AQA Enviro Energy Geothermal

1. Where are geothermal power plants most commonly located? Select 3

• Near the boundaries of tectonic plates

• Near deep underground water sources

• Near large bodies of freshwater lakes

• • In volcanic regions with recent activity

What is the primary function of a geothermal power plant? Select 2

• To convert hot water or steam into mechanical energy

• To turn water into ice for cooling purposes

• To convert geothermal heat into electricity

• • To filter water used in industrial processes

What is a key difference between low-temperature and high-temperature geothermal systems?

• • Low-temperature systems produce electricity, while high-temperature systems do not

• • Low-temperature systems are used for direct heating, while high-temperature systems generate electricity

• • High-temperature systems can be used for district heating, while low-temperature systems cannot

• Low-temperature systems require deep drilling to access energy sources

What is the role of radioactive isotopes in geothermal energy production?

• • They create steam directly through radioactive decay

• They contribute to the Earth’s internal heat through the decay process

• They are used in hydroelectric dams for power generation

• They contribute to fossil fuel emissions for power generation

Which of the following is an example of a radioactive isotope found in the Earth's core that contributes to geothermal energy? Select 2

• • Carbon-14

• • Uranium-238

• • Oxygen-18

• • Thorium-232

What does Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology use to generate electricity from geothermal energy? Select 3

• Water heated to very high temperatures

• • Water heated to 60°C

• Low-boiling fluids like butane and pentane

• • Heat exchangers to convert geothermal energy to steam

What is one advantage of using lower-temperature fluids like butane or pentane in geothermal power plants?

• They allow for energy production at higher temperatures

• • They reduce the need for water resources in geothermal plants

• They allow geothermal power plants to be built in a wider variety of locations

• • They increase the size and cost of geothermal power stations

Why is a reliable water source necessary for traditional geothermal power plants? Select 2

• To help in the generation of steam to drive turbines

• To cool down the geothermal energy extraction process

• • To dissolve radioactive particles for safe disposal

• • To boil fluids that are directly used for electrical power generation

What is a challenge faced by some volcanic areas in harnessing geothermal energy?

• • The geothermal resources are located too close to the surface

• The water source is not deep enough

• • The geothermal resources may be too deep to access easily

• • There is not enough water to generate steam

What is a major benefit of low-temperature geothermal power plants using technologies like ORC?

• • They can use lower temperatures for electricity generation, expanding geothermal energy's potential to new regions

• They require high temperatures to be effective

• • They reduce the costs of drilling into geothermal reservoirs

• • They rely on using fossil fuels to generate electricity