APES Unit 10 Nonrenewable & Renewable Energy

Nuclear Fission

A nuclear reaction in which a massive nucleus splits into smaller nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy

active solar energy

energy captured from sunlight with advanced technologies

passive solar energy

Solar energy systems that collect energy without the use of mechanical devices

Control Rods

neutron-absorbing rods that help control the reaction by limiting the number of free neutrons

Fuel cells

an electrochemical cell that uses replenishable substances such as hydrogen or oxygen or water to produce electricity

fossil fuels

Coal, oil, natural gas, and other fuels that are ancient remains of plants and animals.

Radioactive

A spontaneous process in which unstable nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation

ionizing radiation

enough energy to dislodge electrons from atoms, forming ions; capable of causing cancer (gamma, X-rays, UV)

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons

Fission Chain Reaction

when fission is initiated in one of the atoms, it splits and releases more neutrons, which then cause fission in other atoms.

Sort of like falling dominoes.

radioactive fallout

dust that falls to the ground carrying radioactive isotopes from nuclear explosion or accident

radiation sickness

An illness that results from excessive exposure to nuclear radiation

nuclear fusion

a nuclear reaction in which atomic nuclei of low atomic number fuse to form a heavier nucleus with the release of energy.

Hydrogen Bombs

Thermonuclear weapons created during the arms race. America developed the first H-bomb in 1957. 67 times as powerful as the 1st atomic bomb.

Castle Bravo

Date: March 1, 1954

Location: Marshall Islands

Hydrogen bomb detonated in air bc of US. Design error

Effect: radioactive material

caused thyroid diseases and birth defects

Partial Test Ban Treaty (1963)

a treaty prohibiting all test detonations of nuclear weapons except underground. It was developed both to slow the arms race (nuclear testing was, at the time, necessary for continued nuclear weapon advancements), and to stop the excessive release of nuclear fallout into the planet's atmosphere.

nuclear fission reactor

a device that permits a controlled chain reaction of nuclear fissions

fuel rods

A cylindrical tube that encloses nuclear fuel within a nuclear reactor

containment building

A safety feature of nuclear power plants that provides an additional line of defense against any accidental leak of radiation.

Three Mile Island

1979 - A mechanical failure and a human error at this power plant in Pennsylvania combined to permit an escape of radiation over a 16 mile radius.

Chernobyl

nuclear power plant in Russia that had an explosion in 1986 & released radioactive materials into the air

meltdown

a dangerous condition in which fuel rods inside a nuclear reactor melt

exclusion zone

an area in the Ukraine immediately surrounding the Chernobyl nuclear power plant where radioactive contamination is highest and public access is restricted.

Fukushima

A city in Japan damaged by the tsunami in 2011; the nuclear power plant released radiation

half life

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

net energy yield

Total amount of useful energy available from an energy resource or energy system over its lifetime, minus the amount of energy used (the first energy law), automatically wasted (the second energy law), and unnecessarily wasted in finding, processing, concentrating, and transporting it to users.

Combustion

A rapid reaction between oxygen and fuel that results in fire

coal

A fossil fuel that forms underground from partially decomposed plant material

Coal-Generated Electricity

Once the coal is extracted, its potential energy converted to electricity in a power plant

coal pros

most abundant fossil fuel, large reserves, high net energy yield, cheap to extract

Coal Cons

highest environmental impact, severe land use and disturbance, severe land/air/water pollution, severe human health impacts, high CO2 and CH4 emissions, mercury and heavy metals,

coal ash

ash created in the burning and chemical extraction of coal

petroleum (oil)

Oil in its natural state

Cogeneration

The use of a single fuel to generate electricity and to produce heat

oil extraction

Crude oil is drilled or pumped out of the ground and then refined by heating and separating different components by their boiling points

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

platform exploded, causing history's largest accidental marine oil spill as of mid-2010

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

Major tanker accident in Alaska in 1989, that resulted in a major oil spill in Prince William Sound.

oil pros

high net energy yield

lots of uses

easy to transport

creates jobs

Oil Cons

air pollution, oil spills, nonrenewable, human health hazard, releases CO2

Natural Gas

A gas with high methane content, found along with various fossil fuels and is used as a fuel.

natural gas advantages

-ample supplies

-high net energy yield

-emits less CO2 and other pollutants than other fossil fuels

natural gas disadvantage

transportation costs are high

lack of infrastructure, pipelines impact ecosystem, fracking

electricity

A form of energy caused by the movement of electrons.

Kilowatt-hour

a unit of energy equal to the work done by a power of 1000 watts operating for one hour

Hydropower

Electricity generated from the energy of moving water to spin a turbine

Dams

a barrier constructed to hold back water and raise its level, the resulting reservoir being used in the generation of electricity or as a water supply.

wind energy

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

Wind farms advantages

-little pollution

-safe

-cheap to produce energy

-wind is stronger in winter when there is more demand for electricity

geothermal energy

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

geothermal energy advantages

Reliable and relatively inexpensive

Pollution free

geothermal disadvantages

- Not many suitable locations

- Cost of building them is high compared to the energy gained

solar energy

energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy

solar energy pros

Renewable

Abundant

Sustainable

Environmentally Friendly

Good Availability

Reduces Electricity Costs

Many Applications

Shared Solar

Silent

Financial Support from Government/State

Low Maintenance

Technology is Improving

solar energy cons

Expensive

Intermittent

Energy Storage is Expensive

Associated with Pollution

Exotic Materials

Requires Space

Parabolic solar collection

involves using curved reflective surfaces that collect light and focus it onto a concentrated point

photovoltaic cell

Solar energy cells, usually made from silicon, that collect solar rays to generate electricity.

Biomass

wood, charcoal, and dung as a source of heat.

Biofuels

like ethanol or biodiesel, are generated from using bacteria or yeast to ferment plant matter.

hydrogen fuel cell

generates electricity by reacting hydrogen with oxygen

energy efficiency

The percentage of energy put into a system that does useful work