APES UNIT 6

ethanol

Produced from corn by fermentation and distillation. Mainly used in fuel production.

* Added to gasoline to decrease oil use
* Allow gasoline to burn and not explode
* Less efficient than pure gasoline

health impacts of biomass

* CO, NOx, PM, and VOCs can all cause respiratory issues
* Indoor burning can cause worsen asthma, bronchitis, COPD, emphysema, and eye irritation

wind turbines

Wind turns the blades which spin a series of gearboxes. The gears create mechanical energy needed by a generator to produce electricity. \n (Mechanical --> electrical) \n - The electricity is sent out into the electrical grid.

combustion reaction

chemical reaction that occurs when hydrocarbons (fossil fuels) reacts with oxygen, releasing energy (heat + light), CO2, & Water

Chernobyl, Ukraine

On April 26, 1986, an unauthorized safety test led to a fire and explosion at a nuclear power plant-as a result, millions of people in Europe are exposed to unsafe levels of radiation.

solar power

Solar panels used by individual homes or businesses on top of building structures. Does not take up land but does not produce as much electricity as a solar farm.

small-scale energy conservation methods

* Lower thermostat (less heat or use of AC)
* Conserve water (use native plants, low-flow shower heads, efficient toilets, dishwashers, dryers, etc.)
* Use of rain barrels
* Energy-efficient appliances (Energy Star Certified)
* Better home insulation

large-scale energy conservation methods

* Improve fuel efficiency (Regulation to set standard fuel economy for vehicles - CAFE)
* Subsidize/tax credit for electric/hybrid vehicles
* Increase public transportation use
* Green building design (green roof) / passive solar design

dams

\* holds water back behind a dam \n •Floods upstream areas \n •Pushes water through smaller channels via \n gravity to turn turbines to generate electricity \n \n •Largest in the US: Grand Coulee Dam in Washington \n (6,800 MW at peak) \n •Largest in the world: Three Gorges Dam on the \n Yangtze in China (18,000 MW at peak = 11% of \n China's energy demand)

disadvantages of fracking

1. Contamination of ground water (Can be toxic to plants and animals)

* Large amount of water used = depletion


2. Seismic activity

hydrogen fuel cell

Renewable fuel alternative that is used to generates electricity by reacting hydrogen with oxygen

uranium-235

an isotope used to fuel most nuclear fission reactors

steps to produce electricity

1. Heat used to boil water into steam
2. Steam turns a turbine
3. Turbine Powers Generator
4. Generator Produces Electricity

fish ladder

a stair-like structure that allows migrating fish to get around a dam

generator

the induction of a potential difference in a wire, which is moving relative to a magnetic field, or experiencing a change in a magnetic field (make electricity using magnet and coil of wire "selenoid")

advantages of dams

\n Creates jobs \n hydroelectricity (cheap electricity) \n freshwater supply \n irrigation \n better for accessing water \n aesthetically pleasing \n creates a bridge for transportation \n recreational area (local income)

location of wind turbines

Work best when in a cluster (wind project or wind farm)

* Can share the land with agricultural use
* Offshore wind (wind farm in ocean or lakes) allow for use of high wind speeds.

lignite

Lowest rank of coal, brownish black, visible plant material, crumbly, organic rock.

biomass pros

\-no NET carbon release \[doesnt add nor reduce carbon, where fossil fuels add\] \n -renewable (in theory) \n -reduce methane emission \n -reduce pollutant emissions \n -waste → energy

biomass cons

\-monoculture agriculture: fossil fuel, fertilizer inputs \[to grow\] \n -land conversion→deforestation, erosion, etc \n -loss of FOOD crop production

turbine

A device with blades that can be turned by water, wind, steam, or exhaust gas from combustion that turns a generator in an electricity-producing plant

solar energy cons

**-Expensive**

\-Intermittent (dependent on the time of the day)

\-Energy Storage is Expensive

\-Exotic materials like **silicon still required via the mining** process (habitat disruption/pollution of water)

\- Metals used to make PV cells are toxic to the environment

\-Requires a **large amount of space** (habitat destruction/fragmentation)

order of coal formation from bottom to top

peat, lignite, sub-bituminous coal, bituminous coal, anthracite

nuclear energy cons

Accident can happen

* Expensive construction
* Nuclear waste last for millions of years
* High volume of water use
* Thermal pollution can decrease oxygen in the water and impact marine organisms.

biofuels

Fuels, such as ethanol or methanol, that are created from the fermentation of plants or plant products.

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. Radiation level was not enough to cause any serious health issue.

tidal energy

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

fukushima

Japanese nuclear power plant severely damaged by the tsunami associated with the March 2011 Tohoku earthquake that rocked Japan. Most radiation drifted over the ocean away from population centers, but the event was history's second most serious nuclear accident.

biomass energy

energy produced by burning organic matter, such as wood, food scraps, and alcohol

radioactive half-life

amount of time it takes for half a sample of radioisotopes to decay

tar/oil sands

sand or clay formations that contain a heavy-density crude oil (crude bitumen); extracted by surface mining

cogeneration

Production of two useful forms of energy, such as high-temperature heat or steam and electricity, from the same fuel source.

