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Alternative energies
Alternative energies
39
Science
Undergraduate 4
12/09/2010

Additional Science Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
What are the three primary geothermal technologies?
Definition

-Geothermal reservoir extraction

 

-Heat pump technology


-Enhanced geothermal technology

Term
Enhanced geothermal technology, explain?
Definition

Tap the heat contained in underground rocks

 

Inject cold water underground, let it get heated, then extract it

 

Very early developmental stages, pilot plant in France

Term
Geothermal reservoir extraction
Definition

Gets steam or hot water from underground reservoirs

 

Limited resource locations throughout the world

 

Generate electricity as well as heated water used for direct heating

 

Most efficient and cheapest plant design is from a dry steam resource

Term
Heat pump technology
Definition

Typically used on individual home basis

 

Through a thermodynamic cycle, extract heat from the upper crust

 

Tremendous growth area, over 1 million systems in US, growing 40K/year
–Enhanced

Term
What % of renewable energy comes from Geothermal?
Definition
5%
Term
What % of overall US energy come from Geothermal?
Definition
<.5%
Term
Why would Geothermal be one of the most significant renewable energy sources?
Definition

-provide firm and predictable power on a 24 hour basis.

 

-Unlike many renewables, it can provide the consistency for baseload power

Term
What type of energy would Wind be considered?
Definition
kinetic energy
Term
Fastest growing alternative energy both in the US and worldwide?
Definition
Wind Energy
Term
largest factor in determining the wind energy available
Definition
velocity
Term
The bulk of the wind resource is the US is located?
Definition

-in the central states

 

-off the 2 coasts

Term
When can wind energy be competitive with fossil based electricity.
Definition
When placed in proper location
Term
One of the impediments to wind power expansion in the central states (including the UP) is
Definition
lack of sufficient electric transmission infrastructure
Term
Is more electricity  generated from wind power than any other renewable energy source.
Definition
No
Term
Could Geothermal energy could provide all the energy the world needs.
Definition
Yes
Term
What do Heat pumps, or ground source, geothermal do?
Definition
uses the constant temperature of the near surface earth to heat homes
Term

Ground coil heat pump systems indirectly obtain thier energy from the sun.

T&F

Definition
True
Term

Enhanced geothermal systems (hot dry rock systems) indirectly obtain thier energy from the sun.

 

TorF

Definition
False
Term
What is Nuclear power basically
Definition
Direct conversion of mass to energy
Term
What is a nuclear reaction?
Definition
when 2 nuclei collide producing different products than the initial products
Term
Fission?
Definition
The break-up of one atom into two or more pieces
Term
Fusion?
Definition
Joining of two separate atoms into one new atom
Term
Will likely see significant growth in this sector of energy?
Definition
Geothermal
Term
Will become a major contributor to electricity production
Definition
Biomass combustion
Term
Will be a high growth area of renewablesin next 20 years?
Definition
Solar
Term
High costs will limit significant growth in near term?
Definition
Solar Photovoltiac
Term
Both of these withh be largest growth areas of renewables in next 20 years
Definition

Wind Energy

 

Bioenergy

Term
Name four Developing Technologies
Definition

-Concentrated Solar Power (Concentrated PV)

 

Ocean Energy (Wave & Tidal)

 

Enhanced Geothermal (Hot Dry Rock Technology)

 

Integrated Bioenergy(integrated gasifier, biorefinary)

Term
T or F, The supply of oil is going to run out in 5-15 years.
Definition
Flase
Term
The US imports _________ of its coal from other countries.
Definition
virtually none
Term
US oil production has ___________ over the past couple of decades.
Definition
decreased
Term
Fossil fuel based power plants produce emissions that
Definition

contribute to acid rain

 

contribute to the greenhouse effect

Term
Most technical research has concluded that the energy content in ethanol is __________ than the energy content of the fossil fuel used to create it.
Definition
slightly less
Term
What is the percentage of US energy production that comes from biomass?
Definition
3.5%
Term
Where is the most biomass concentrated in the US?
Definition

North Central

 

East

Term
Nearly all the gasoline sold in the US contains _____ ethanol.
Definition
10%
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