ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Spring 2020
ENERGY RESOURCES
KUTUBDIA WIND BASED POWER
PLANT
ENERGY CONVERSION
 Convert the potential energy of water stored
in a dam into the mechanical energy of a
turbine, which in turn is converted into electrical
energy.

Chemical energy Heat energy Mechanical

Energy
(oil, gas, coal) (combustion) (electricity)
ENERGY TRANSFORMATIONS
Chemical
Chemical to Electricity
Energy

Oil +
Sound and
Light
Chemical
to Electrical
Energy

Kinetic Energy
Chemical energy
to Work
CONVERSION OF ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY CHAIN

 Primary energy available in the natural

environment.
 Secondary energy transport or
transmission.
 Final energy is consumer buys or
receives
Useful energy is the energy actually required to
perform the work
ENERGY CHAIN FROM FUEL WOOD
FISSION
 Nuclear fission is the
process of splitting a
nucleus into two
nuclei with smaller
masses.
 Fission means “to
divide”
 Remember that fission
has 2 s’s, therefore it
splits into TWO parts.
 Only large nuclei with
atomic numbers
above 90 can undergo
fission
CHAIN REACTION
 A chain reaction is an
ongoing series of fission
reactions. Billions of
reactions occur each
second in a chain reaction.

 On earth, nuclear fission

reactions take place in
nuclear reactors, which
use controlled chain
reactions to generate
electricity.

 Uncontrolled chain
reactions take place during
the explosion of an atomic
bomb.
NUCLEAR FUSION
 Nuclear fusion is the
combining of two nuclei with
low masses to form one
nucleus of larger mass.
 Nuclear fusion reactions are
also called thermonuclear
reactions.
 Fusion reactions exist in stars.

 Our sun is a good example of

a thermonuclear (fusion)
reaction.
 It is almost impossible to
create fusion reactions on
earth since they need
temperatures above one
million degrees Celsius in
order to take place.
HOW NUCLEAR ENERGY WORKS
BOILING WATER REACTOR
FUKUSHIMA

 The most recent meltdown occurred following

a massive earthquake and tidal wave off the
coast of Japan.
 The generators powering the water pumps of
some of the Fukushima Daiichi reactors were
flooded.
 Without cooling water, the core overheated and
experienced a meltdown.
 Contaminated water from the plant leaked into
the Pacific.
Energy Balance =
source + import = export + variation of
stock
+ use + loss + statistical differences
Energy audit =
is the basic tool of energy accounting and is a
systematic method of identifying and
accounting for energy flows through an
industrial system or process.
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF
ENERGY PRODUCTION AND USE
 Effects of fossil fuel production
 Effects of fossil fuel combustion

 "Acid rain"

 CFC emissions from HVAC equipment

 Stratospheric ozone depletion

 Global Warming/The "Greenhouse Effect"

 Energy conservation as a pollution and

greenhouse gas reduction strategy
EFFECTS OF FOSSIL FUEL
PRODUCTION
 Fossil fuels are produced by mining or
drilling.
 Considerable environmental damage results
from mining and drilling...
 Surface ("strip") mining for coal often results
in vegetation loss, stream and soil
acidification, road damage, etc.
 Underground mining is extremely hazardous,
and old mines sometime catch fire and burn
for years/decades, causing surface
subsidence and damage.
CALCULATION OF YOUR ENERGY
CONSUMPTION
 List
the appliances that you use at
home. Note down their power
consumption and estimating the time
of usage, calculate approximate
energy consumption for a month.
 Electricbulbs (number of bulbs)
 Refrigerator
 Washer
 Dryer
 Dishwasher etc.
 Energy will remain the most critical issue
affecting the globe in the 21st century.
 Energy Efficiency
 Alternative Resources
 Jobs
 Environmental Impacts
BIOMASS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Energy efficiency is the most cost effective way to
reduce emissions, improve energy security and
competitiveness, make energy consumption
more affordable for consumers as well as create
employment
 Buildings
 Energy generation and distribution

 Community design

 Vehicles

 Freight

 Human behavior

 What is rebound effects?

SOME DEMAND SIDE ENERGY
EFFICIENCY