Energy

A Nuclear Power Plant

THE ASSIGNMENT

Beginning with the information below, your team's task is to talk about the various forms of Energy, Energy sources, types of Energy, and the advantages and disadvantages of each type of energy. YOU NEED SEVEN (7) SPEAKERS, to talk about the following topics:

• Energy


• Forms of Energy (Click on the link in this article that says "Forms of Energy")


• Energy Sources


• Pros and Cons


• Advantages and Disadvantages


• Advantages and Disadvantages 2


• Advantages and Disadvantages 3

READ THIS FIRST! Click here

Energy
Energy is the vital force powering business, manufacturing, and the transportation of goods and services to serve the world economies. Energy supply and demand plays an increasingly vital role in our national security and the economic output of our nation. It is not surprising that the United States spends over 500 billion dollars annually on energy

Energy comes in different forms -- heat (thermal), light (radiant), mechanical, electrical, chemical, and nuclear energy. Energy is in everything. We use energy to do everything we do, from making a jump shot to baking our favorite cookies to sending astronauts into space -- energy is there, making sure we have the power to do it all. There are two types of energy -- stored (potential) energy and working (kinetic) energy. For example, the food you eat contains chemical energy, and your body stores this energy until you release it when you work or play. Learn more about these different forms of energy.

All forms of energy are stored in different ways, in the energy sources that we use every day. These sources are divided into two groups -- renewable (an energy source that can be replenished in a short period of time) and nonrenewable (an energy source that we are using up and cannot recreate in a short period of time). Renewable and nonrenewable energy sources can be used to produce secondary energy sources including electricity and hydrogen.

Renewable energy sources include solar energy, which comes from the sun and can be turned into electricity and heat. Wind, geothermal energy from inside the earth, biomass from plants, and hydropower and ocean energy from water are also renewable energy sources.

However, we get most of our energy from nonrenewable energy sources, which include the fossil fuels -- oil, natural gas, and coal. They're called fossil fuels because they were formed over millions and millions of years by the action of heat from the Earth's core and pressure from rock and soil on the remains (or "fossils") of dead plants and animals. Another nonrenewable energy source is the element uranium,铀 [yóu] whose atoms we split (through a process called nuclear fission原子核反应堆 [yuánzǐhéfǎnyìngduī] ) to create heat and ultimately electricity.

We use all these energy sources to generate the electricity we need for our homes, businesses, schools, and factories. Electricity "energizes" our computers, lights, refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners, to name only a few uses. We use energy to run our cars and trucks. Both the gasoline used in our cars, and the diesel fuel used in our trucks are made from oil. The propane that fuels our outdoor grills and makes hot air balloons soar is made from oil and natural gas.

Energy Sources

What is an energy-source, which kinds of energy are there and why are energy sources so important? At this place you learn about sources of energy.

· What are sources of energy and where are they used for?
· Which different sources of energy do we know?
· What are the pros and cons of different sources of energy?

What are sources of energy and where are they used for?
An energy source is a system which makes energy in a certain way, for instance a hydro-electric station. A hydro-electric station uses the current of the river for the making of electricity.

Nowadays we need energy-sources for electricity. Without electricity no computers, no television, no washers. A lot of apparatus would not work without electricity. Which different sources of energy do we know?How many energy-sources do we know, below are the most important sources.

Nuclear power
Nuclear power is a form of energy which arises from a reaction between atomic nucleï. Mostly this form of energy comes out of nuclear fission. To explain how this process works, we give a little explanation about the structure of atomic nucleï. Atomic nucleï consist out of neutrons and protons. these little parts (neutrons and protons) are held together in the center of the atomic nucleus through a special energy, called binding-energy. In a process in which the atomic nucleï collide whith eachother, they fall apart and the loose parts come out of the atomic nucleus. The energy which kept the parts together is not nessecary anymore and this energy comes 'free'. At the technique of nuclear fission, atomic nucleï collide with eachother in a central boiler to become as much energy out of it as possible. The so called 'binding-energy' falls apart and this energy comes out of the atomic nucleus. This energy is used for heating up water and this water becomes steam. Through the steam a turbine can be driven and so electricity is a fact. The speed in which the atomic nucleï collide is controlled by special rods. These rods can pull atomic nucleï towards them and so the there becomes less nucleï, which can collide and then there is less binding-energy to come 'free'.

Fossil energy
Fossil energy is generated through the burning of fossil remains. At this burning the fossil fuel is used as a source of heat to make steam out of water. This steam is used for the working of a turbine. With the help of a generator, this turbine can make electricity. Examples of fossil fuels are oil, natural gas and coal. These fossil fuels are remains of dead materials of plants and animals. These plants and animals died over a million years ago and under the pressure of the earth's surface and through the decay of this material their came a process of compression. Carbon is the main part of these fossile fuels, the more carbon, the heavier the fuel.

Alternative energy
Alternative energy is a form of energy without waste-matters. It is also a form where the source, which delivers the energy, is endless. Some alternative energy-sources are sun-, water- and windenergy. By al these forms of alternative energy, excisting energy (like water, wind and sun) is used for the making of electric energy. For instance, a hydro-electric station makes use of the fall between a lake and a river. They build a flood control dam between the lake and the river. And in the one outlet of the dam they build a turbine. This turbine activates a generator and the water energy is transformed into electric energy. More information about alternative energy can be found in the article about green energy

Pros and Cons

What are the pros and cons of different sources of energy?The three different kinds of energy-sources have their own pros and cons. In this part we give a few of them.

