Energy Systems and Sustainability - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards defining fundamental concepts, metrics, technologies, solar projects, and coal classifications presented in the Energy Systems and Sustainability lecture.

Energy System

A system primarily designed to supply energy-services to end-users.

Energy Efficiency

The practice of using less energy to obtain the required output, defined by the ratio: $\text{Efficiency} = \left(\frac{\text{Useful Energy Output}}{\text{Total Energy Input}}\right) \times 100\%$.

Heat Rate

An inverse measure of energy efficiency for a power plant, expressed as $\phi_{hr} = \frac{H}{E}$ in units of $\text{kJ/kWhr}$, where lower values indicate higher efficiency.

Tungsten Bulb

A traditional lighting bulb that converts only $10\%$ of input electrical energy into light output.

Halogen Bulb

An incandescent lighting source that uses up to $20\%$ less energy than a standard tungsten bulb.

Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL)

A fluorescent lighting technology that consumes $70\%$ less energy compared to a standard tungsten bulb.

LED Bulb

A highly efficient light-emitting diode bulb that uses $80\%$ to $90\%$ less energy than a traditional tungsten bulb.

Energy Cycle

An interconnected set of processes that govern the flow and transformation of energy within a system, such as Earth's biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.

Exothermic Reaction

A chemical reaction that releases heat energy into its surroundings, causing the temperature of the reaction system to increase.

Endothermic Reaction

A chemical reaction that absorbs energy from its surroundings, requiring heat input to proceed.

Sustainability

The ability to maintain a state or process at a specific rate or level over time, meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Sustainable Energy

An approach to energy provision that fulfills current energy demands without compromising the capability of future generations to satisfy their energy requirements.

Renewable Energy

Energy derived from natural resources that are replenished naturally on a human timescale, such as solar, wind, biomass, hydro, geothermal, and tidal sources.

Coal

The oldest and most abundant solid fossil fuel rock, composed primarily of carbon with minor fractions of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur, offering an energy density of $17\text{--}32\,\text{MJ/kg}$.

Peat

A dark-brown accumulation of partially decayed organic matter with $40\text{--}55\%$ carbon, $45\%$ moisture content, a calorific value of $22.72\,\text{MJ}$, and an estimated age of $1 \times 10^6\,\text{years}$.

Lignite

Also called brown coal, it is compressed peat with high volatile content, $40\text{--}60\%$ carbon, $35\%$ moisture, a calorific value of $26.35\,\text{MJ}$, and an age of $20\text{--}60 \times 10^6\,\text{years}$.

Bituminous Coal

The most abundant dense black coal globally, containing $40\text{--}80\%$ carbon and $15\text{--}40\%$ moisture, with a calorific value of $33.45\,\text{MJ}$ and an age of $150\text{--}180 \times 10^6\,\text{years}$.

Anthracite

The highest-rank, hardest coal featuring a greyish-black color, metallic lustre, lowest moisture content, and smokeless combustion.

Ar Rass II Solar Power Plant

A planned $2\,\text{GW}$ solar energy project located in Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia, with an estimated cost of SAR 7.5 Billion (USD 2000 Million).

Al Sadawi IPP Solar Power Plant

A $2\,\text{GW}$ solar energy plant in Al Sadawi, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, in the pre-qualification/pre-tender stage with an estimated cost of SAR 11 Billion (USD 3000 Million).

Amaala Solar Power Plant

A $250\,\text{MW}$ solar power plant situated on the Red Sea Coast, Saudi Arabia, currently at the contract award stage with an estimated cost of SAR 1.4 Billion (USD 375 Million).