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In a conventional power station a fuel is used to heat water and so produce steam. The steam is then passed through a turbine which is connected to a generator. As the turbine rotates, it turns the generator which produces the electricity. The electricity is then fed into the National Grid for distribution to homes and businesses.
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The fuels that are used vary from power station to power station. Some burn fossil fuels - coal, oil and gas. Some burn biofuels, but these are generally much smaller than the other types. The fuel is burnt in a boiler where the heat released is used to boil some water to form steam. The steam is then used to turn the turbine.
The main disadvantage of fuel burning power stations is the production of waste gasses. These need to be cleaned before they enter the atmosphere, however, it is not possible to remove the carbon dioxide from the waste gasses. Many people, including scientists, believe that carbon dioxide is contributing to global warming.
An alternative to burning fossil fuels or biofuels is to use nuclear fuels. These undergo a controlled chain reaction in the core of a nuclear reactor which releases a huge amount of heat. This heat is collected using a coolant and used to make steam in a heat exchanger. There are two big advantages to nuclear power - there are no waste gasses and there is a huge amount of energy released from just small amounts of nuclear fuel. But there are some really big problems too - the possibility of accidental release of radioactive materials into the air, and what to do with the highly radioactive materials that are produced.
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1.
|
What is the purpose of the turbine in a power station? |
|
[ ] |
To burn the fuel |
[ ] |
To boil the water |
[ ] |
To turn the generator |
[ ] |
To generate the electricity |
|
|
2.
|
In a power station using a fossil fuel or biofuel, what is the overall energy transfer? |
|
[ ] |
Chemical to electrical |
[ ] |
Nuclear to electrical |
[ ] |
Heat to electrical |
[ ] |
Kinetic to electrical |
|
|
3.
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In a nuclear power station, which of the following represents the sequence of energy transfers in the correct order? |
|
[ ] |
Nuclear → heat → kinetic → electrical |
[ ] |
Chemical → nuclear → heat → kinetic → electrical |
[ ] |
Chemical → nuclear → heat → electrical |
[ ] |
Nuclear → kinetic → electrical |
|
|
4.
|
To which of the following environmental issues does burning fossil fuels to generate electricity contribute? |
|
[ ] |
Acid rain |
[ ] |
Global warming |
[ ] |
Smog |
[ ] |
Ozone depletion |
|
|
5.
|
Which of the following is also released when fossil fuels are burnt? |
|
[ ] |
Methane and soot |
[ ] |
Nitrogen |
[ ] |
Sulfur dioxide and soot |
[ ] |
Hydrocarbons |
|
|
6.
|
In a nuclear fuel, where is the energy released from? |
|
[ ] |
From the electrons |
[ ] |
From reactions between atoms |
[ ] |
From the effects of vibrations of the atoms |
[ ] |
From changes in the nucleus |
|
|
7.
|
Which of the following power stations has the shortest start up time? |
|
[ ] |
Nuclear |
[ ] |
Coal fired |
[ ] |
Oil fired |
[ ] |
Gas fired |
|
|
8.
|
Although nuclear fuel is relatively cheap, electricity from nuclear power stations is relatively expensive. Why? |
|
[ ] |
They need to be built to high safety standards to ensure that no radioactive material escapes |
[ ] |
Dealing with the used nuclear fuel requires special reinforced containers |
[ ] |
It is very difficult to safely decommission (dismantle) them at the end of their useful life |
[ ] |
All of the above |
|
|
9.
|
What are the two elements used as nuclear fuels? |
|
[ ] |
Uranium and polonium |
[ ] |
Uranium and plutonium |
[ ] |
Plutonium and krypton |
[ ] |
Polonium and neptunium |
|
|
10.
|
What type of nuclear reaction occurs in a nuclear power station? |
|
[ ] |
Oxidation |
[ ] |
Combustion |
[ ] |
Fission |
[ ] |
Fusion |
|
|
1.
|
What is the purpose of the turbine in a power station? |
|
[ ] |
To burn the fuel |
[ ] |
To boil the water |
[x] |
To turn the generator |
[ ] |
To generate the electricity |
|
|
2.
|
In a power station using a fossil fuel or biofuel, what is the overall energy transfer? |
|
[x] |
Chemical to electrical |
[ ] |
Nuclear to electrical |
[ ] |
Heat to electrical |
[ ] |
Kinetic to electrical |
|
|
3.
|
In a nuclear power station, which of the following represents the sequence of energy transfers in the correct order? |
|
[x] |
Nuclear → heat → kinetic → electrical |
[ ] |
Chemical → nuclear → heat → kinetic → electrical |
[ ] |
Chemical → nuclear → heat → electrical |
[ ] |
Nuclear → kinetic → electrical |
|
|
4.
|
To which of the following environmental issues does burning fossil fuels to generate electricity contribute? |
|
[ ] |
Acid rain |
[x] |
Global warming |
[ ] |
Smog |
[ ] |
Ozone depletion |
|
|
5.
|
Which of the following is also released when fossil fuels are burnt? |
|
[ ] |
Methane and soot |
[ ] |
Nitrogen |
[x] |
Sulfur dioxide and soot |
[ ] |
Hydrocarbons |
|
|
6.
|
In a nuclear fuel, where is the energy released from? |
|
[ ] |
From the electrons |
[ ] |
From reactions between atoms |
[ ] |
From the effects of vibrations of the atoms |
[x] |
From changes in the nucleus |
|
|
7.
|
Which of the following power stations has the shortest start up time? |
|
[ ] |
Nuclear |
[ ] |
Coal fired |
[ ] |
Oil fired |
[x] |
Gas fired |
|
|
8.
|
Although nuclear fuel is relatively cheap, electricity from nuclear power stations is relatively expensive. Why? |
|
[ ] |
They need to be built to high safety standards to ensure that no radioactive material escapes |
[ ] |
Dealing with the used nuclear fuel requires special reinforced containers |
[ ] |
It is very difficult to safely decommission (dismantle) them at the end of their useful life |
[x] |
All of the above |
|
|
9.
|
What are the two elements used as nuclear fuels? |
|
[ ] |
Uranium and polonium |
[x] |
Uranium and plutonium |
[ ] |
Plutonium and krypton |
[ ] |
Polonium and neptunium |
|
|
10.
|
What type of nuclear reaction occurs in a nuclear power station? |
|
[ ] |
Oxidation |
[ ] |
Combustion |
[x] |
Fission |
[ ] |
Fusion |
|
|