APES Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Review

Study Guide Unit 10: Non Renewable & Renewable Energy Vocabulary

  • Nuclear fission: A nuclear reaction where the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts.

  • Active solar: Uses mechanical devices to convert solar energy into usable heat.

  • Passive solar: Directly uses natural mechanisms to collect and store solar energy without moving parts.

  • Control rods: Used in nuclear reactors to control the rate of fission.

  • Fuel cells: Devices that convert chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a reaction with oxygen.

General & Transportation Questions

  1. Fossil Fuels as Nonrenewable

    • Fossil fuels are categorized as nonrenewable because they take millions of years to form and are being consumed much faster than they can be replenished.

    • The most versatile fossil fuel is natural gas due to its broad applications in heating, electricity, and transportation.

  2. Reducing Energy Waste

    • The best way to reduce energy waste is through enhanced energy efficiency practices.

    • Strategies include upgrading to energy-efficient appliances, using programmable thermostats, and improving insulation.

  3. Energy Efficiency in Transportation

    • If a car is 25% efficient, 75% of the energy is lost mainly as heat and noise, and through engine inefficiencies.

  4. Electricity Production Growth

    • The world's fastest growing method for electricity production is solar power.

    • The second fastest is wind energy.

  5. Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

    • LED light bulbs are the most energy efficient for producing the same light intensity and color compared to incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.

  6. Energy Resource in Less Developed Countries

    • Biomass is the most commonly used energy resource in less developed countries.

  7. Cogeneration

    • Cogeneration involves using waste heat from energy production for additional heating needs, for example, a combined heat and power (CHP) system.

  8. Combustion of Fossil Fuels Formula

    • General formula: Hydrocarbon + O2 -> CO2 + H2O + Energy.

Coal

  1. Primary Use of Coal

    • Coal is primarily used today for electricity generation.

  2. Electricity Generation from Coal

    • Coal-fired power plants burn coal to produce steam that drives turbines.

  3. Environmental Impact of Coal

    • Coal mining and combustion contribute to significant air pollution, land degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions.

  4. Types of Coal

    • Anthracite: Highest carbon content, used for heating and electricity.

    • Bituminous: Widely used for electricity and steel production.

    • Lignite: Lowest carbon content, primarily for electricity generation in power plants.

Natural Gas & Fracking

  1. Composition of Natural Gas

    • Primarily consists of methane (CH4).

  2. Uses of Natural Gas

    • Used for heating, electricity generation, and as feedstock for chemical production.

  3. Benefits of Natural Gas

    • Lower CO2 emissions compared to coal and oil, abundant supply, and flexible application.

Oil

  1. Market Dynamics of Oil

    • If global demand exceeds production rates, prices will rise, and oil availability will decrease.

    • Peak oil could lead to dramatic price increases and market instability.

  2. Disadvantages of Conventional Oil Extraction

    • Environmental degradation, oil spills, and greenhouse gas emissions.

  3. True or False: Crude Oil from Tar Sands

    • True, crude oil can indeed be extracted from tar sands, which are a mix of clay, water, sand, and bitumen.

Nuclear Power

  1. Nuclear Reactor Parts

    • Understand the function of components like the reactor core, control rods, and cooling system (refer to diagrams).

  2. Electricity Generation in Nuclear Reactors

    • Electricity is generated through heat from nuclear fission that produces steam to drive turbines.

  3. Nonrenewable Nature of Nuclear Power

    • Considered nonrenewable because uranium (common fuel) is finite and mined from the Earth.

  4. Common Fuel for Reactors

    • The most common fuel source for nuclear reactors is uranium-235.

  5. Nuclear Waste Issues

    • Nuclear waste poses significant long-term storage problems, with most stored in secure facilities.

    • The Chernobyl disaster released significant radioactive materials into the environment.

  6. Cooling Tower Releases

    • Cooling towers release excess heat and water vapor, but are not a source of radiation emissions.

  7. Nuclear Fission Reaction Process

    • Nuclear fission occurs when a nucleus splits, releasing energy; control rods absorb neutrons to manage the fission rate.

    • The radiation released is minimal when containment vessels are intact.