Nuclear power
For the generation of nuclear power little raw material is needed to generate a lot of electric energy. This is an advantage, because the supply of the raw material will be enough for quite a time. A very big disadvantage is that the raw material for nuclear power, uranium, is very radio-active. Also the used rods en other used materials stay radio-active for ages. at a nuclear power plant as Tsjernobyl we have seen how dangerous this type of energy-generation can be. This is the major reason why environmental groups (like Greenpeace) are against this form of energy-winning.

Fossil energy
The big advantage of fossil energy is that, to generate the energy from the raw material is easy and cheap. Disadvantage is that during the process of combustion a lot of toxic materials comes into the air which causes extra pollution of the atmosphere, these materials also increase the effect of global warming. Another disadvantage of fossil energy is that the supply of fossil fuels is not endless. The current supply is for approximately 50 years. That is why the USA wants to trail for oil and natural gas in Alaska. If the USA do this, there are big consequences for the environment. For more information about this subject, go to the article about exhaustion.

Alternative energy
The advantage of alternative energy is that the energy source is endless and doesn't give any pollution. Still, there are not many alternative energy forms, because for instance the technique to transform sun-beams into electric energy is very expensive. For more information about alternative forms of energy-winning, go to the article about green energy

Advantages and Disadvantages

Natural Gas

As the world's population increases and there is continued comparison to the current western European, Japanese, and North American living standards, there is likely to be demand for more electrical power. Energy sources available in the world include coal, nuclear, hydroelectric, gas, wind, solar, refuse-based, and biomass. In addition, fusion had been originally proposed as the long-term source.

Every form of energy generation has advantages and disadvantages as shown in the soeeches that follow:

Coal
Advantages
Inexpensive
Easy to recover (in U.S. and Russia)

Disadvantages
Requires expensive air pollution controls (e.g. mercury, sulfur dioxide)
Significant contributor to acid rain and global warming
Requires extensive transportation system

Nuclear
Advantages
Fuel is inexpensive
Energy generation is the most concentrated source
Waste is more compact than any source
Extensive scientific basis for the cycle
Easy to transport as new fuel
No greenhouse or acid rain effects

Disadvantages
Requires larger capital cost because of emergency, containment, radioactive waste and storage systems
Requires resolution of the long-term high level waste storage issue in most countries
Potential nuclear proliferation issue

Hydroelectric
Advantages
Very inexpensive once dam is built
Government has invested heavily in building dams, particularly in the Western U.S.

Disadvantages
Very limited source since depends on water elevation
Many dams available are currently exist (not much of a future source[depends on country])
Dam collapse usually leads to loss of life
Dams have affected fish (e.g. salmon runs)
Environmental damage for areas flooded (backed up) and downstream

Gas / Oil
Advantages
Good distribution system for current use levels
Easy to obtain (sometimes)
Better as space heating energy source

Disadvantages
Very limited availability as shown by shortages during winters several years ago
Could be major contributor to global warming
Very expensive for energy generation
Large price swings with supply and demand
Liquified Natural Gas storage facilities and gas transmission systems have met opposition from environmentalists.

Advantages and Disadvantages 2

Wind
Advantages
Wind is free if available. As it turns out, the US has many areas available.
Good source for periodic water pumping demands of farms as used earlier in 1900's
Generation and maintenance costs have decreased significantly. Wind is proving to be a reasonable cost renewable source.
Well suited to rural areas. Examples include Mid-Columbia areas of Oregon and Washington, western Minnesota, Atlantic Ocean off Cape Cod.

Disadvantages
Need 3x the amount of installed generation to meet demand
Limited to windy areas.
Limited to small generator size; need many towers.
Highly climate dependent - wind can damage equipment during windstorms or not turn during still summer days.
May affect endangered birds, however tower design can reduce impact..

Solar
Advantages
Sunlight is free when available
Costs are dropping.

Disadvantages
Limited to southern areas of U.S. and other sunny areas throughout the world (demand can be highest when least available, e.g. winter solar heating)
Does require special materials for mirrors/panels that can affect environment
Current technology requires large amounts of land for small amounts of energy generation

Biomass
Advantages
Industry in its infancy
Could create jobs because smaller plants would be used

Disadvantages
Inefficient if small plants are used
Could be significant contributor to global warming because fuel has low heat content

Advantages and Disadvantages 3

Refuse Based Fuel

Advantages
Fuel can have low cost

Could create jobs because smaller plants would be used
Low sulfur dioxide emissions

Disadvantages
Inefficient if small plants are used
Could be significant contributor to global warming because fuel has low heat content
Flyash can contain metals as cadmium and lead
Contain dioxins and furans in air and ash releases

Hydrogen
Advantages
Combines easily with oxygen to produce water and energy

Disadvantages
Very costly to produce
Takes more energy to produce hydrogen then energy that could be recovered.

Fusion
Advantages
Hydrogen and tritium could be used as fuel source
Higher energy output per unit mass than fission
Low radiation levels associated with process than fission-based reactors

Disadvantages
Breakeven point has not been reached after ~40 years of expensive research and commercially available plants not expected for at least 35 years.

Conclusion:
Throughout the world, we need every energy source we can get - including nuclear. As one can see from the table above, all energy sources have BOTH advantages AND disadvantages. Nuclear has a number of advantages that warrant its use as one of the many methods of supplying an energy-demanding world. Even with conservation efforts, energy demand has been and will continue to increase. Other factors can accelerate that increase, e.g. the proposed shift to electric cars to meet environmental air quality goals. In using each and every one of these forms of energy production, we need to make sure we conserve as much as we can so we leave sources for future generations. Energy suppliers need to ensure that they do not contribute to short and long-term environmental problems. Governments need to ensure energy is generated safely to that neither people nor the environment are harmed.