Chapter 29

Questions & Answers

Question 1

what is soung referring to when

she talks about "the grid," and
how does "the grid" supply our
electrical power?

Answer 1
The grid is a massive system of interconnecting circuits that
provides electric power to end-users. There are ten grids in North
America. The electricity that power plants generate enters the grid
directly. Power companies provide grid access to end-users and
charge for energy consumed. Power companies also make sure that
power plants provide enough electrical power to the grid to meet
their end-users needs

Question 2

What caused the U.S.

government to start funding
clean coal research like the
kind that Soung does?

Answer 2
In the 80s, there was public outrage over acid rain, which was created when sulfur
dioxide and nitrogen oxide in the air combined with rainwater, making the rainwater
acidic. The acid rain hurt plants and animals in entire ecosystems and damaged
buildings and statues made of marble and limestone. In response to public
concern, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) placed limits on the
amount of toxic gasses power plants may release. The government started funding
clean coal research in an effort to help power plants meet those limits.

Question 3
Describe two ways that Soung is making
coal-fired power plants more efficient and
cleaner for the environment.

Answer 3
Installing sensors to monitor the temperature of gasses in the combustion chamber
makes it possible to adjust the flame size or oxygen level so that as much energy
as possible transferred to the water in the boiler. Removing soot from the boiler
tubes so as to remove unwanted insulation in order to transfer as much heat as
possible to the water in the boiler. Reducing waste by using fly ash from coal
burning as an ingredient in concrete, and using molten ash, called slag, in roof
shingles. Reducing atmospheric pollution by using a scrubber to remove sulfur
from the exhaust and combining it with limestone to make Gypsum, which is used
as a building material.

Question 4

What is necessary for

charge to flow through a
circuit?

Answer 4
The circuit must be a continuous, closed
conducting path. Also, energy is required
to make charge move, so there must be
a power source.

Question 5

What is the relationship between

energy and power? What are the
units for each?

Answer 5
Power is the rate at which energy is consumed or
produced. The units used most frequently for
energy are the joule, the BTU, and the kilowatthour. The units used most often for power are the
watt (j/s), the kilowatt, and the megawatt.

Question 6
If two power plants each output the same amount of
electricity every hour, but one requires 2 million tons
of coal per year and the other requires 1.75 million
tons of coal per year, which is more efficient? Explain
how you know.

Answer 6
The one that uses 2 million pounds is
more efficient, because even though it
uses more coal it also puts out more
energy.

Question 7
Is any process 100 percent efficient? Why
or why not? Give some examples from
previous chapters to explain your
response.

Answer 7
No, while some things may work better than
others nothing is really 100% energy efficient,
even if it runs almost perfectly.

Question 8
In the last paragraph of the story, Soung says,
Good engineering is not just about designing
something new. What does she mean by that? Do
you agree? Use an example that youve learned in
this class or out side of this class to explain why or
why not.

Answer 8
Being a good engineer means you can fix
something that already exists, not just being able to
create something new.

Question 9

Go home and find out what your

power company charges for each
kWh of electricity. What is your
average electric bill per month?
How much energy does your
household use per year?

Answer 9
Rate ScheduleSummer (June-Sept)Winter (OctMay)Base Charge$14.50Base Charge$14.50First
1000 kWH$0.090467First 750 kWH$0.090467Over
1000 kWH$0.092996Over 750 kWH$0.078467