UNIT 6: Energy and The National Electricity Grid

Learning outcomes for this UNIT:

By the end of the topic, learners will be able to:

• Explain that a power station is a system for generating electricity

• Explain how coal generates electricity

• List other alternative sources of energy that can be used to drive turbines and generators

• Compare alternative resources in terms of sustainability and environmental impact.

• Explain the process that occurs in nuclear power stations in electricity generation

• Explain nuclear fission

• State that nuclear waste is radioactive

• Explain why nuclear waste needs to be properly disposed of.

• Describe the national grid as a network of interacting parts

• Explain that power stations feed electrical energy into the national grid at high voltages

• Explain that power lines carry electricity at high voltages

• Explain why power lines carry electricity at high voltages

• Explain the purpose of step-down transformers

• State that 15% of the electrical energy is wasted in the form of heat energy when it is carried along transmission lines and transformers

• Explain that power surges and grid overload can disrupt the power supply.

ELECTRICITY GENERATION

(a) Power stations generate electricity.

(b) Most power stations in South Africa are coal-fired (use coal).

(c) In a coal-fired power station coal is used to heat water, the water produces steam and the steam is used to turn turbines.

(d)The turbines turn generators which produce electricity.

(e) Solar, wind, energy, and nuclear are some of the alternative means to produce electricity.

Complete this activity in your books and upload a picture on Google Classroom. A link will be opened named Classwork 1 Energy and The National Electricity Grid

1. What is a power station?

2. List some of the alternative means of generating electricity.

3. What is the meaning of coal-fired power stations?

4. Discuss how electricity is generated using coal.

5. Do a research on one alternative means of generating electricity. Make a 3-minute presentation. You can also present with a partner.

NUCLEAR POWER IN SOUTH AFRICA

(a) Nuclear power stations use radioactive fuel instead of coal.

(b) Heat is produced by nuclear fission.

(c) Nuclear fission is the splitting of a nucleus of an atom into two smaller ones producing a lot of energy in the process.

(d) Nuclear power station such a Koeberg in the Cape helps channel electricity into the national energy grid.

(e) Nuclear waste is dangerous and remains radioactive for hundreds of years and must be correctly stored and disposed.

Complete this activity in your books and upload a picture on Google Classroom. A link will be opened named Classwork 2 Energy and The National Electricity Grid

1. What is nuclear power?

2. Explain how nuclear power works, you can also do some research.

3. Discuss the possible dangers of nuclear waste.

NATIONAL ELECTRICITY GRID

(a) The national grid produces electricity on a huge scale using different systems.

(b)The different systems feed high voltages to the national grid.

(d) Step-down transformers are used to reduce the voltage for local users.

(e) About 15 % of the energy is wasted as heat in transformers and power lines.

Complete this activity in your books and upload a picture on Google Classroom. A link will be opened named Classwork 3 Energy and The National Electricity Grid

1. What is an energy grid?

2. Explain in detail how the National Electricity grid works.

3. Explain the role of step-down transformers.

4. Discuss how much of the energy produced is delivered to the consumers.

5. Elaborate on how much of the energy is wasted and how is it wasted?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

WORKBOOK

Extra information and activities are available here to assist you. Simply click on the picture or the title to access this particular website.

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