WEEK 5.

HOW ENERGY IS PRODUCED

PRESENTADO POR:
JUAN CAMILO BRIÑEZ MONTEALEGRE

INSTRUCTOR:
JUAN CARLOS ROMERO POVEDA

SERVICIO NACIONAL DE APRENDIZAJE SENA

TECNICO EN MANTENIMIENTO DE AUTOMATISMOS INDUSTRIALES
FICHA 2263123
2. Read the texts again and decide if the following sentences are true (T) or false (F), then
correct the false ones.

1. Nuclear power plants do not produce air pollution at all. (FALSO)

nuclear power plants produce much less air pollution
2. Accidents in nuclear power plants can have terrible consequences for the
environment. (VERDAD)
3. Nuclear power plants produce biodegradable waste material. (FALSO) Nuclear
power plants produce waste material that remains radioactive for centuries.
4. Thermoelectric power is generated by the combustion of renewable resources.
(FALSO)
Thermoelectric energy is generated by the combustion of non-renewable
resources.
5. Thermoelectric power plants are environmentally friendly. (FALSO)
These power plants cause environmental pollution due to the burning of fossil
fuels that release carbon dioxide.
6. Dams are built on rivers to store water. (VERDAD)
7. The water released from the reservoir flows through the generator. (VERDAD)
8. The only disadvantage of hydropower is its high initial cost. (VERDAD)

Alternative power sources

3. Read the texts about alternative power sources and complete the table with the
missing information.

Type of energy How it works Advantages Disadvantages

The energy from It can produce High initial costs
Solar Energy the absorbed light energy for more
causes the than 15 years and
electrons to its routine
loosen, allowing maintenance is
them to flow freely simple and
and produce inexpensive.
electricity.
 The wind turns the The advantage is there are few
Wind Energy blades of giant that wind power is suitable wind sites
turbines, thus one of the where it is possible
producing kinetic cheapest to have a constant
energy that is then renewable production of
converted into technologies electricity.
mechanical available today.
energy and
electricity by a
generator.
Tidal power It is a natural The problem with
Tidal Energy generators use process because it tidal energy is that
rising and falling exploits the only massive tidal
tides in the same potential energy of surges can
way as tides produce energy
hydroelectric and there are very
few places where
this occurs.
Hot water that is This energy is there are few sites
Geothermal stored on Earth cheap and has a where it can be
energy can be brought to low impact on the mined at low cost.
the surface and environment,
used to drive
turbines to
produce electricity.
Biomass is a Biomass energy is The downside of
Biomass Energy renewable energy a natural process, biomass is that it
source derived it is carbon neutral has a lower
from plant material and has low potential than
and animal waste. upfront costs. other energy
When it burns, it sources and
 releases its requires excellent
chemical energy in maintenance
the form of heat. skills.

5. Read the text about the electrical distribution system and complete it with the
words in the box.

Then listen and check.

Pole, demand, lower, voltages, consumers, power plants, delivery, appliances,

network, high-voltage, transformer.

electricity distribution is the final stage in the (1) DELIVERY

of electricity to end users. in order to be able to use electric power for our daily
activities, electricity must be transmitted from the (2) POWER PLANTS
to other areas where it can be distributed to different (3) CONSUMERS. The
electricity generated by power plants is increased or stepped up at substations and
distributed through (4) NETWORK transmission lines, in order to minimize energy
losses and to economise on the material needed for conductors. transmission lines
use voltages as high as 765,000 volts and they are usually connected in a (5) POLE.
This means that if a station receives an unexpected (6) DEMAND for electric power,
it can call on the other stations to help to meet the demand. then electrical power is
converted from high voltage to (7) LOWER
thanks to step-down transformers which turn electricity into different power levels.
once it is sent to your neighbourhood, another small (8) VOLTAGE mounted on a
(9) TRANSFORMER converts the power to even lower levels to be used at home.
the final voltage is between 110 volts – for lights, tvs, and other smaller appliances -
and 240 volts for larger (10) APPLIANCES.
My glossary

1. BIOMASS: the total mass of organisms in a given area or volume.

2. BOILER: a fuel-burning apparatus or container for heating water.
3. MANURE: animal dung used for fertilizing land.
4. PIPED: a tube of metal, plastic, or other material used to convey water, gas, oil, or
other fluid substances.
5. POLLUTION: the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or
thing that has harmful or poisonous effects
6. SHORELINE: the line along which a large body of water meets the land.
7. TURBINE: fluid machines, through which a fluid passes continuously and this
delivers its kinetic energy through an impeller with blades or blades
8. WASTE: Thing or part of it that remains after it has been used or that is wasted by
carelessness
9. RENEWABLE: renewable resource is a natural resource that can be restored by
natural processes at a rate greater than that of consumption by humans.
10. TIDE: The tide is the periodic change in sea level produced mainly by the
forces of gravitational attraction exerted by the Sun and the Moon on the Earth.

CROSSWORD
1. That to function takes advantage of the energy produced when the atom
disintegrates?
2. a facility where electrical energy is generated for distribution?
3. it is a total mass of organisms in a given area or volume?
4. a device that burns fuel or a container for heating water?
5. an apparatus for reducing or increasing the voltage of an alternating current?
6. a source of energy that is not depleted with use, such as water, wind or solar energy?
7. a machine to produce continuous energy?
8. an electromotive force or potential difference expressed in volts?
9. a group or system of interconnected people or things?
10. denoting a specific time or season?