AP Environmental - Fossil Fuels and Nuclear Energy

acid deposition

acid falls to the earth as precipitation or as dry particles

reactor core

actual site of nuclear fission in the reactor

directional drilling

allows for increased areas of oil production while maintaining a smaller footprint on the surface

synfuels

alternative forms of fossil fuels that are too expensive or lack technology to extract

petroleum

another name for crude oil that is a liquid composed of hundreds of hydrocarbons

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

area that demonstrates the conflict over energy needs versus conservation efforts

cogeneration

burning of fossil fuels in order to produce electricity and steam that can then be used to heat water or an area

liquefied petroleum gas

butane and propane are separated out of natural gas and stored in this form

fossil fuels

composed of partially decayed remnants of ancient organisms

coal

composed primarily of ancient swamp plants

oil

composed primarily of microscopic aquatic organisms

natural gas

composed primarily of microscopic aquatic organisms at high temperatures

uranium dioxide

compound that is used to make fuel pellets

petrochemicals

compounds found in oil that are used for plastics, paints, medicines

fracking

controversial method of extracting natural gas, leads to ground water pollution and possible earthquakes

mountaintop removal

controversial method of mining coal

oil shales

deposits of oil locked in sedimentary rock

breeder nuclear reactor

device that produces plutonium; makes more fuel than it uses

control rod

device that speeds up or slows down nuclear reaction

radioisotopes

different forms of an element that are radioactive

radiation

energy released as radioactive compounds break down

isotopes

forms of an element with different mass

natural gas

fossil fuel that burns the cleanest

oil

fossil fuel that is the main energy source worldwide

coal

fossil fuel that is used primarily to produce electricity; creates most pollution

spent fuel

fuel elements that have already been used

Hubbert's Peak

graphic representation of oil production levels of the past, present, and future

anthracite

hard coal that is low in sulfur; burns hot and clean

gas hydrate

ice-encrusted forms of natural gas locked in porous rock

primary extraction

initial drilling and pumping of an oil deposit

Exxon Valdez

largest tanker spill (260,000 barrels)

steam generator

location where heat from reactor turns water into steam

plutonium

man-made radioactive isotope

low-level radioactive wastes

materials that produce small amounts of radiation and can be disposed of in "nuclear dumps"

EROI

measure of profitability by comparing the energy required to obtain the fuel to the energy obtained

secondary extraction

method of increasing oil production by injecting steam or salt water into the well

decommission

method of retiring a nuclear reactor that involves dismantling the reactor

storage

method of retiring a nuclear reactor that involves guarding it for an extended period before dismantling it

entombment

method of retiring nuclear reactor by encasing it in cement

hydrocarbon

molecule that is the basic building block of oil and natural gas

energy efficiency

performing the same task while using less energy; a change in technology

Yucca Mountain

planned storage site for U.S. high-grade nuclear waste

mercury

pollutant produced by burning coal that ends up accumulating in aquatic food chains

sulfur oxides

pollutant released that is primarily contributor to acid rain

carbon dioxide

pollutant released that is primary contributor to global warming

acid mine drainage

pollution created as water passes over newly exposed rock before entering nearby lakes and streams

proven recoverable reserve

portion of an oil deposit that can be extracted with today's technology and profitably

fluidized-bed combustion

prevents air pollution by allowing coal to burn at lower temperatures

vitrification

process of converting liquid nuclear waste into more stable glass logs

petroleum refining

process that converts crude oil into a variety of products, including gasoline, plastics, and medicines

fission

process that produces energy by splitting large atoms

radioactive decay

process where radioactive substance becomes stable

clean coal technologies

processes that attempt to rid the toxic compounds from coal either before or after burning

fusion

putting small atoms together to produce energy; power of the sun

uranium-235

radioactive form of uranium

energy conservation

reducing energy consumption by changing habits such as driving slower or lowering thermostat in winter

enrichment

refining process that concentrates uranium

Clean Air Act

requires 111 of the dirtiest coal-burning power plants to reduce their emissions

SMCRA

requires reclamation of coal mines and establishes tax to pay for abandoned mines

Oil Pollution Act

resulted from the Exxon Valdez accident and regulates oil tankers and the liability from future accidents

reclamation

returning mined lands to a natural state

methane

simplest form of hydrocarbon and primary component of natural gas

Three Mile Island

site of worst nuclear accident in U.S.

Chernobyl

site of worst nuclear accident until Japan earthquake of 2012

bituminous

soft coal type that is most common and high in sulfur; creates lots of pollution

uranium-238

stable form of uranium

condenser

structure that converts steam back into water

reactor vessel

structure that houses nuclear core and site of nuclear reaction

containment building

structure that limits the spread of radiation

tertiary water circuit

system that provides cool water to the condenser

primary water circuit

system that transfer heat from nuclear reactor to steam generator

secondary water circuit

system that turns steam into electricity

tar sands

underground deposit of oil that is so thick it won't flow; major deposits in Canada

radioactive half-life

unit of time that measure the rate of decay of radioactive compounds

scrubber

used to remove sulfur pollutants from the exhaust (smoke) of coal burning power plants

high-level radioactive wastes

waste products that produce high levels of radiation

meltdown

worst possible scenario of nuclear accident; out of control nuclear reaction