Fossil Fuels, Geothermal, and Hydroelectric Energy Review

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the formation and characteristics of fossil fuels, geothermal energy systems, and hydroelectric power principles based on the lecture transcript.

Fossil Fuels

Natural fuels such as coal or gas formed from the buried organic remains of prehistoric organisms.

Hydrocarbons

Compounds consisting of hydrogen and carbon, which make up fossil fuels like oil.

Anoxic Environment

An oxygen-poor environment where a lack of oxygen prevents aerobic bacteria from decomposing organic material, preserving carbon.

Kerogen

A waxy substance formed when intense chemical heat cracks organic matter during the formation of oil and gas.

Cap Rock

An impermeable layer of solid rock, such as clay or shale, that traps migrating fossil fuels in underground reservoirs.

Peat

The initial stage of plant material burial in ancient swamps before it transforms into coal.

Lignite

A type of coal formed from peat subjected to moderate heat and pressure over time.

Anthracite

The deepest and final stage of coal formation, resulting in dense, solid rock through intense heat and pressure.

Exajoule ($EJ$)

A unit of energy consumption where $1\,\text{exajoule}$ is equivalent to approximately $174\text{M}$ barrels of oil.

Geothermal Energy

A renewable resource of heat energy from within the Earth, primarily produced by the radioactive decay of isotopes like potassium, thorium, and uranium.

Geothermal Gradient

The progressive increase in temperature observed with increasing depth from the Earth's crust.

Magma

Molten rock beneath the Earth's crust that acts as the primary heat source for geothermal systems.

Reservoir

A subsurface permeable rock layer that holds and stores fluids such as water and steam.

Turbine

A machine with blades that converts the flow of steam, gas, or water into rotational mechanical power.

Permeability

The measure of how easily fluids can flow through a material, such as rock.

Pacific Ring of Fire

A geological region characterized by active volcanoes and tectonic boundaries where the Philippines is located, providing significant geothermal assets.

Enhanced Geothermal Systems ($EGS$)

A technology using hydraulic stimulation to create or reopen fractures in hot, impermeable rock to extract heat.

Binary Cycle Power Plant

A power plant that utilizes a secondary working fluid with a lower boiling point than water to drive turbines at temperatures as low as $57\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ ($135\,^{\circ}\text{F}$).

Flash Steam Power Plant

A system where high-pressure hot water is pumped into lower-pressure tanks to trigger rapid vaporization (flashing) to drive turbines.

Dry Steam Power Plant

A geothermal technology that pipes steam directly from underground reservoirs into turbines; a notable example is The Geysers in California.

Baseload Power

A continuous and stable supply of power provided 24/7, regardless of weather conditions.

Penstock

A pipe delivering high-pressure water from a reservoir to a hydroelectric turbine.

Hydrologic Cycle

The solar-powered cycle of evaporation and precipitation that replenishes the water supply for hydroelectric potential.

Kinetic Energy

Energy derived from the motion of flowing water used to spin hydroelectric turbines.

Potential Energy

The energy stored in reservoir water due to its height (gravitational potential energy).

Impoundment

A hydroelectric system using a dam structure to hold reservoir water to create power.

Pumped-Storage

A system acting like a giant battery, pumping water uphill during low demand and releasing it during peak hours (e.g., Kalayaan Power Plant).

Run-of-River

A hydroelectric system that uses the natural flow of a river with little to no reservoir storage.

Head

The height difference between the reservoir surface and the turbine; a greater value creates more pressure and power.

Generator

A device that converts the rotational mechanical energy from a turbine into electricity via induction.