Term
|
Definition
| A substance that releases energy by a chemical reaction |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Fuel Oxidants are released rapidly and heat is primarily produced |
|
|
Term
| Electrochemical Oxidation |
|
Definition
| When fuel is oxidized to produce electricity, causing a small amount of heat to be released. |
|
|
Term
| Naturally Occurring Fossil Fuels |
|
Definition
| Solid, liquid or gaseous substances that contain natural carbon. Produced by chemical transformations that occur over a long geological time period. |
|
|
Term
| Percent of World's Energy supplied by fossi fuels |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Percent of renewable Engergy used in the world |
|
Definition
Nuclear, solar, wind, hydro 9%
Biomass: 6% |
|
|
Term
| All refineries perform what three chemical operations to convert naturally occuring fossil fuels |
|
Definition
| Compartmentalization, Conversion, Cleaning |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Separation into simpler components |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Modification of chemical composition of fuels to instill desired properties. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Removal of pollution from the fuel. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Endothermic decomposition of complex molecules into smaller gaseous molecules (H2, O2, CH4) and liquids (tars). |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Pyrolysis of biomass in an O2-free environment. Less than stoichiometric amount of oxygen (20%), the causing particial combustion that allows for gsification.
Air gasification pollutes the gas stream with nitrogen. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
An Tokamak nuclear fusion reactor located in the south of France.
The first machine to exceed the break even point.
In collaboration between China, US, South Korea, EU, Japan, India and Russia. |
|
|
Term
| Broader Approach Agreement |
|
Definition
agreement for complementary research and development between EURATOM and the Japanese government.
The catalysis for three projects focusing on material testing, advanced plasma experimentation and simulation.
It started the establishment of a design team to prepare for DEMO |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A demonstration power plant utilizing all of the tech and info from ITER and Broader Approach agreement. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
The best indicator of how efficient a fusion reactor is.
Called the fusion energy gain factor. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The best material suited for the cryopanel used to maintain a clean vacuum in ITER is coconut-shell charcoal. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
The final power plant using the sum of all tech and info gained from ITER, DEMO and Broader Approach agreement.
They will be used throughout the world to provide clean energy. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
All the heat in a fuel should be released controlling the "three T's":
Temperature to ignite and maintain ignition
Turbulence of mixture
Time required to achieve complete combustion. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
all organic matter derived from products of photosynthesis and indirect plant matter, such as animal waster after the consumption of plant matter.
Atomic composition is CH(1.4)O(.8)
Comprise of extractables, cell wall components, ash, moisture, small amounts of nitrogen and sulfur.
Can be converted thermally, or biochemically |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Potentially the worlds largest and most sustainable energy source
world consumes 475 x 10^18J annually
Potential estimated at 270 EJ
It is carbon neutral |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Volatile Oils
Resins and fatty acids
Starches and sugars |
|
|
Term
| Thermal Biomass Conversion |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Biochemical Biomass Conversion |
|
Definition
| Liquification, Fermentation, Transesterification |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A nuclear waste respiratory in Nevada that was abandoned in the Obama administration. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Company producing innovative solar panels that went under due to unfavorable policy changes in the US. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| US spent 352 billion in 2010 |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Corporate average fuel economy.
Regulations enacted by the US Government in 1975.
Update in 2011 is based on footprint not vehicle weight |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Renewable fuel standard
A minimum volume of biofuels is to be used in the national transportation fuel each year.
EPAis responsible for developing and implementing regulations to ensure that transportation fuel sold in the US complies with the RFS. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Renewable Portfolio Standard
Requires a certain percentage of electricity in a state to be renewable.
29 states have mandatory RPS, an additional 8 have goals. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Wood Chips, saw dust, pellets
Emits 90% less Carbon Dioxide than fossil Fuels during combustion |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Americans produced over 227 billion kg of solid waste in 2006, half of which is in the form of paper or agricultural waste.
Miomass briquette |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Methanol Ethanol
Have a higher octane and burn cleaner |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Landfill gas: Gas that emits from solid waste products
Livestock gas: 20% comes from cattle |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| half of America's renewable electricity comes from biomass |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Electricity gen, reservoir pumps, desalination
estimated potential of 2 TW (10^12) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
(0.5 kW/m^3*s)(H^2m0)*T
H^2m0 is the significant wave height
T is the wave period |
|
|
Term
| Wave Power Generation Methods |
|
Definition
Tidal steam generator
Tidal barrage |
|
|
Term
| Motor Vehicle Oil Consumption |
|
Definition
| 69% of US oil consumption |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Variable Compression Ratio |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Low temperature combustion |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Any structure that uses efficient processes that are environmentally responsible and resource efficient throughout its life-cycle |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Off-grid zero emission building |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| any structure that uses efficient processes that are environmentally responsible and resource efficient through-out its life-cycle. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Building technologies program |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Life cycle assessment
Assess environmental performance of products throughout its entire life cycle. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Energy and Sustainability Center |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Levelized cost of energy
Allocates the costs of an energy plant across its useful life, to give an effective price per each unit of energy (kWh).
