energy resources- 6
typical pressurized-water reactor process
1. the core inside the reactor creates heat 2. pressurized water in the primary coolant loop carries the heat to the steam generator 3. inside the steam generator, heat from primary coolant loop vaporizes the water in a secondary loop, producing STEAM 4. the steam-line directs the steam to the main turbine, causing it to turn the turbine generator, which produces electricity
Three Gorges Dam
a dam began in the late 20th century on the Chang Jiang in China, to help control flooding, generate power, and allow ships to sail farther into China
Drilling in ANWR will not fill US oil demand
a little conservation and efficiency will save far more oil than ANWR has ANWR holds oil equal to 1 year's supply of oil at current rates of use
Open-pit mining
a method of extracting rock or minerals from the earth by their removal from an open pit
a radioactive element's half life
can be used to calculate a variety of things, including the rate of decay and the radioactivity level at specific points in time
Key Facts of Sand Dredging
1. surface mineralisation (no overburden) 2. low cost hydro power 3. low cost dredge mining 4. coastal location (limited overland transport) 5. significant co-product suitable for sulphate and chloride markets without further beneficiation 6. substantial mineral resources resulting in a mine life of >100 years
how is nuclear power generated?
generated through fission, where atoms of Uranium-235, which are stored in fuel rods, are split into smaller parts after being struck by a neutron.
Keystone XL pipeline
- 1179 mile pipe from Alberta, Canada to Steele City, Nebraska - crude oil pipeline, a critical infrastructure project for the energy security of the US and for strengthening the American Economy - will support sig. growth of crude oil production in the US by allowing American oil producers more access to the large refining markets found in the American Midwest and along the US Gulf Coast
Nuclear power generation
- a nonrenewable energy source -nuclear power is considered a cleaner energy source because it does not produce air pollutants, but it does release thermal pollution and hazardous solid wastes
Highwall mining
- a sentinuous mining machine driven under remote control into seam exposed by previous open-cut operations - a continuous haulage system carries coal from the mine to an open-air installation for transport
Methods of conserving energy around home
- adjusting thermostat to reduce the use of heat and air conditioning - conserve water - use of energy-efficient appliances - conservation and landscaping
Hydrogen Fuel Cells
- an alternative to non-renewable fuel sources - they use hydrogen as fuel, combining the hydrogen and oxygen in the air to form water and release energy (electricity) in the process. - water is the product (emission) of a fuel cell
sub-bituminous coal
- black lignite, generally dark brown to black coal - intermediate in rank between lignite and bituminous coal
Hydroelectric power
- can be generated in several ways - dams - turbines in small rivers
Photovoltaic solar cells
- capture light energy from the sun -transform it directly into electrical energy - their use is limited by the availability of sunlight
Mountaintop removal mining
- coal seam outcrops all the way around a mountaintop - all rock and soil above the coal seam are removed; soils are placed in adjacent lows - replaces previously steep topography with a relatively level surface
Procedures before extracting
- current and projected price - type of mining required 1. amount of ore at the site 2. concentration - cost of transporting ore - cost of reclamation
Hydroelectric power and the Environment
- does not generate air pollution or waste - but the construction of the power plants can be expensive, and there may be a loss of or change in habitats following the construction of damsGer
which of the following are advantages of petroleum?
- energy-dense - burns cleaner = less impurities - fewer CO2 emissions than coal - easy to use in the transportation industry
Wind Turbines and the Environment
-a renewable, clean source of energy -however, birds and bats may be killed if they fly into the spinning turbine blades
Lignite
-brown coal, -soft brown combustible sedimentary rock formed from naturally compressed peat. -It is considered the lowest rank of coal due to its relatively low heat content.
