Unit 6: energy resources and consumption

"fossil" v. "modern" carbon

fossil carbon: the carbon from any previously living thing that has been fossilized, been out of circulation for a long time

modern carbon: any carbon from any living thing or from any previously living thing that has not yet been fossilized, in circulation

active solar heating system

use of mechanical/electrical equip. to capture sun's heat or convert light rays directly into electricity; solar water heaters capture sun's heat to warm water for home instead

anthracite coal

highest-ranked type of coal, characterized by its high carbon content, low moisture content, and excellent heat-producing properties

battery electric vehicle (BEV)

vehicles that run on battery power alone and can be charged with electric power

biodiesel

a renewable fuel made from vegetable oils or animal fats that can be used in diesel engines either alone or blended with petroleum-based diesel fuel

biofuel

Liquid fuel created from processed or refined biomass

biomass energy

renewable energy derived from burning organic materials such as wood and alcohol

bitumen

a thick, sticky, black oil that can form naturally in a variety of ways, usually when lighter oil is degraded by bacteria

bituminous coal

The most common form of coal; produces a high amount of heat and is used extensively by electric power plants.

CAFE standards

Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards enacted into law in 1975, established fuel efficiency standards for passenger cars and light trucks.

carbon neutral

an activity that does not change atmospheric CO2 concentrations

chain reaction

ongoing series of fission reactions

coal

A fossil fuel that forms underground from partially decomposed plant material

coalification

the process by which plant remains become coal

cogeneration/CHP

2 forms of energy (like steam and electricity) are produced from the same fuel source. ex: the steam used could heat the plant or other nearby buildings

combustion

A rapid reaction between oxygen and fuel that results in fire

community solar

Large-scale solar "farms" can generate lots of electricity, but do take up land and cause habitat loss/fragmentation

concentrated solar thermal

large mirror or lens arrays that concentrate sunlight on a central tower to heat specialized fluids that are then used to heat water into steam to run turbines to generate electricity

control rods

A cylindrical device inserted between the fuel rods in a nuclear reactor to absorb excess neutrons and slow or stop the fission reaction

cooling tower

Cooling towers are structures commonly used in industrial facilities, power plants and HVAC systems to reject waste heat to the atmosphere

crude oil

Liquid petroleum removed from the ground-unrefined

depletable renewable

a renewable energy source that CAN run out if overused

- biomass

electrolysis

The process of using an electric current to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen gases

energy conservation

the practice of finding ways to use less energy or to use energy more efficiently

energy efficiency

The ratio of the amount of work done/the total amount of energy introduced to the system

estimated reserves

geologists guess where and how much oil exists

ethanol

Alcohol made by converting starches and sugars from plant material into alcohol and CO2 through fermentation

ethanol fuel

is a biofuel alternative to gasoline, usually derived from corn

fossil fuels

a natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms.

fractional distillation

separation of a liquid mixture into fractions differing in boiling point (and hence chemical composition) by means of distillation, typically using a fractionating column.

generator

A machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy

geothermal energy

Energy from steam or hot water produced from hot or molten underground rocks.

geothermal heat pump

A system that actively moves heat from the underground into a house to warm it (winter time) or removes heat from a house to cool it (summer time) since ground is always hotter/colder than air

gray water

the relatively clean waste water from baths, sinks, washing machines, and other kitchen appliances

green building design

the goal is to save energy and other resources without sacrificing comfort.

ground source heat pump

A network of pipes that circulates water from the ground (for heating) and back into the ground (for cooling)

half life

length of time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay

hydraulic fracturing (fracking)

a method used to extract natural gas and oil from deep underground by injecting high-pressure water, sand, and chemicals into rock formations. This process creates fractures in the rocks, allowing the trapped gas or oil to flow out

hydrocarbons

organic molecules consisting of only carbon and hydrogen

hydroelectric power

Power generated from moving water.

hydrogen fuel cell

a cell that generates electricity from a controlled reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, waste product is H2O

hydrogen sulfide (H2S)

Sulfur (S) enters the atmosphere as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) during fossil fuel combustion, volcanic eruptions, gas exchange at ocean surfaces, and decomposition

Law of Thermodynamics

#1: Energy cannot be created nor destroyed. It can only be changed in form.

