nuclear energy

Answer 2

Hopes: cheap, plentiful and clean alternative to fossil
fuels

Concerns: cost, safety,
waste disposal and weapons proliferation

Question 3

What is the general process of nuclear energy production?

Answer 3

1. Nuclear fission makes heat
2. Heat water to make steam
3. Steam turns turbine
4. Turbines turn generator
5. Electrical power sent around country

Question 4

List some renewable energy sources. (8)

Answer 4

1. Solar thermal energy
2. Solar photovoltaics
3. Bioenergy
4. Hydroelectricity
5. Tidal power
6. Wind energy
7. Wave energy
8. Geothermal energy

Question 5

What are some factors that will affect the use of different energy sources?

Answer 5

1. The reserves of fuels.
2. The capacity renewable sources.
3. Global warming.
4. Air and other pollution.
5. Safety and public perception of safety.
6. The ability to distribute and store energy.
7. Cost.

Question 6

What are some of the available options for ‘green’ energy? Discuss briefly how they operate.

Answer 6

Solar (uses sun to produce electricity using photo-voltaic cells, or directly for heating)

Wind (drives a turbine)

Wave (various devices convert wave energy to electricity)

Tidal Stream (a submerged turbine, often like a wind turbine)

Tidal Barrage (involves a dam across an estuary or impounding water within an estuary)

Offshore Thermal Energy Conversion: OTEC (uses ocean temperature gradients)

Geothermal (uses high temperature at depth in the earth)

Bio Fuel (grow plants to absorb CO2 burn them to release energy (and CO2)

Sequestration (Burn fossil fuels but remove CO2 and pump it into oil wells)