Bituminous
-coal or black coal -relatively soft coal containing a tar-like substance called BITUMEN - higher quality than lignite coal but of poorer quality tan anthracite -formation is usually the result of high pressure being exerted on lignite
Hydrogen Fuel Cell and the Environment
-low environment impact - produce no carbon dioxide when the hydrogen is produced from water - however, the technology is expensive - energy is still needed to create the hydrogen gas used in the fuel cell
Mining
-removing mineral resource from the ground - can involve underground mines, drilling, room and pillar mining, long wall mining open put, dredging, contour strip mining, and mountaintop removal
What happens at crude petroleum refineries?
1. crude oil is boiled, causing its many hydrocarbons constituents to volatilize and proceed upward through a distillation column 2. constituents that boil at the highest temperature and condense readily once the temperature drops will condense at low levels in the column 3. constituents that volatile at lower temperatures will continue rising through the column and condense at higher levels, where temperatures are lower. In this way, heavy oils are separated from lighter oils. * heavy oil= long hydrocarbon molecules*
what are some of the advantages of using natural gas as a fuel source?
1. fewest CO2 emissions of all the fossil fuels 2. "cleanest" burning of all the fossil fuels (fewest impurties)
which of the following are needed for petroleum formation?
1. heat 2. time 3. microscopic organisms 4. anaerobic conditions 5. pressure 6. sedimentation
which of the following are disadvantages of solid biomass as a fuel source?
1. indoor/ outdoor air pollution (CO) 2. erosion 3. possible net increase in greenhouse gas emissions 4. deforestation
A sample of radioactive material has half life of 20 years and an activity level of 4 curies. After how many years will the activity level of the sample be at 0.25 curie?
80 years
Natural gas
CLEANEST burning fossil fuels, mostly METHANE
What is the difference between passive solar systems and active solar systems?
Switzer: Active solar energy is energy captured from sunlight with advanced technologies, such as water heaters (using solar energy for heat) and photovoltaics (using solar energy for electricity). Passive solar energy is more in the design of buildings to take advantage of solar energy with active technology. Shade from trees, skylights, energy-efficient windows, roof overhangs, etc are examples of passive solar design and sustainable building.
Chernobyl
The nuclear power plant in Ukraine suffered two large explosions that released massive amounts of radioactive materials. It is the worst nuclear accident in history and thousands were and continue to be impacted by the disaster. - A MESSED UP SAFETY TEST
Dams
built across rivers, collect water in reservoirs the moving water can be used to spin a turbine. the turbines can also be placed in small rivers, where the flowing water spins the turbine.
Crude Oil
can be recovered from tar sands, which are a combination of clay, sand, water, and bitumen
renewable energy sources
can be replenished naturally, at or near the rate of consumption, and reused
pressurized- water reactor: what if the offsite power is lost?
emergency cooling water is supplied by other pumps, which can be powered by onsite diesel generators - other safety systems, such as the containment cooling system also need electric power. (150-200 fuel assemblies)
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (1977)
established a program for regulating surface coal mining and reclamation activities
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)
federal land set aside for wildlife and to preserve pristine ecosystems called the "serengeti of North America" the focus of intense debate: should 1002 area" be opened to drilling
What can be made into specific fuel types for specialized uses? (motor vehicles)
fossil fuels
which of the following are needed to form coal? check all that apply.
heat, time, pressure, ancient vegetation
Use environmental effects and issues
human health concerns, risks and hazards
Use
involves distribution to end user
what does nuclear fission release?
large amount of heat, which is used to generate steam, which powers a turbine and generates electricity
fossil fuels
most widely used sources of energy globally -as developing countries become more developed, their reliance on fossil fuels for energy increases -as the world becomes more industrialized, the demand for energy increases
energy from fossil fuels
produced by burning those fuels to generate heat, which then turns water into steam. That steam turns a turbine, which generates electricity
most common method of mining coal and tar sand?
strip mining
Lignite, Bituminous, Anthracite
three types of coal - heat, pressure, and depth of burial contribute to the development of various coal types and their qualities
Which of the following is/are disadvantages(s) of hydroelectric power?
