Chapter 18 Questions
Chapter 18 Questions
1)Define active solar heating, and explain how it works.
Active solar heating is a system of putting the sun's energy to use in which collectors absorb solar energy and pumps or fans distribute the collected heat. This functions in the manner that heat absorbed by a solar collector is transferred to a fluid inside the panel, which is then pumped to the heat exchanger, where the heat is transferred to water that will be stored in the hot water tank.
2)Define photovoltaic solar cells. How exactly do they work?
Photovoltaic solar cells are a wafer or thin film of solid-state material, such as silicon or gallium arsenide, that is treated with certain metals in such a way that the film generates electricity when solar energy is absorbed. Essentially they can convert sunlight directly into electricity and are usually used by a large amount of panels that absorb sunlight even on cloudy or rainy days.
3)What are solar thermal electric generation, and what is considered their backup?
Solar thermal electric generation is a means of producing electricity in which the sun's energy is concentrated using mirrors or lenses onto a fluid-filled pipe; the heated fluid is used to generate electricity. They often have a backup which is natural gas to generate electricity at night and during cloudy days when solar power isn't operating.
4)What is biogas?
Biogas, which is usually composed of a mixture of gases, is like natural gas. It is clean fuel an its combustion produces fewer pollutants than either coal or biomass. Biogas has the potential to power fuel cells to generate electricity.
5)Explain some potential problems associated with biomass.
Some problems associated with obtaining energy from biomass include the use of land and water that might otherwise be dedicated to agriculture. This shift toward energy production might decrease food production, contributing to a higher food prices and reducing food supplies even as population is growing. Excessive use
1)Define active solar heating, and explain how it works.
Active solar heating is a system of putting the sun's energy to use in which collectors absorb solar energy and pumps or fans distribute the collected heat. This functions in the manner that heat absorbed by a solar collector is transferred to a fluid inside the panel, which is then pumped to the heat exchanger, where the heat is transferred to water that will be stored in the hot water tank.
2)Define photovoltaic solar cells. How exactly do they work?
Photovoltaic solar cells are a wafer or thin film of solid-state material, such as silicon or gallium arsenide, that is treated with certain metals in such a way that the film generates electricity when solar energy is absorbed. Essentially they can convert sunlight directly into electricity and are usually used by a large amount of panels that absorb sunlight even on cloudy or rainy days.
3)What are solar thermal electric generation, and what is considered their backup?
Solar thermal electric generation is a means of producing electricity in which the sun's energy is concentrated using mirrors or lenses onto a fluid-filled pipe; the heated fluid is used to generate electricity. They often have a backup which is natural gas to generate electricity at night and during cloudy days when solar power isn't operating.
4)What is biogas?
Biogas, which is usually composed of a mixture of gases, is like natural gas. It is clean fuel an its combustion produces fewer pollutants than either coal or biomass. Biogas has the potential to power fuel cells to generate electricity.
5)Explain some potential problems associated with biomass.
Some problems associated with obtaining energy from biomass include the use of land and water that might otherwise be dedicated to agriculture. This shift toward energy production might decrease food production, contributing to a higher food prices and reducing food supplies even as population is growing. Excessive use