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active solar system
Mechanical systems that use moving substances to collect and transfer solar energy.
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calorie
Amount of energy it takes to boil one gram of water.
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chain reaction
A self-sustaining reaction in which the fission of nuclei produces subatomic particles that cause the fission of other nuclei.
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cogeneration
The simultaneos production of electricity and steam or hot water in the same plant.
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control rods
Neutron-absorbing material inserted into spaces between fuel assemblies in nuclear reactors to regulate fission reactions.
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energy
The capacity to do work, such as moving matter over distance.
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fossil fuels
Petroleum, natural gas and coal created by geologic forces from organic wastes and dead bodies of formerly living organisms.
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fuel assembly
A bundle of hollow metal rods containing uranium oxide pellets, used to fuel a nuclear reactor.
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gasohol
A mixture of gasoline and ethanol.
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fuel cells
Mechanical devices that use hydrogen-containing fuels, such as methane, to produce an electric current.
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green pricing
Plans in which consumers can volntarily pay a premium price for renewable energy.
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joule
A unit of energy. The energy expended in one second by a current of one amp flowing throgh a resistance of one ohm.
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nuclear fission
The radioactive decay process in which isotopes split apart to create two smaller atoms.
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oil shales
Fine-grained sedimentary rock rich in solid organic material called kerogen liqefies to produce a fluid petroleum fuel.
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passive heat absorbtion
The use of natural materials or absorbtive structures withot moving parts to gather and hold; the simplest and oldest use of solar energy.
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photovoltaic cells
An energy-conversion device that captures solar energy and directly converts it to electrical current.
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power
The rate of energy delivery; measured in horsepower or watts.
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proven-in-place reserves
Energy sources that have been thoroghly mapped and are likely to be economically recoverable with available technology.
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reformer
A device that strips hydrogen from fuels such as natural gas, methanol, ammonia, gasoline or vegetable oil so they can be used for power plants.
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tar sands
Geologic deposits composed of sand shale particles coated with bitumen, a viscous mixture of long-chain hydrocarbons.
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wind farms
Large numbers of windmills concentrated in a single area; usually owned by a utility or large scale energy producer.
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work
The application of force throgh a distance; requires energy input.
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