首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
"Geothermal Energy" Geothermal energy is natural heat from the interior of the Earth that is converted to heat buildings and
"Geothermal Energy" Geothermal energy is natural heat from the interior of the Earth that is converted to heat buildings and
admin
2018-07-24
50
问题
"Geothermal Energy"
Geothermal energy is natural heat from the interior of the Earth that is converted to heat buildings and generate electricity. The idea of harnessing Earth’s internal heat is not new. As early as 1904, geothermal power was used in Italy. Today, Earth’s natural internal heat is being used to generate electricity in 21 countries, including Russia, Japan, New Zealand, Iceland, Mexico, Ethiopia, Guatemala, El Salvador, the Philippines, and the United States. Total worldwide production is approaching 9,000 MW (equivalent to nine large modern coal-burning or nuclear power plants)—double the amount in 1980. Some 40 million people today receive their electricity from geothermal energy at a cost competitive with that of other energy sources. In El Salvador, geothermal energy is supplying 30% of the total electric energy used. However, at the global level, geothermal energy supplies less than 0.15% of the total energy supply.
Geothermal energy may be considered a nonrenewable energy source when rates of extraction are greater than rates of natural replenishment. However, geothermal energy has its origin in the natural heat production within Earth, and only a small fraction of the vast total resource base is being utilized today. Although most geothermal energy production involves the tapping of high heat sources, people are also using the low-temperature geothermal energy of groundwater in some applications.
Geothermal Systems
A The average heat flow from the interior of the Earth is very low, about 0.06 W/m
2
. B This amount is trivial compared with the 177 W/m
2
from solar heat at the surface in the United States. However, in some areas, heat flow is sufficiently high to be useful for producing energy For the most part, areas of high heat flow are associated with plate tectonic boundaries. Oceanic ridge systems (divergent plate boundaries) and areas where mountains are being uplifted and volcanic island arcs are forming (convergent plate boundaries) are areas where this natural heat flow is anomalously high. C
On the basis of geological criteria, several types of hot geothermal systems (with temperatures greater than about 80°C, or 176°F) have been defined, and the resource base is larger than that of fossil fuels and nuclear energy combined. A common system for energy development is hydrothermal convection, characterized by the circulation of steam and/or hot water that transfers heat from depths to the surface. D
Geothermal Energy and the Environment
The environmental impact of geothermal energy may not be as extensive as that of other sources of energy. When geothermal energy is developed at a particular site, environmental problems include on-site noise, emissions of gas, and disturbance of the land at drilling sites, disposal sites, roads and pipelines, and power plants. Development of geothermal energy does not require large-scale transportation of raw materials or refining of chemicals, as development of fossil fuels does. Furthermore, geothermal energy does not produce the atmospheric pollutants associated with burning fossil fuels or the radioactive waste associated with nuclear energy. However, geothermal development often does produce considerable thermal pollution from hot waste-waters, which may be saline or highly corrosive.
Geothermal power is not always popular. For instance, geothermal energy has been produced for years on the island of Hawaii, where active volcanic processes provide abundant near-surface heat. There is controversy, however, over further exploration and development. Native Hawaiians and others have argued that the exploration and development of geothermal energy degrade the tropical forest as developers construct roads, build facilities, and drill wells. In addition, religious and cultural issues in Hawaii relate to the use of geothermal energy. For example, some people are offended by using the "breath and water of Pele" (the volcano goddess) to make electricity. This issue points out the importance of being sensitive to the values and cultures of people where development is planned.
Future of Geothermal Energy
At present, the United States produces only 2800 MN of geothermal energy. However, if developed, known geothermal resources in the United States could produce about 20,000 MW which is about 10% of the electricity needed for the western states. Geohydrothermal resources not yet discovered could conservatively provide four times that amount (approximately 10% of total U.S. electric capacity), about equivalent to the electricity produced from water power today.
According to paragraph 6, the production of geothermal energy in Hawaii is controversial for all of the following reasons EXCEPT
选项
A、the volcanoes in Hawaii could be disrupted by the rapid release of geothermal energy.
B、the rainforest might be damaged during the construction of the geothermal energy plant.
C、the native people are concerned that geothermal energy is disrespectful to their cultural traditions.
D、some Hawaiians oppose using geothermal energy because of their religious beliefs.
答案
A
解析
Choice B is mentioned in paragraph 6, sentence 4. Choices C and D are mentioned in paragraph 6, sentences 5 and 6.
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/xCfO777K
0
托福(TOEFL)
相关试题推荐
Whatisthetutor’sopinionofthefollowingcompanyprojects?ChooseFIVEanswersfromthebox,andwritethecorrectletter,A
ChooseTHREEletters,A-ETheinventionofdifferentgearsonabicycleaffectedwhichTHREEofthefollowing?AWheelsizeBBa
ChooseTHREEletters,A-ETheinventionofdifferentgearsonabicycleaffectedwhichTHREEofthefollowing?AWheelsizeBBa
Completethetablebelow.WriteNOMORETHANTWOWORDSAND/ORANUMBERforeachanswer.Talkingaboutthehistoryofbikes
Completethenotesbelow.WriteONEWORDAND/ORANUMBERforeachanswer.DRIVINGSCHOOLExampleAnswerLookingfordrivingless
Completethenotesbelow.WriteONEWORDAND/ORANUMBERforeachanswer.DRIVINGSCHOOLExampleAnswerLookingfordrivingless
ChooseTHREEletters,A-ETheinventionofdifferentgearsonabicycleaffectedwhichTHREEofthefollowing?AWheelsizeBBa
ResearchingtheoriginofmedievalmanuscriptsBackgroundMedievalmanuscripts—handwrittenbooksproducedbetweenthefifth
learningexperience本题询问该项目的益处。录音原文中的greatlyenhance是题目Significantlyimprove的同义替换。能极大地提高许多小孩和大人的学习经验,故空格处填入learningexperience。
(right)balance录音原文中的betweenacademicandrecreationalactivities“在学术和娱乐活动之间”是对题目中的betweenstudyandleisure“在学习和休闲之间”的同义转述。
随机试题
调节胰高血糖素分泌最重要的因素是
可摘局部义齿固位力的主要来源是固位体与基牙之间的A.吸附力B.大气压力C.摩擦力D.黏结力E.附着力
根据脊柱三柱理论,整个脊柱可分成前、中、后三柱。其中中柱包括
期望继续享有病人角色所获得的利益,是病人角色的( )
以下哪些项符合甲亢的临床表现?()
刘某,多次实施抢劫行为,手段恶劣且数额较大,后来在一次抢劫活动中被警察当场抓获。由于该案是被公安人员当场发现,而且事实清楚,因而在本案的诉讼程序中:()
一般资料:求助者,女性,27岁,公司职员。案例介绍:求助者不合群,经常和父母、同事、客户发生矛盾,人际关系紧张。最近又因琐事与同事发生矛盾,很生气,也为此痛苦,主动来心理咨询。下面是心理咨询师与该求助者的一段对话:心理咨询师:
一、注意事项1.申论考试是对应试者阅读理解能力、综合分析能力、提出和解决问题能力以及文字表达能力的测试。2.作答参考时限:阅读资料40分钟,答卷110分钟。3.仔细阅读给定资料,按照后面提出的“申论要求”依次作答。二、给定资料
下列说法正确的是()。
Youprobablyalreadyknowthataviselikepressureinthechestisthemostcommonphysicalsignofaheartattack.Youmayeven
最新回复
(
0
)