Topic 8 Energy Sources

Renewable source: a source which is constantly being replenished (wont run out).
Non-renewable source: a finite source (fossil fuels [coal, gas, oil], Uranium).

Total Energy Usage (2012)

5.5 x 1020 Joules are used globally
Coal 29%
Oil 32%
Gas 21%
Nuclear 5%
Renewables 13%
Specific Energy (of a fuel): Energy per kilogram that fuel contains.
E.g. Uranium 83 000 000 MJ/kg
Coal 28 MJ/kg
Fusion releases 340 000 000 MJ/kg (but we cant do it on Earth)
Energy density (different in past questions): Energy per unit of volume (3 )
Coal, Oil, gas are primary energy sources.
Electricity is a secondary source it is considered a good because it is easier to transport and nearly
all power stations produce electricity.

Fossil Fuel Power Station

Nuclear Power Station (fission)

A neutron creates a chain reaction of other Uranium atoms which undergo fission and also eject
high momentum neutrons which start another reaction.

Issues:
1. If neutrons are going to fast they dont trigger another Uranium Nucleus. They need to be slowed
down by the moderator (usually water itself).
A neutron might go through 80 collisions before it triggers another fission (some reactions
use graphite).
2. Since each fusion produces two neutrons, there could be a runaway effect, in which water
evaporates and it creates a bomb. Control rods are implemented. They slide up and down and will

absorb neutrons. They are made of Boron and will interfere if the reaction is going too fast, they
will be lowered and if its going too slow they will be raised.
Environmental issues: The products of the Uranium fission are highly radioactive and they have
a very long half-life.

Solar
Thermal solar panel

Photovoltaic Cell

Light intensity:
=

= [2 ]

Solar constant ( ): amount of light intensity arriving at the Earth due to the sun = 1400 2

Wind generator
Kinetic E in the wind KE in the blades Electrical
E by the generator.
Calculating the power generated
We have to imagine the turbine as a cylinder, in which
the bottom area is the blades and the height is the speed
v.

= , = , =
, =
1
= 3
2
Problems:
-

We cant convert all the power

Wind has to pass through the blades

It has to be in particular locations

Needs a lot of space

Visual pollution

Unreliable

Pumped storage hydroelectric power stations

DAdvs

Advs

Destroys habitat

Reliable

Expensive

Renewable and dont produce 2

Hydroelectric power stations work better at a certain flow rate. During night when demand is
low, the excess electricity is used to pump the water uphill.

Thermal Energy Transfer

Radiation in thermal terms is infra-red radiation. It occurs everywhere in space or air and Black
matter surfaces are the best radiators.
Convection: can only occur in fluids.
As particles at the bottom gain energy, they become less
dense and they rise, colder water fills the space
underneath. Convection in the current set up which
transfers thermal energy through the fluid.
Conduction: the transfer of thermal energy from
particle to particle (occurs in solid, liquid and gas).
-

It is important in solids since they dont undergo convection.

Metals are the best because of the free electrons which can carry energy through the
material.

Intensity
=

= , = , = ( = 4 2 )
Luminosity = power of the star
Radiation flux = Intensity

Black body: a perfect emitter of radiations. That means that it emits radiation at all frequencies (a
star comes close).

Wiens Law

Wien realized that the peak wavelength emitted by a black body is inveserly proportional to its
surface temperature.
[] =

2.9 103
=

Stephan-Boltzman Law (for Black Bodies)

= 4
= , = (5.67 108 ), =
, = []

Applying these laws to the Earth

We cant use the same equation since the Earth is not a Black Body. Therefore, we have to
introduce emissivity ().
If = 1
If = 0
For the Earth:
= 4
0.61
But for the power which comes in, we have to take into account the atmosphere and the reflected
energy. Therefore we have to introduce the albedo.
=

= (1 )
= ( ), =

= 2
=
TIP: Remember that Intensity is the power per meter square! Therefore you must use a disk 2 ,
but Power is not therefore you use the surface area of a sphere 4 2 .

Average Intensity
=

2 (1 ) (1 )
=
4 2
4

Energy Balance of the Earth

=
4 = 2

The Greenhouse Effect

The atmosphere contains certain gases:
-

These gases absorb some of the radiation (infrared) leaving the Earth surface but not the one
entering. The gases re-emit radiations in all directions, meaning someone will be reabsorbed by
the Earth causing an increase in the average temperature of the Earth.

How are these gases absorbed?

-

Greenhouse gases have vibrational natural frequencies at infra-red frequencies. Radiation

from the sun is mainly UV so it doesnt get absorbed by the greenhouse gases which cause
a higher average temperature in the Earth.

Enhanced Greenhouse effect: this is the idea that mans production of greenhouses is
further increasing the temperature of the Earth.