NPV/total lifetime energy production |
|
|
Term
| Three New Stresses of Plan B |
|
Definition
| Peak Oil, Rising food insecurity, climate change |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Stabalizing population
eradicating poverty
restoring the earth's natural support system
stabilizing climate |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Assesses the scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Global warming potential
a measure of the relative importance of a given mass of GHG to contributed to global warming as compared with the same mass of CO2.
Radiative force as a function of time |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Brazil, Russia, India and China
Acronym describing the four nations at a newly advanced economic development. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Voc: open circuit voltage
- the voltage produced with infinite load while the solar cell is illuminated.
Isc: short circuit current
Jsc: short circuit current density
- the current proportional to the illumination area.
QE: quantum efficiency
- the probability that an incident photon of energy E will deliver one electron to the externl circuit
- depends on solar cell material and electronic characteristics, not incident spectrum.
bs(E): incident spectral photon density |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the number of photons crossing a unit area perpendicular to the light beam per second. (w/cm^2) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Air mass
The unit of length of the path length of the solar radiation through the earth's atmosphere.
AM = 1 is perpendicular solar radiation, or zero zenith angle |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
the amount of radiant energy received from the sun per unit area per time.
A function of wavelength at a point outside the earth's atmosphere. Greatest at wave lengths 300-800nm. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Intentionally introducing impurities into a very pure semi-conductors for the purpose of modulating its electrical properties.
P-type junctions of a semi-conductor have an increase in free charge carriers (positive holes).
N-type junctions are semi-conductor single crystals that have an excess of negative electron charge carriers. |
|
|
Term
| Major Renewable Energy Sources |
|
Definition
Tidal (Wave) Power
Wind Power
Solar Energy
Geothermal |
|
|
Term
| List three major adverse effects due to rising global temperature as induced by the accumulation of GHG's. |
|
Definition
Rising global temperature
Changing precipitation patterns
Currently rare extreme weather events becoming more likely
Sea level rising
Abrupt climate change |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
CO2 - carbon dioxide
H2O - water vapor
C - black carbon
CH4 - methane
O3 - ozone
N2O - nitrogen oxide |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
CO2 - carbon dioxide
H2O - water vapor
C - black carbon
CH4 - methane
O3 - ozone
N2O - nitrogen oxide |
|
|
Term
| Three pillars of sustainable development |
|
Definition
Economic development
Social development
Environmental protection |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Positive Feedback:
- Snow/Ice Albedo Feedback
- The water vapor feedback
Negative Feedback
- evaporation causing reflection of solar radiation |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Higher heating value
- the amount of energy released during combustion, including the amount of energy requiring to vaporize any water released as steam
Lower heating value
- The amount of heat heat released from combustion minus the heat taken to evaporate water. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell
- fuel cell that uses a electrolytic membrane that permeates protons. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
The magnitude of electric charge of mole of electron
94,485 C/mol |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Phosphoric acid fuel cell
- uses phosphoric acid as a fuel cell |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Uses an aqueous electrolyte of potassium hydroxide
Used by NASA in the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs |
|
|
Term
| List major components of a Wind Turbine |
|
Definition
rotor blades
hub
gearbox
electrical generator
hydraulic system
low speed shaft
high speed shaft
yaw mechanism
electronic controller
anemometer
cooling unit |
|
|
Term
| Difference between a heat engine and fuel cell |
|
Definition
Heat engines convert chemical energy into mechanical energy, releasing a lot of heat in the process. Its efficiency increases with operating temperature.
Fuel cells convert chemical energy into electrical energy without release much heat at all. Its efficiency decreases at a roughly linear trend with respect to temperature. |
|
|
Term
| 3 Major Hydrogen producing technologies |
|
Definition
Electrolysis
- releasing hydrogen atoms by applying an electrical current
Biomass Gasification
- Extracting hydrogen from biomass by causing low temperature combustion.
Photoelectolization
- using sun energy (heat) to convert chem energy to electrical energy to perform electrolysis |
|
|
Term
| List at least three hurdles/critical elements of hydrogen energy infrastructure. |
|
Definition
The gasoline gallon equivalency of H2 is roughly 4
Transportation of H2 is difficult
Storage of H2 difficult, especially in vehicles |
|
|
