APES Unit 2 Review

Def. of Renewable Energy Sources

can be replenished naturally, at/or near rate f consumption and reused

Depletable

can run out

Nondepletable

cannot run out

Renewable Energy Sources

• Biomass

• Solar Wind

Def. of Nonrenewable Energy

existed in fixed amounts of Earth and can’t be easily replaced or regenerated

Nonrenewable Energy Sources

• Fossil Fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)

• Nuclear

Source of Nuclear Energy

energy generated from uranium/ other radioactive fuels

Hydroelectric Dams

water spins a turbine which generates electricity

Subsistence Fuels

wood, charcoal, dried anima manure (can drive deforestation)

Peat

decomposed organic matter (ferns or other plants) found in wet, acidic ecosystems

*anaerobic ecosystems

Coal Order

peat —> lignite —> bituminous —> anthracite (considered higher quality bc less sulfur/ less smoke)

Formation of Natural Gas

mostly methane (CH4) and is found on top of trapped oil (petroleum) deposits; considered the cleanest FF bc it produces the fewest air pollutants (SOx, NOx, and NO mercury) and least CO2 burned

How is crude oil extracted?

drilling a well through the overlying rock layers tot reach the underground deposit and than pumping liquid oil out under pressure; extremely energy and water intensive

Fractional Distillation

used to separate crude oil into products; burned in a furnace and vapor passes into a column where diff. hydrocarbons (FFs) are separated, based on their boiling points

Top Coal Countries

1: US

2: Russia

3: China

Top Natural Gas

1: Russia

2: Middle East

3: US

Top Oil Countries

1: Venezuela

2: Middle East

3: Canada

Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking)

method of natural gas extraction that has extended access to natural gas

Benefits: fracking NG from shale rock increases and extends supply of NG, having access benefits economy

Drawbacks: groundwater contamination and seismic activity

Top Shale Gas Reserves

China, USA, Argentina

Tar/ Oil Sands and Country with Highest Sands Reserves

bitumen deposits where crude oil can be recovered, but with higher water and energy inputs

Canada

Combustion

hydrocarbons (FFs) are burned to release energy and the carbon stored in them reacts with O2 in the air to form CO2

Pollutants Released from Burning of Coal

CO2, PM (soot and ash), toxic ash contaminated with arsenic, mercury, lead, SOx and NOx

Surface Mining

removal of overburden to access ore near surface

Difference Types of Surface Mining

• Open Pit

• Strip

• Mountaintop Removal

• Placer

Subsurface Mining

1. Vertical shaft drilled down into ground

2. Elevator to carry down ppl and transport resources out

3. Often used for coa

Acid Mine Drainage

rainwater leas into abandoned mine tunnels and mixes with pyrite, forming sulfuric acid

SMRCA

Surface Mining Control & Reclamation Act

regulates environmental effects of coal mines

Cogeneration

the process of generating both electricity and useful thermal energy (heat or steam) simultaneously from a single fuel source

CHP

combined heat & power

Oil Extraction Methods

1. Tar Sands

2. Fracking

3. DDS

4. Drilling (Bitumen)

Deepwater Horizon

a major oil spill that resulted in the death of countless of animals, erosion, fisheries were devastated, and it continued to gush oil for 3 months

Porosity

is the space (pores) that can hold liquid or gas

Permeability

is the ability to of liquid or gas to flow through the rock

Nuclear Fission

a neutron is fired into the nucleus of a radioactive (unstable) element

Nuclear Waste Storage Methods

put into a pool as it cools and reactor site in casks made of metal & concrete

Best Place: Yucca Mountain (Proposed Nuclear Repository)

Thermal Pollution

3 Major Nuclear Meltdowns

1. Three Mile Island (US, 1979) - Partial meltdown due to testing error (NO release of radiation)

2. Fukishima (Japan, 2011) - an earthquake, tsunami triggered failure (widespread radiation release)

3. Chernobyl (Ukraine, 1986) - complete meltdown, several deaths (widespread radiation poisoning)

Pollutants Released During Biomass Burning

CO, NOx and SOx, and VOCs

Human Health Impacts of Biomass Burning

• Worsened Asthma

• Bronchitis

• COPD

• Emphysema

• Eye Irritation

Solution to Biomass Burning Health Effects

INSTALL VENTILATION

Ethanol Production

corn & sugarcane are fermented into ethanol which is mixed with gasoline

E85/ Flex Fuel

51 - 83 % ethanol and gasoline mix

Algae- Based Biofuels

can be grown/cultivated and harvested in smaller spaces (DOESNT COMPETE WITH FOOD SUPPLY)

Passive Solar Energy

absorbing/ blocking heat from the sun without use of mechanical or electrical equipment

Ex: double-panned windows, solar ovens

Active Solar Energy

use of mechanical/ electrical energy to capture sun’s heat or convert light rays directly into electricity

Photovoltaic (PV) Cells

contains semiconductor (usually silicon) that emits low voltage electrical current when exposed to sun

Advantages of Solar Energy

• NO Air Pollutions (PM, SOx, NOx)

• NO CO2 Released

• NO mining of FFs

Disadvantages of Solar Energy

• Silicon must be mined

• Displace habitats

Hydroelectricity

kinetic energy of moving water —> spins a turbine (ME) —> turbine powers generator

Top Three Hydroelectricity Producers

1: China

2: Brazil

3: US

Geothermal

naturally heated H2O reservoirs underground are drilled into and piped up to surface

Advantages of Geothermal

• Potentially renewable

• Much less CO2 emissions than FF electricity

• NO release of PM, SOx, NOx, CO

Disadvantages of Geothermal

• Not everyone has access to geothermal energy

• Hydrogen sulfide released

• HIGH $$$ of drilling that deep into the Earth

Hydrogen Fuel Cell

H2 gas enters fuel cell where it’s split into protons and electrons by an electrolyte membrane

Advantages of Hydrogen Fuel Cell

• Electricity must be used ASAP

• Can be used as fuel for vehicles

• Manufacturing uses H2 gas

• Can be stored as liquid or gas

Disadvantages of Hydrogen Fuel Cell

• Electrolysis produces H2

• Widespread H fuel cell use requires building widespread H distribution

• H fuel stored in gas form in vehicles would require much larger tanks than gasoline tanks

Wind Energy

kinetic energy of moving air (wind) spins a turbine; generator converts mechanical energy of turbine into electricity

Advantages of Wind Energy

• Non-depletable

• No GHG emissions

• No CO2 or NOx, SOx, PM

• Can share land use

Disadvantages of Wind Energy

• Intermittency

• Can’t replace base-load power

• Can kill birds & bats (possible sea-life)

• Can be considered an eye sore