  8. Accident Impacts

    • Accidents like Chernobyl and Fukushima have led to environmental contamination and health issues, with both short- and long-term ecological impacts.

Solar Energy

  1. Active vs. Passive Solar Heating

    • Active solar utilizes mechanical systems like pumps and fans, while passive solar relies on building design to maximize sunlight exposure.

    • Example: Active - solar panels; Passive - south-facing windows.

  2. Energy Generation Without Turbines

    • Photovoltaic cells convert sunlight directly into electric current without mechanical movement.

  3. Environmental Impact of Photovoltaic Cells

    • Benefits include reduced greenhouse gas emissions; costs involve resource extraction and waste management.

Hydroelectric Energy

  1. Ideal Locations for Plants

    • Best sites are near large rivers with significant elevation changes.

  2. Methods of Hydroelectricity Generation

    • Generation can occur via run-of-the-river systems, reservoir dams, and pumped storage.

  3. Advantages and Disadvantages of Hydroelectricity

    • Advantages: renewable, low emissions, and flood control.

    • Disadvantages: ecosystem disruption, fish migration issues, and potential sedimentation.

  4. Solutions for Fish Mortality

    • Fish ladders or bypass systems can help fish navigate around dams.

Biomass/Biofuels

  1. Components of Biomass

    • Biomass includes plant materials, agricultural waste, and animal waste.

  2. Disadvantages of Plantation-Based Biomass

    • Includes habitat destruction, monoculturing issues, and water usage concerns.

  3. Ethanol Fuel Advantages/Disadvantages

    • Advantages: renewable, reduces greenhouse gases.

    • Disadvantages: can compete with food production, land usage concerns.

  4. Benefits of Biomass in Developing Countries

    • Provides accessible and affordable energy alternatives to fossil fuels, aiding economic development and energy independence.

Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

  1. Fossil Fuel Efficiency

    • Hybrid electric vehicles use less fossil fuel due to regenerative braking and efficient engine management systems.

  2. Environmental Impacts of Electric Vehicles

    • Benefits: lower emissions during operation; drawbacks include battery production impacts and charging infrastructure concerns.

  3. Government Incentives for Electric Vehicle Adoption

    • Programs could include tax credits, rebates for purchasing EVs, and investments in charging stations.

  4. Pairing Energy Sources

    • Pairing wind with nuclear provides stable, low-emission baseload power for consumers.

    • Pairing solar with natural gas allows for energy dispatchability and supports grid stability.

  5. Environmental Problems from Fossil Fuels

    • Issues include pollution, contribution to climate change, and habitat degradation.

  6. Algae vs. Food Crops for Biofuel

    • Advantages of algae include higher oil yields per acre and less resource-intensive cultivation.

Geothermal Energy

  1. Understanding Geothermal Energy

    • Geothermal energy harnesses heat from beneath the Earth's surface for electricity generation.

  2. Ideal Locations for Geothermal Plants

    • Sites near tectonic plate boundaries or areas with geothermal hot spots are optimal.

  3. Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy

    • Potential for induced seismicity, land subsidence, and location-specific resource depletion.

Wind Energy

  1. Disadvantages of Wind Energy

    • Includes impacts on wildlife, noise pollution, and intermittent energy production.

  2. Offshore vs. Onshore Wind Farms

    • Offshore wind farms generally have higher and more consistent wind speeds, resulting in greater energy generation capacity.

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

  1. Fuel Cell Technology

    • Fuel cells convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, with water as the only byproduct.

  2. Fuel Cell Vehicle Operation

    • Hydrogen is stored and then used in a reaction within the fuel cell to produce electricity to drive the vehicle.

  3. Hydrogen Fuel Cells Advantages/Disadvantages

    • Advantages: clean energy source, high efficiency; disadvantages: hydrogen production and storage challenges.

  4. Only Waste Product of Hydrogen Vehicles

    • The only waste product is water vapor.

Energy Conservation

  1. Large Scale Energy Conservation Methods

    • Implementing energy-efficient technologies in industry and infrastructure improvements.

  2. Home Energy Conservation Methods

    • Upgrade insulation, use energy-efficient appliances, and encourage behavioral changes like turning off devices when not in use.