P1a 4.1 Fuel for Electricity Objectives Aim to learn and understand: How a fossil fuel based power station operates. The differences between using fossil fuels and nuclear fuels in electricity generation.

Starter A (P1a 4.1) What does combustion mean? What is produced when things burn? Combustion is the name used to describe fuels burning. Fuel + Oxygen Fuel remains + Carbon Dioxide + Water

Starter B (P1a 4.1) Draw a flow chart to explain how coal, oil and gas are formed. HINT: coal come from dead plants, oil and gas come from dead plants and animals

Starter C (P1a 4.1) Explain what you understand by the term ‘nuclear energy’. Radioactive things glow in the dark Nuclear power stations cause lots of pollution Nuclear power stations are more dangerous than coal fired power stations The Chernobyl disaster was an example of why nuclear fuels are bad Nuclear fuels cause no pollution Nuclear fuels are made in a factory Nuclear fuels are non-renewable Examples of nuclear fuels are uranium and plutonium

Power stations Cooling tower Turbine Generator Transformer Boiler

What does each part do? The boiler is where the fuel is burnt to boil water The steam from the boiler is used to turn a turbine The turbine is connected to the generator, which acts like a dynamo – it generates electricity out of movement The steam is cooled down and turned back into water in the cooling tower

Nuclear Power Stations These work in a similar way to normal power stations: The main difference is that the nuclear fuel is NOT burnt – it is used to boil water in a “heat exchanger”

Checking your understanding of power stations Have a look at these anagrams and try to decipher which relevant key words they are: OLACTEENAGERUNCLEARLOI LOCOING WROTETRIBUNEGAHNITE TAWERMATESTRIELYCEITSAG COALGENERATENUCLEAROIL COOLING TOWER TURBINEHEATING WATERSTEAMELECTRICITYGAS

COPY THESE NOTES INTO YOUR BOOKS Power Stations Fossil fuel power stations release the chemical energy in fuels by b______ them. This heats water and the high pressure steam can g______ electricity as it passes through the turbines. Nuclear power stations use the heat energy released from r_________ substances to heat water which then generates electricity in the same way as the fossil fuel power stations. Nuclear power stations cause no pollution and there is plenty of nuclear fuel, but nuclear accidents can be very dangerous and dealing with the nuclear waste from them is costly.

Understanding harnessing electricity Some people suggest harnessing electricity from lightning strikes for power. Brainstorm the advantages and disadvantages of this idea with the person next to you