T02 \ CCN2252

CCN2252 Environmental and Energy Engineering

T02 Energy Resources and Climate Change
Questions
1.
Identify in the missing items (a) to (e) with the following choices for the
environmental impact matrix of nuclear plant.
Choices:
- Human impacts
- Extraction, production , processing
- Accident during fuel transport
- Disposal of spent fuel and waste
- Accidents Leachate from mine tailings
- Fly ash disposal
- Construction of pipeline damage to permafrost
- Disposal of chemicals
Environment
Atmosphere

Hydrosphere
Lithosphere

Exploration
-

(a)

Type of activity
(b)
Transmission
Accidents
radon emissions
from mine
tailings
(c)
Accidents
Transmission
Tailings
lines
contamination
Accidents and
mineplant
(d)
explosive mining
hazards

Use and disposal

-

Thermal effects
(e)
Exposure to
waste terrorism

2.
A 100 MW coal-burning electricity generating station operating at 33% efficiency
burning coal containing 5% ash and 2% sulphur. The coal has a net heating value
(NHV) of 30 kJ/g. 95% of the ash and 50% of the sulphur are trapped before
emissions from the stack.
(a) Determine the emission rate to the atmosphere of ash and sulphur (in SO2) in
g/s.
(b) Determine the volume flow rate of SO2 generated at 20oC and atmospheric
pressure of 101.325 kPa.
(c) If the sulphur dioxide is emitted into an urban area of stagnant air 500 m high
and 5km in diameter, how long would it take for the SO2 concentration to
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T02 \ CCN2252

reach the undesirable of 0.3 ppm?

3.
A 25 W compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) produces the light equivalent to a 100 W
incandescent lamp. The population of North America is estimated to be about 300
millions. Estimate the amount of coal to light one 100 W incandescent lamp for a
person for one year continuously and the amount of coal that would be saved if each
incandescent lamp was replaced by a CFL. Assume the coal has a net heat value of
28.5 MJ/kg and the power plants are 33% efficient.
4.
Name FIVE common greenhouse gases and describe in brief the human activities that
contribute to each of the gas.
5.
Describe in brief THREE human impacts and THREE environmental impacts of
greenhouse gases.
6.
Identify FIVE actions taken by local sectors to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions.

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