1. siltation 2. habitat destruction/ displacement of wildlife and people 3. disrupts flow of fish/wildlife 4. limited feasible locations
Major category of product produced from a barrel of crude oil
- gasoline 44.8% - diesel and heating oil 20.3% - petrolium and gasses 9.9% - jet fuel 7.9%
anthracite
- hard, compact variety of coal that has a submetallic luster. -has the highest carbon content, the fewest impurities, and the highest calorific content of all types of coal, which also include bituminous coal and lignite
Solar Energy Systems & Environment
- have low environmental impact - produce clean energy, but they can be expensive - large solar energy farms may negatively impact desert ecosystems
disadvantages of using natural gas as a fuel source include
- hydraulic fracturing (fracking) - methane CH4 escape - methane CH4 is much more potent greenhouse gas than CO2
Methods of conserving energy on a large scale
- improving fuel economy for vehicles - using BEVs (battery electric vehicles) and -hybrid vehicles, - using public transportation -implementing green building design buildings
which of the following are disadvantages of petroleum?
- impurities still present - CO2 emissions - oil spills
Mining: environmental effects and issues
- mine wastes: acids and toxins - displacement of native species - reclamation of land and recycling
Which of the following are advantages of solid biomass as a fuel source?
- minimal technology required - available worldwide - potentially renewable
Geothermal energy
- obtained by using the heat stored in Earth's interior to heat up water, which is brought back to the surface as steam. - steam is used to drive an electric generator
Processing Environmental Effects and Issues
- pollution (air, water, sol, and noise)
Burning of biomass
- produces heat for energy at a relatively low cost -but it also produces carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, and volatile organic compounds - the over-harvesting of trees for fuels also causes deforestation
Methods of Extraction
- surface mining - underground mining - it situ leaching
Dredging
- used to bring up underwater mineral deposits - often used to clear or enlarge waterways - can also recover significant amounts of minerals relatively efficiently and cheaply
Typical Boiling Water Reactor: where do the unused steam go?
-unused steam exhausts to the condenser, where it is condensed into water - the resulting water is pumped out of the condenser with a series of pumps, reheated, and pumped back to the reactor vessel
you are about to invest in a 66 inch flat screen TV. These TVs come in both energy star and non-energy star models. The cost of electricity is $0.15 per kilowatt-hour, and you expect to watch TV for 4 hours per day. the non-energy star models uses 0.5 kW. How much will it cost per year to run this model?
0.5kW x (4 hours / day) x (365 days/ year) x ($0.15 /kWh)= $109.50 / year
The energy star model uses only 40% of the amount of electricity used by the non-Energy star model. How much money would you save on your electric bill over a 5 -year period by buying the energy efficient model?
0.60 x (109.5/year) = $65.70 / year savings 5 years x ($65.70 / year) = $328.50 savings
which of the following are designed to reduce energy demand 1. viable pricing 2. tied rate system 3. energy efficient appliances
1, 2, 3
pressurized-water reactor: where do the unused steam go?
1. They are exhausted to the main turbine, where it condenses into WATER. 2. The water is pumped out of the condenser with a series of pumps, reheated, and pumped back into the steam generator - the reactor's core contains fuel assemblies that are cooled by water circulated using electrically powered pumps, they receive their power from the electric grid.
The Effects of Sand Dredging
1. animal extracted 2. surface dust plume 3. habitat disturbance 4. crushing trenches and holes 5. nutrient release- poison release
which of the following are advantages of using coal as a fuel source?
1. cheap 2. abundant supply 3. east to mine/ transport
what are the top 3 countries of coal reserves?
1. china 2. US 3. Russia
which of the following is a disadvantage to using coal as a fuel source?
1. contains many impurities like particulate matter and ash 2. increase CO2 in the atmosphere 3. increase SO2 in the atmosphere
process of strip mining
1. mining a seam of mineral by first removing long strip of overburden 2. areas stripping is used on flat terrain to extract deposits over a large area 3. contour stripping-removing the overburden near outcroppings in hilly terrain, where the mineral outcrop usually follows the contour of the land
Which of the following are released following the neutron and uranium collision?
