Conventional Energy Sources Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What percentage of total U.S. methane emissions was accounted for by methane from active and abandoned coal mines in 2021?

  • 7% (correct)
  • 5%
  • 10%
  • 1%

    • Which emission from burning coal contributes to acid rain?

  • Nitrogen oxides
  • Sulfur dioxide (correct)
  • Carbon dioxide
  • Mercury

    • What is the primary greenhouse gas produced from burning fossil fuels?

  • Carbon dioxide (correct)
  • Methane
  • Nitrous oxide
  • Sulfur dioxide

    • Which act requires industries to reduce pollutants released into the air and water?

    <p>Clean Air Act</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of a surge tank in a hydroelectric power plant?

    <p>To regulate water flow</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a major environmental concern regarding coal ash storage?

    <p>Contamination of groundwater</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of turbine is typically used for large heads in a hydroelectric power plant?

    <p>Impulse turbine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which method can reduce CO2 emissions from burning coal?

    <p>Carbon capture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Fly ash and bottom ash are primarily created when which fuel is burned?

    <p>Coal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process converts the potential energy of water into kinetic energy in a hydroelectric plant?

    <p>Flow through the penstock</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant limitation of tidal energy?

    <p>Lack of cost-effective technology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which cycle is used in a steam-generating thermal power station?

    <p>Rankine cycle</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a type of thermal power station?

    <p>Hydropower</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one primary purpose of combined heat and power (CHP) facilities?

    <p>Produce both electric power and heat</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of hydropower facility involves the use of a dam to store river water?

    <p>Impoundment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of coal mined in the United States in 2022 came from surface mines?

    <p>63%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What ecological harm is associated with mountaintop removal mining?

    <p>Reduction of biodiversity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of power station utilizes a steam-driven turbine for propulsion in ships?

    <p>Steam-driven power stations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to the low-pressure exhaust from the turbine in a thermal power station?

    <p>It enters a steam condenser</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes conventional power stations?

    <p>They produce energy without cogeneration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of energy sources are conventional sources of energy classified as?

    <p>Non-renewable sources</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is considered a commercial energy source?

    <p>Coal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which region is NOT mentioned as being rich in coal production?

    <p>Gujarat</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which source of energy is generated by burning fossil fuels?

    <p>Thermal power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of photovoltaic cells?

    <p>Convert sunlight into electricity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT an example of non-commercial energy sources?

    <p>Electricity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which mode of transport is oil NOT typically associated with?

    <p>Submarines</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a renewable source of energy?

    <p>Solar energy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is uranium used for in energy production?

    <p>Nuclear power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary method of generating hydroelectric power?

    <p>Harnessing kinetic energy of flowing water</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of a surge tank in a hydropower plant?

    <p>To reduce pressure swings in the penstock</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which classification describes hydropower plants with heads that range from 30 to 300 meters?

    <p>Medium Head Plants</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of hydropower plant operates continuously to meet the minimum electricity demand?

    <p>Base Load Plants</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of a penstock in a hydropower system?

    <p>To convey water to the turbines</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key advantage of mini hydro power plants?

    <p>Integration into existing water supply systems</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What disadvantage can occur due to the construction of large reservoirs in hydropower systems?

    <p>Displacement of communities and wildlife</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the generator in a hydropower plant?

    <p>To convert mechanical energy into electrical energy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is electricity typically transmitted after being generated in a hydropower system?

    <p>After passing through a transformer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of hydropower plant can operate during peak electricity demand periods?

    <p>Pumped Storage Plants</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the main disadvantages of hydropower generation?

    <p>It requires significant infrastructure investment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Conventional Energy Sources (Non-Renewable)

    • Coal is a significant energy source, abundant in many regions including India, where it is a top producer.
    • India's coal reserves are concentrated in Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Bengal.
    • Oil, or "black gold," is a crucial energy source globally, powering various modes of transport.
    • India's oil production has witnessed significant growth, with reserves located in regions like Assam, Gujarat, and Mumbai.
    • Electricity is widely used for domestic and commercial purposes, powering various appliances.
    • Major sources of electricity generation include:
      • Thermal Power: Generated by burning fossil fuels like coal and oil.
      • Hydroelectric Power: Harnessing the energy of flowing water through dams.
      • Nuclear Power: Using energy released during nuclear reactions, with uranium as a common fuel.
    • Non-commercial energy sources are freely available and don't require purchase, such as firewood, animal waste, and straw.

    Non-Conventional Energy Sources (Renewable)

    • Solar energy is derived from the sun, converted to electricity by photovoltaic cells.
    • Wind energy harnesses the kinetic energy of wind, powering water pumps for irrigation.
    • India is a leading country in wind power generation.
    • Tidal energy utilizes the energy of sea tides, but its use is limited due to the lack of cost-effective technology.

