Extra credit (8 points-all parts must be completed for credit): As noted in the
ID: 950362 • Letter: E
Question
Extra credit (8 points-all parts must be completed for credit): As noted in the textbook, the greenhouse effect caused by the IR absorption of CO_2 has important implications for our use of fossil fuel. Using the DOE data available at http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/overview.html determine what fraction of our energy supply current comes from fossil fuels calculate what the average power consumption (in TW) was for the entire US during the most recent year available pick your favorite alternative power source: wave power, wind power, solar power, nuclear power, biofuels. Calculate how much land area (or number of km of wave power stations, or number of new nuclear power stations) that would be needed to generate (on average) 1 TW of non-fossil power. Print out a map of the US from Wikipedia and draw your area devoted to renewables to scale. You can find conversion efficiencies, density values etc. online. A great resource is the free book by David MacKay (chief advisor to the UK government on climate and energy)Explanation / Answer
Solution:
Total energy is 89.223 Q.Btu (11 months)
From fossil source is 72.608 Q.Btu (11 months)
Fraction = 72.608/89.223 = 0.8137
The unit conversion of 1 Btu = 0.29307 W, 1 quadrillion = 1015 and 1 trillion = 1012
by given data consumption is 89.223* 1015 Btu, we have to convert to Trillion Watts on unit conversion we get,
(89.223*1015 Btu)(0.29307 W) = 26.1485*1015 W
= 2614.85*1012 W
= 2614.85 TW
From reference nuclear power contribution is 7.609*1015 Btu = (7.609*1015*0.29307 W)
= 2.2299* 1015 W
= 222.99 *1012 W = 222.99 TW
From nuclear energy data it is given 98.99 approx 99 million kW is produced from 99 units, so 1 million kW is produced from 1 unit.
1 million kW = 1*109 W
For 1 TW 1.5 units is required as per operating norms 2 units is required for producing 1TW of power, as per the resource reference it requires 3 sq.km for 1 unit and approx. 5 sq.km for 2 unit construction.
From the above raw calculation Minneapolis is suitable for nuclear plant as per the map availability from Wikipedia.
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