1. neutrons 2. energy 3. radioactive byproducts (barium and krypton usually)
Process of Coal
1. pieces of coal are pulverized + blown into high temperature furnace 2. Heat from the combustion boils water 3. steam is then cooled and condensed in a cooling loop, return to the furnace 4. clean coal technology help filter out pollutants from the combustion process 5. toxic ash is disposed at hazardous sites
Which of the following is/are advantage(s) of hydroelectric power? Check all that apply.
1. reduced CO2 emissions 2. extremely efficient/low cost to run 3. provides recreational opportunities
Typical Boiling Water Reactor: process
1. the core inside the reactor vessel creates heat 2. a steam-water mixture is produced when very pure water (reactor coolant) moves upward through the core, absorbing heat 3. the steam-water mixture leaves the top of the core and enters the two states of moisture separation where water droplets are removed before the steam is allowed to enter the steamline 4. The streamline directs the steam to the main turbine, causing it to turn the turbine generator, which produces electricity
The two forms of waste produced from a nuclear power plant include
1. thermal pollution 2. high-level radioactive waste from fission reaction
Three Mile Island
1979 *A nuclear power plant located south of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, overheated, causing part of its uranium core to melt *The overheating was caused by human, design, and mechanical errors *Radioactive water and gases were released *Led to a slowdown in the construction of other reactors and changes in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission *Americans became more aware of environmental concerns
what is the approximate percentage breakdown of fuel source?
80% fossil fuels; 18% renewable; 2% nuclear
Use the diagram that Mr. Anderson showed you to describe how electricity is generated in a hydroelectric power plant.
A dam on a river is the most common way electricity is generated using water. First, water is blocked from free flowing by a dam, thus creating potential energy. When the water is released from the reservoir, it flow through a turbine and spinning it, which in turn activates a generator to produce electricity. The power is then sent through power lines to electric generators. (Switzer: Water stored behind the dam has potential energy. As water is released into the penstock, the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy and spins the turbine. The turbine connects to the generator making electricity.)
Fractional distillation- each fuel is separated by boiling point
A process of petroleum refining, by which a chemical mixture such as petroleum is separated into its components depending on the different boiling points of components.
the use of energy resources is...
NOT EVENLY distributed between developed and developing countries
Mineral Leasing Act (1920)
PROMOTES MINING: authorizes and governs leasing of public lands for developing deposits of coal, petroleum, natural gas, and other hydrocarbons, phosphates, and sodium in the US - prior to the act, these materials were subjected to mining claims under the General Mining Act of 1872
General mining law (1872)
PROMOTES MINING: grants free access to individuals and corporations to prospect for minerals in public domain lands and allows them, upon making a discovery, to stake a claim on that deposit
Processing
Removing ore from gangue. Involves transportation, processing, purification, smelting, and manufacturing
which two specific pollutants did Mr. Anderson just mention with regards to fossil fuel combustion? Check all that apply.
SO2 and CO2 2
Overview of mining
Steps 1. mining 2. processing 3. use`
hydrologic fracturing (fracking)
The process of extracting methane gas from deep wells by using water and other chemicals to fracture the rocks. CAN CAUSE groundwater contamination and the release of volatile organic compounds
What is usually the fuel used in nuclear reactor?