    Thermal Power Stations

    • Convert heat energy into electrical energy using a steam-generating cycle (Rankine cycle).
    • Design varies depending on the energy source (fossil fuels, nuclear, geothermal, solar thermal, biofuels, waste incineration).
    • Some thermal power stations also produce heat for industrial purposes, district heating, or water desalination.
    • Natural gas can be burnt directly in gas turbines, offering open cycle or the more efficient combined cycle type.
    • Almost all coal-fired, petroleum, nuclear, geothermal, solar thermal, waste incineration, and natural gas power stations are thermal.
    • Fossil fuel power stations are a common term for coal, oil, or natural gas burning plants.
    • Biomass-fueled thermal power stations are emerging.
    • Non-nuclear thermal power stations that don't use cogeneration are sometimes referred to as conventional power stations.
    • Commercial electric utility power stations are typically large scale and designed for continuous operation.
    • Three-phase electrical generators produce alternating current (AC) electric power at 50 Hz or 60 Hz.
    • Large companies or institutions may have their own power stations for heating or electricity.
    • Steam-driven power stations were common for ships throughout the 20th century, directly coupling the turbine to propellers.
    • Nuclear marine propulsion is primarily used in naval vessels.
    • Cogeneration plants (combined heat and power) produce both electric power and heat.

    Hydropower

    • Hydropower is one of the cleanest methods of producing electric power.
    • Contributed about 16% of global electricity generation in 2012.
    • Most widely used form of renewable energy.
    • Flexible source of electricity with relatively low generation costs.
    • Components of a hydroelectric power station:
      • Dam and Reservoir: Stores water at height, determining potential energy storage.
      • Control Gate: Regulates water flow to the turbine.
      • Penstock: Steel pipe carrying water from the reservoir to the turbine.
      • Water Turbine: Converts water's kinetic energy into mechanical energy.
      • Generator: Converts mechanical energy from the turbine into electrical energy.
      • Surge Tank: Prevents pressure swings in the penstock.

    Hydropower Classification

    • According to available head:
      • Low Head Plants: Less than 30 meters, used in rivers with minimal elevation difference.
      • Medium Head Plants: 30 to 300 meters, found in hilly areas with moderate elevation differences.
      • High Head Plants: Above 300 meters, located in mountainous regions with significant elevation changes.
    • According to nature of load:
      • Base Load Plants: Operate continuously to meet minimum demand.
      • Peak Load Plants: Operate during high electricity demand periods.
      • Pumped Storage Plants: Generate and store energy, pumping water up during low demand and releasing it during peak demand.

    Mini and Micro Hydropower

    • Mini Hydro Power Plants: 100 kW to 10 MW, suitable for small communities or industrial plants.
    • Micro Hydro Power Plants: Up to 100 kW, for remote areas, individual homes, or small villages.

    Hydropower Advantages

    • Renewable energy source.
    • Low operating costs.
    • Clean energy source.
    • Reliable and stable supply.
    • Flood control and irrigation benefits.

    Hydropower Disadvantages

    • High initial costs.
    • Environmental impact on ecosystems, fish migration, and water quality.
    • Displacement of communities and wildlife.
    • Dependency on water availability.
    • Sedimentation in reservoirs reducing capacity.

    Coal Mining Effects

    • Surface Mines: Account for 63% of US coal mining in 2022, removing soil and rock above coal seams.
    • Mountaintop Removal and Valley Fill Mining: Removing mountaintops with explosives affecting landscapes and potentially polluting streams.
    • Underground Mines: Less landscape impact but potential for ground collapse, acidic water drainage, and methane gas explosions.
    • Coalbed Methane: Methane gas from coal deposits requiring ventilation for safety, accounting for about 7% of US methane emissions in 2021. Some mines capture and utilize or sell this methane.

    Emissions from Burning Coal

    • Sulfur Dioxide: Contributes to acid rain and respiratory illnesses.
    • Nitrogen Oxides: Contributes to smog and respiratory illnesses.
    • Particulates: Contributes to smog, haze, respiratory illnesses, and lung disease.
    • Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Primary greenhouse gas from burning fossil fuels.
    • Mercury and Heavy Metals: Linked to neurological and developmental damage.
    • Fly Ash and Bottom Ash: Residues from coal burning.
    • CO2 emissions from burning coal for energy accounted for about 19% of total US energy-related CO2 emissions in 2022.

    Reducing Coal's Environmental Effects

    • Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act: Require industries to reduce pollutants.
    • Coal Industry Efforts: Reducing sulfur and impurities from coal, cleaning coal after mining, using low-sulfur coal.
    • Power Plant Technologies: Flue gas desulfurization (scrubbers) for sulfur removal.
    • Technologies for Impurities Removal: Increasing coal energy efficiency.
    • Mercury Reduction Technologies.
    • CO2 Capture and Storage: Separating CO2 from emissions for underground storage (sequestration).
    • Waste Recycling and Reuse: Reducing environmental impact of coal production and consumption.
    • Land Reclamation: Converting mined land for airports, landfills, golf courses.
    • Scrubbers Wastes: Used to produce cement and synthetic gypsum.

    Disadvantages of Coal-Based Thermal Power Plants

    • High maintenance and operation costs.
    • Large water requirement.
    • Difficulty in coal handling.
    • Availability of good quality coal is a concern.
    • Significant heat energy loss.
    • Challenges in ash removal.

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    Description

    Test your knowledge on conventional energy sources, including coal, oil, and electricity generation methods. This quiz covers key facts about India's energy resources and the significance of fossil fuels, nuclear energy, and hydroelectric power. Suitable for students studying energy sources and their impact.

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