#2: When energy changes, it is converted from more concentrated form to a less concentrated form. There is a loss in the form of heat or sound when energy changes forms

LEED program

"Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" program that has established efficiency design guidelines and certifications for buildings.

lignite

the least pure coal.

meltdown

the accidental melting of the uranium fuel rods inside the core of a nuclear reactor, causing the release of radiation

multi-paned windows

help insulate housing by reducing heat loss through windows; divided into sections

natural gas/methane

Usually found with oil deposits, this is a cleaner fossil fuel and we can move it around readily with pipelines. Most houses in the US burn this fuel for heat and hot water.

nondepletable renewable

An energy source that cannot be used up

nonrenewable energy

A source of energy that is a finite supply capable of being exhausted.

NOx/SOx/VOCs/PM

NOx: (nitrogen oxides) caused by all combustions in atm., resp. irritant and ozone precursor

SOx: (sulfur oxides) caused by combustion of fuels that contain sulfur, resp. irritant and harm stomata

VOCs: (volatile organic compounds) caused by evaporation of fuels or improper combustion of fuels, precursor to ozone formation

PM: (particulate matter) caused by combustion of coal, oil, diesel, and biofuels, less visibility (smog) and death

nuclear fission

nuclei of isotopes split apart when struck by neutrons

oil refinery

A factory where crude oil is cleaned and turned into useful oil products

oil sands

Slow-flowing, viscous deposits of bitumen mixed with sand, water, and clay

passive solar heating system

System that captures sunlight directly within a structure and converts it into low-temperature heat for space heating or for heating water for domestic use without the use of mechanical devices.

peak oil

the hypothetical point in time when the global production of oil reaches its maximum rate, after which production will gradually decline.

peat

a brown, soil-like material characteristic of boggy, acid ground, consisting of partly decomposed vegetable matter. It is widely cut and dried for use in gardening and as fuel.

photovoltaic cells (PV)

Aka "solar panels"; contain semiconductor (usually silicon) that emits low voltage electrical current when exposed to sun

proven reserves

a measure of the amount of a fossil fuel that is economically feasible to extract from a known deposit using current technology

radiation

the transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves

radioactive decay

the process in which a radioactive isotope tends to break down into a stable isotope of the same element or another element

renewable energy

energy from a source that is not depleted when used, such as wind or solar power.

rooftop solar

doesn't take up land, but only produces a little electricity

run-of-river system

water is held behind a dam and runs through a channel before returning to the river

sandstone

a sedimentary rock consisting of sand consolidated with some cement (clay or quartz etc.)

sedimentary rock

A type of rock that forms when particles from other rocks or the remains of plants and animals are pressed and cemented together

semiconductor

a material that conducts current under certain conditions

shale

soft, finely stratified sedimentary rock that formed from consolidated mud or clay and can be split easily into fragile slabs.

siltation

The accumulation of sediments, primarily silt, on the bottom of a reservoir.

smart grid technology

efficient, self-regulating electricity distribution network that accepts multiple energy sources (renewable included) and allots electricity to end users based on digitally-communicated needs that coordinates energy use with energy availability

steam reforming

A reaction used for the manufacture of hydrogen, by reacting steam with natural gas at high temperature.

subsidy

A government payment that supports a business or market

subsistence fuel

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

switchgrass

a tall North American grass being developed as a renewable source of energy

tailings

Rock and other waste materials removed as impurities when waste mineral material is separated from the metal in an ore.

tar sands

mixture of clay, sand, water and bitumen. Bitumen can be extracted and refined into oil

thermal pollution

a temperature increase in a body of water that is caused by human activity and that has a harmful effect on water quality and on the ability of that body of water to support life

tidal energy

The energy captured by transforming the wave motion of water into electrical energy using a turbine

turbine

A machine for producing power in which a wheel or rotor is made to revolve by a fast-moving flow of water, steam, gas, or air.

uranium-235

an isotope used to fuel most nuclear fission reactors

variable price mode

a business model where the price of a product or service fluctuates based on demand

water impoundment system

water is stored behind a dam and the gates of the dam are opened and closed controlling the flow of water

wind turbine

A propeller driven by the wind and connected to a generator. The wind makes it turn the generator, which produces electricity.