Uranium
Fukushima
When the earthquake hit, the nuclear reactors all automatically shutdown. Within seconds after the earthquake started, the control rods had been inserted into the core and the nuclear chain reaction stopped. At this point, the cooling system has to carry away the residual heat, about 7% of the full power heat load under normal operating conditions. The earthquake destroyed the external power supply of the nuclear reactor. This is a challenging accident for a nuclear power plant, and is referred to as a "loss of offsite power." The reactor and its backup systems are designed to handle this type of accident by including backup power systems to keep the coolant pumps working. Furthermore, since the power plant had been shut down, it cannot produce any electricity by itself. For the first hour, the first set of multiple emergency diesel power generators started and provided the electricity that was needed. However, when the tsunami arrived (a very rare and larger than anticipated tsunami) it flooded the diesel generators, causing them to fail. After they failed the reactor operators switched to emergency battery power. The batteries were designed as one of the backup systems to provide power for cooling the core for 8 hours. And they did. After 8 hours, the batteries ran out, and the residual heat could not be carried away any more. At this point the plant operators begin to follow emergency procedures that are in place for a "loss of cooling event."
Combustion of fossil fuels
a chemical reaction between the fuel and oxygen that yields carbon dioxide and water and releases energy
Passive solar energy systems
absorb heat directly from the sun without the use of mechanical and electric equipment, and energy cannot be collected or stored
what influence which energy sources people use and how they use them?
availability, price, and governmental regulations
Ethanol
can be used as a substitute for gasoline -burning ethanol does not introduce additional carbon into the atmosphere via combustion, but the energy return on energy investment for ethanol is LOW
Can we have clean coal?
coal is the dirtiest fossil fuels. we burn 8 billion tons of it a year, with growing consequences. the world must face the question
Gangue
commercially worthless material that surrounds, or is closely mixed with, a wanted mineral in an ore deposit. DIFFERENT FROM OVERBURDEN
Wood
commonly used as fuel in the forms of firewood and charcoal. often used in developing countries because it is easily accessible
Typical Boiling Water Reactor: reactor's core
contains fuel assemblies that are cooled by water circulated using electrically powered pumps, which they receive their power from electrical grid - if offsite power is lost, emergency cooling water is supplied by other pumps, which can be powered by onsite diesel - containment cooling system also need electric power (370-800 fuel assemblies)
Nonrenewable energy sources
exist in a fixed amount and involve energy transformation that cannot be easily replaced
human use a variety of methods to extract fossil fuel...
from the earth for energy generation
Energy Reduction is the better starting point that which type of renewable energy to use?
hydroelectric, biomass, solar, wind, geothermal...Energy reduction is something every human can control. It's better than discovering new, sustainable sources of energy because it can avoid further economic issues.
The National Petroleum Reserve
in case of emergency, opened recently for drilling - Prudhoe Bay consists of state lands that are drilled for oil that is transported via the trans-Alaska pipeline to the port of Valdez
congeneration
occurs when a fuel source is used to generate both useful heat and electricity
Radioactivity
occurs when the nucleus of a radioactive isotope loses energy by emitting radiation
Peat
partially decomposed organic material that can be burned for fuel
biomass energy
renewable energy derived from burning organic materials such as wood and alcohol
Surface mining
soil and rock overlying the mineral deposit (the overburden) are removed deposits of commercially useful minerals are found near the surface. overburden is relatively thin or area is unsuitable for tunneling typically enlarged until mineral deposit is exhausted or the cost of removing larger volumes makes further mining impractical
What happens to the control rods once they are cooled in the pool?
stay onsite and are stored for generations
Geothermal Energy Pros and Cons
the cost of accessing geothermal energy can be prohibitively expensive, as is not easily accessible in many parts of the world. in addition, it can cause the release of hydrogen sulfide
distribution of natural energy resources
the global distribution of natural energy resources, such as ores, coal, crude oil, and gas, is not uniform and depends on regions' geographic history
True or false: petroleum is more energy dense than coal
true
Active solar energy systems
use solar energy to heat a liquid through mechanical and electric equipment to collect and store the energy captured from the sun
Wind Turbines
use the kinetic energy of moving air to spin a turbine, which in turn converts the mechanical energy of the turbine into electricity
Tidal energy
uses the energy produced by tidal flows to turn a turbine
Overburden
waste rock or materials overlying an ore or mineral body that are displaced during mining without being PROCESSED
what does anaerobic mean?
without oxygen