The use of a fuel to generate electricity and produce heat which can be use for other things such as heating homes + water \n -- Increase energy efficiency to about 90% \n \n Coal only = 30% \n Natural gas only = 60%

solar energy pros

**Renewable clean energy**

Abundant

**Sustainable**

Environmentally Friendly

Good Availability

Reduces Electricity Costs

Many Applications

Shared Solar

Silent

Financial Support from Government/State

Low Maintenance

Technology is Improving

\- **NO air pollutants**

coal cons

Habitat destruction from mining
Large amounts of CO2
\-- CO2 (GHG) contributes to climate change

* Sulfur adds to acid deposition
* Air pollution in form of soot and ash (cause respiratory health issues in humans/animals)
* Pollute water (lead, mercury, and arsenic) - Disrupt nervous system and cause health issues
* Release SOx & NOx (sulfur/nitrogen) - irritates the respiratory system and contribute to smog and acid precipitation aka acid rain)

geothermal cons

Can emit hazardous gases (hydrogen sulfide) - odor

* CO2 emission (GHG)
* Geographically limited
* Initial cost can be expansive
* Can run out if overused

nuclear radiation impact on human health

* Genetic mutation
* Kill cells
* Destroy bone marrow, destroy body immune cells

geothermal energy

Heat contained in underground rocks and fluids from molten rock, hot dry-zones, and warm-rock reservoirs produce pockets of underground steam, wet steam and hot water that drives turbines and generates electricity

oil cons

Water pollution from oil spills and leaks toxic = loss of Biodiversity \n Environmental costs not included in market price (habitat fragmentation) \n Releases CO2 and other air pollutants when burned \n Vulnerable to international supply interruptions

active solar energy

Solar radiation is captured with photovoltaic cells that convert light energy to electrical energy or use direct sunlight to circulate heat water to warm homes.

fracking

The pumping of water at high pressure to break apart rocks in order to release natural gas

biomass cons

Not as efficient at fossil fuels
"Dirty" energy (Release CO2 and partiulate polluting the air)

* Deforestation (habitat loss)
* Desertification
* Soil erosion

peat

partially decayed plant matter found in bogs

control rods

Absorb neutrons to slow the reaction down and prevent meltdown (explosion)

biomass environmental impacts

Can cause deforestation

* Air pollutants
* Habitat loss
* Increase land erosion which can release CO2 into the atmosphere
* Decrease water filtration
* Release NOx, VOCs, and PM which form smog.

energy conservation

the practice of finding ways to use less energy or to use energy more efficiently

wind energy pros

Renewable (clean energy)

* moderate to high net energy
* widely available / can share land (doesn't destroy habitat or cause soil/water issues)
* low electricity cost
* No direct CO2 emission contribute to GHG
* No air pollution such as NOx, SOx, or PM
\-easy to build and expand

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

bituminous

Sedimentary rock that is the result of more heat and pressure applied to lignite

nuclear fission

Controlled nuclear chain reaction produces heat, driving steam turbines to produce energy.

PV cells

convert sunlight directly into electrical energy (solar panels)

geothermal pros

Reliable (efficient) and relatively inexpensive (after initial construction cost)

* Cleaner energy
* Less CO2 emission to FF
* Less air pollutants
* Moderate environmental impact
* Does not require large land use

solar farms

Large scale solar panels used to convert light to electricity.

* Take up a large amount of land
* Habitat loss / fragmentation

CST heliostats

Large stationary tracking mirrors concentrating sunlight to a central point

Solar cells

cells made of several layers of light-sensitive materials which convert sunlight directly into electrical energy

cooling tower

Part of an electric power generating plant within which heated water is cooled.

passive solar energy

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

* Solar oven to cook food
* Building design to block sunlight in warmer months and allow sunlight in during colder months
* Double-paned windows for insulation
* Southern facing windows with roof overhang
* Tree shades / Window shades
* Dark colors for absorbing more sunlight

run-of-the-river

Hydroelectricity generation, water behind a low dam and runs through a channel before returning to the river.

dam cons

Flooded land destroys forests/croplands

* Displaces people large losses of water from evaporation
* Deprives downstream croplands and estuaries of nutrient-rich silt
* Risk of failure and causing downstream flooding
* Disrupts migration and spawning of fish
* Sedimentation build-up (impact water quality)

wind energy cons

Turbine noise (noise pollution)

* Deaths of birds (especially migratory birds) and bats
* geographically limited to windy areas near transmission lines
* Aesthetically displeasing to some
* Storage batteries required for off-grid systems

nucelear energy pros

Produces a lot of energy; does not cause air pollution \n \n - Cheap source of energy (after initial construction) \n \n The only green house gas released is water vapor (but it stays in the atmosphere briefly)

anthracite

Sedimentary
\-Forms from bituminous coal
\-Has the highest energy content of all coals
\-High Luster (shiny)

* Cleaner burn compared to other coal form
* Burns hotter and longer

renewable

can be replenished naturally (solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, biomass)

nonrenwable

exists in fixed amounts (coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear)

depletable

can be used up eventually

non-depletable

solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal

fossil fuels

formed naturally in the Earth's crust from the remains of dead plants and animals that is extracted and burned as a fuel