APES Quiz- Chapter 12

Types of Fossil Fuels

--Oil sands- slow-flowing, viscous deposits of bitumen mixed with sand, water, and clay. --Bitumen (tar or pitch)- a degraded type of petroleum that forms when a petroleum migrates close to the surface, where bacteria metabolize some of the light hydrocarbons and others evaporate.

Percentages of Non-renewable Energy Sources

oil: 34%, coal/peat: 26%, natural gas: 21%, renewable energy: 13%, nuclear fuels: 6%.

If Current Global Use Continues, When Will we Run Out of Conventional Oil?

Less than 40 years.

Four Types of Coal (ranked from young--old, exposure to pressure, and energy content)

Lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous, and anthracite.

Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy:

Possibility of accidents, disposal of the radioactive waste.

Low-level Radioactive Waste

The protective clothing, tools, rags, and other items used in routine plant maintenance.

Electricity Generation

1. Burning of fuel from coal transfers energy to water, which becomes steam. 2. Kinetic energy contained within the steam is transferred to the blades of a turbine, a large device that resembles a fan. 3. The energy in the steam turns the turbine, the shaft in the center of the turbine turns the generator. 4. The mechanical motion generates energy.

How Long Will Coal Supplies Last?

200 years.

United States Energy Efficiency

45% coal, 23% natural gas, 20% nuclear fuels, 7% hydroelectric dams, 4% other renewable energy sources, 1% oil.

Hubbert Curve

A graph that shows the point at which world oil production would reach a maximum and the point at which we would run out of oil. -- He also predicted (in 1969) that 80% of our oil would be used in 60 years.

Petroleum

A mixture of hydrocarbons, water, and sulfur that occurs in underground deposits. -- Oil and gasoline make this ideal for mobile combustion, such as vehicles. --Countries with the most petroleum are Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United States, Iran, China, Canada, and Mexico.

Fission

A nuclear reaction in which a neutron strikes a relatively large atomic nucleus, which then splits into two or more parts.

Coal

A solid fuel formed primarily from the remains of trees, ferns, and other plant materials that were preserved 280- 360 million years ago. -- Largest coal reserves found in U.S., Russia, China, and India. -- Coal burning power plants are 35% efficient.

Per Capita Energy Use in the United States:

Per capita energy use has leveled off. Energy Intensity is decreasing (i.e. we are making energy more efficiently). But because there are more of us, we are using more overall energy.

Advantages of Natural Gas:

Contains fewer impurities and therefore emits almost no sulfur dioxide or particulates, emits only 60% as much carbon dioxide as coal.

Disadvantages of Coal:

Contains impurities, release impurities into air when burned, trace metals like mercury, lead, and arsenic are found in coal, combustion leads to increased levels of sulfur dioxide and other air pollutants into the atmosphere, ash is left behind, carbon is released into the atmosphere which contributes to climate change.

Advantages of Petroleum:

Convenient to transport and use, relatively energy-dense, cleaner-burning than coal, releases sulfur, mercury, lead, and arsenic into the atmosphere when burned.

Control Rods

Cylindrical devices that can be inserted between the fuel rods to absorb excess neutrons, thus slowing or stopping the fission reaction.

Process of Energy Use

Energy resource --> extraction --> transportation --> processing --> combustion/ energy conversion --> electricity generation & disposal/ transportation of waste --> electricity transmission --> user.

Advantages of Coal:

Energy-dense, plentiful, easy to exploit by surface mining, technological demands are small, economic costs are low, easy to handle and transport, needs little refining.

Natural Gas

Exists as a component of petroleum in the ground as well as in gaseous deposits separate from petroleum. --Contains 80 to 95 percent methane and 5 to 20 percent ethane, propane, and butane.

How is Petroleum Formed?

Formed from the remains of ocean-dwelling phytoplankton that died 50-150 million years ago.

Non-renewable Energy Sources

Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) and nuclear fuels.

Advantages of Nuclear Energy:

No air pollution is produced, countries can limit their need for imported oil.

How do Nuclear Power Plants Work?

Nuclear power plants work by using heat from nuclear fission to heat water. This water produces the steam to turn the turbine, which turns a generator.

Radioactive Waste

Once the nuclear fuel can not produce enough heat to be used in a power plant but it continues to emit radioactivity. -- This waste must be stored in special, highly secure locations because of the danger to living organisms.

Disadvantages of Petroleum:

Releases carbon dioxide into atmosphere, and possibility of leaks when extracted and transported.

Fuel Rods

The cylindrical tubes that house the nuclear fuel used in a nuclear power plant.

High-level Radioactive Waste

The form used in fuel rods.

Nuclear Fusion

The reaction that powers the Sun and other stars. This occurs when lighter nuclei are forced together to produce heavier nuclei and heat is released. --Fusion is a promising, unlimited source of energy in the future, but so far scientists have had difficulty containing the heat that is produced.

Subsistence Energy Sources

Those gathered by individuals for their own use such as wood, charcoal, and animal waste.

Commercial Energy Sources

Those that are bought and sold such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

Cogeneration

Using a fuel to generate electricity and produce heat. Example: Steam is used to heat buildings and for industrial purposes but FIRST has to divert to turn a turbine-- IMPROVES EFFICIENCY TO AS HIGH AS 90%

Disadvantages of Natural Gas:

When unburned, methane escapes into the atmosphere, exploration of natural gas has the potential of contaminating groundwater.