Module 35, 36, and 37 Notes

AI Generated from Module 35, 36, & 37 Outlines and Class Notes

BTU

British thermal unit; the energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit.

Joule (J)

A unit of energy.

Gigajoule (GJ)

1 billion joules.

Exajoule (EJ)

1 billion gigajoules or 1 billion billion joules.

Quad

A unit of energy equivalent to 1.055 Exajoules or 1 Quadrillion BTUs.

Renewable energy

Energy that is replenished naturally, such as solar, wind, and hydro power.

Nonrenewable energy

Energy resources that are finite and cannot be replenished, such as fossil fuels.

Energy Efficiency

The goal of using less energy to provide the same service.

Energy Conservation

The practice of using less energy by reducing energy consumption.

Energy Return on Energy Investment (EROEI)

A metric that measures the amount of energy gained from an energy source relative to the energy invested in obtaining it.

Modern carbon

Carbon in biomass that was recently in the atmosphere.

Fossil carbon

Old carbon contained in fossil fuels, buried for millions of years.

Carbon neutral

An activity that does not change atmospheric CO2 concentrations.

Nondepletable resources

Energy sources that cannot be used up, such as solar and wind energy.

Potentially renewable resources

Energy sources that can be regenerated indefinitely if not overharvested.

Hubbert Curve

A graph representing oil use, projecting when world oil production will reach a maximum.

Peak oil

The point at which oil extraction and use reaches its maximum.

Combined cycle

A feature in natural gas-fired power plants that generates electricity with both steam and gas turbines.

Cogeneration

The use of a fuel to generate electricity and also provide heat to a building or industrial process.

Fracking

A method of oil and gas extraction that uses high-pressure fluids to crack rocks and release gas.

Turbine

A device that converts energy from wind, water, or steam into electricity.

Electrical grid

A network of interconnected transmission lines for delivering electricity.

Energy quality

The ease with which an energy source can be used to do work.

Fossil Fuels

Energy resources derived from the remains of ancient plants and animals, primarily coal, oil, and natural gas.

Applications of Fossil Fuels

Used for electricity generation, heating, transportation, and as feedstock for various industrial processes.

Pros of Fossil Fuels

High energy density, established infrastructure, and relatively low cost compared to some renewable sources.

Cons of Fossil Fuels

Greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, habitat destruction, and contribution to climate change.

Coal

A solid fossil fuel used primarily for electricity generation and in steel production.

Oil

A liquid fossil fuel used for transportation, heating, and as a raw material in petrochemicals.

Natural Gas

A gaseous fossil fuel used for electricity generation, heating, and as an industrial feedstock.

Carbon Emissions from Fossil Fuels

The release of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases when fossil fuels are burned.

Resource Depletion

The gradual depletion of fossil fuel reserves due to continued extraction and consumption.

Energy Transition

The process of moving from fossil fuel-based energy systems to renewable and sustainable energy sources.

Specialized uses of fossil fuels

Fossil fuels are specifically used as fuel for motor vehicles (gasoline, diesel) and for electricity generation in power plants.

Gasoline

A liquid fossil fuel used primarily in internal combustion engines of vehicles.

Diesel

A type of fuel derived from crude oil, used in diesel engines for vehicles and machinery.

Electricity generation from fossil fuels

The process of converting fossil fuels into electricity, primarily using coal, natural gas, and oil in power plants.

Internal combustion engine

An engine that generates power by burning fossil fuel, typically found in cars and trucks.

Power plant

A facility where fossil fuels are burned to produce steam or gas that drives turbines to generate electricity.

Flex-fuel vehicles

Vehicles designed to run on more than one type of fuel, typically including gasoline and ethanol.

Natural gas vehicles (NGVs)

Vehicles that run on compressed or liquefied natural gas instead of gasoline or diesel.

Electricity Generation

The process of converting different energy sources into electrical power, often utilizing turbines.

Cogeneration

A system that produces both electric power and useful heat from the same energy source, enhancing overall energy efficiency.

Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

Another term for cogeneration, where both heat and power are generated simultaneously.

Thermal Efficiency

A measure of how well an energy conversion process converts energy from fuel into useful work, typically expressed as a percentage.

Energy Conversion

The process of changing energy from one form to another, such as from chemical energy in fuels to electrical energy.

Heat Recovery

The capture of waste heat from processes such as power generation to be used for heating purposes.

Base Load Power

The minimum level of demand on an electrical supply system over a span of time, usually met by reliable energy sources.

Distributed Generation

A decentralized energy generation system where electricity is produced close to the point of use, reducing transmission losses.

Renewable Heat Incentive

A government scheme that provides financial incentives for renewable heating technologies.

Feed-in Tariff

A policy mechanism designed to encourage the adoption of renewable energy by providing fixed payments for energy produced.

Energy Transition

The shift from fossil fuel-based energy sources to renewable and sustainable ones, driven by climate change concerns and technological advancements.

Global Energy Trends

Patterns and shifts in energy consumption and production worldwide, influenced by factors like economic growth, environmental policies, and technological progress.

Smart Grids

Electricity supply networks that use digital technology to monitor and manage the transport of electricity from all generation sources to meet varying electricity demands.

Decarbonization

The process of reducing carbon dioxide emissions associated with energy production and consumption, essential for tackling climate change.

Energy Storage

Technologies that store energy for future use, enabling better integration of renewable energy sources into the energy grid.

Distributed Energy Resources (DER)

Small-scale energy generation or storage technologies located close to where the energy is used, such as solar panels or battery systems.

Electric Vehicles (EVs)

Vehicles powered by electric motors instead of internal combustion engines, contributing to reduced fossil fuel consumption.

Net-Zero Emissions

Achieving a balance between the greenhouse gases emitted and removed from the atmosphere, often targeted by countries to combat climate change.

Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)

Regulatory mandate requiring a certain percentage of energy to be produced from renewable sources.

Biofuels

Liquid fuels derived from biomass used primarily for transportation, considered a renewable alternative to fossil fuels.