PHY 1020: Harnessing Energy Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering energy sources, technologies, and global energy consumption metrics from PHY 1020 Chapter 1 Part 2.

Steam Engine

An energy transfer mechanism used since the $1800\text{s}$ in boats, trains, and power plants where heated water creates steam to transfer energy.

Coal Power

An energy source produced by burning abundant coal to boil water and turn a turbine, generating about $4\text{--}6\,\text{TWh}$ of energy per year while emitting considerable $\text{CO}_2$.

Nuclear Power

An energy generation method that harnesses energy from controlled Uranium fission to produce about $6\,\text{TWh}$ per year with minimal waste, though that waste remains radioactive for $1000\text{s}$ of years.

Generation IV Reactors

Advanced nuclear power reactors that utilize a lead convection-cooled system and could revolutionize the nuclear power industry.

Hydroelectric Power

A renewable energy source generating about $5\,\text{TWh}$ per year by using river water to push a turbine, offering consistent energy supply and water flow control.

Geothermal Power

An energy generation method that pumps water deep underground to be heated by the Earth, producing steam to turn a turbine and generate about $0.8\,\text{TWh}$ per year.

Natural Gas Power

An on-demand energy source producing about $4\,\text{TWh}$ per year that releases $\text{CO}_2$ and methane in far lower quantities than coal.

Combustion Turbine

A mechanism commonly used in natural gas plants that generates electricity directly through gas combustion, removing water and steam generation from the process.

Concentrated Solar Power

A highly efficient solar energy system that collects sunlight to boil water and turn a turbine, producing about $1\,\text{TWh}$ of energy per year for every $3,500\,\text{acres}$ ($5.5\,\text{sq.\,miles}$ / $14\,\text{sq.\,km}$).

Ivanaph Solar Electric Generator

A concentrated solar power facility costing about $\$2.2\,\text{billion}$ dollars that requires an enormous amount of land area.

Solar Panels (Photovoltaic)

Panels made of advanced materials that convert sunlight into electric current ($150\text{--}400\,\text{W/m}^2$), producing about $0.001\,\text{TWh}$ per year for every $2.8\,\text{acres}$ of solar farm.

Wind Power

A renewable energy technology that generates electricity by using wind to turn a turbine, with typical wind farms producing about $0.004\,\text{TWh}$ per year.

Tidal Power

A power generation method that harnesses energy by using natural ocean tidal forces to turn a turbine.

Global Energy Consumption (2017)

The breakdown of world fuel consumption ($13.5\,\text{Gtoe}$ total): Oil ($34.2\%$), Coal ($27.6\%$), Natural Gas ($23.4\%$), Renewable ($10.4\%$), and Nuclear ($4.4\%$).

Energy Per Capita

A metric measured in millions of $\text{BTU}$ per capita, calculated as the total energy used by a state divided by its population to represent average individual consumption.

Energy

The ability to do work, which is critical for life and can be harnessed in various forms such as chemical, mechanical, solar, and atomic.