Homework Problem 2 – Selected Processes in the Chemical Industry

Energy and Electricity production

A useful method to help decide which is the most promising of parallel competing projects is to use a three dimensional evaluation sheet. One dimension is the projects. The second dimension is technical and economical parameters, which can be translated into relative grades, and the third dimension is the weight of each parameter.

Paper (1) has a good example of this method, but uses only a two dimensional evaluation. This paper is also a revival of an old dream of collecting solar energy by a satellite orbiting Earth, converting it to electricity and beaming it to collection stations on Earth.

Other papers (2-7) describe the considerable effort that is still required in order to realize this dream.

The table in Paper (1) compares many electrical energy producing systems.

Your mission is:

A list of 24 of the most used, or most discussed, energy processes is appended below.

Eliminate at least 10 of these energy sources, due to inapplicability to Israel. Write a 1-3 line explanation for the elimination.
Use the technique in the table in paper (1), adding the third dimension, for the remaining processes. Write a 2-3 lines discussions of the pros and cons for each process.
Recommend one process for further study.

The list of processes:

Coal, Crude oil, Natural gas, Oil shale, Tar sands, Fuel cells, Fracking
Solar home water heating, Solar air conditioning, Solar thermal to electricity, Space-based solar power (1),
Nuclear power, Breeder reactors, Nuclear fusion, Space nuclear and transmission to Earth
Biomass, Alcohol from biomass, Alcohol from corn
Geothermal, Ocean thermal

Hydroelectricity, Tidal power, Wind power, Solar wind energy tower(Sharav Sluices)

Bibliography

In addition to the general energy links in the class Internet sites, the following papers can be useful:

Solar energy research at Israel
The sun – The closest star (About the sun and solar energy).
Energy Story (A good introductory, but high school level, book).
The hazards of solar energy (A satire).
Nuclear Energy is the most certain energy source (A slanted paper ).
Advances in solar thermal electricity technology
Ocean energy (Energy from the oceans.)
List of energy sources

Energy and Electricity production

Your mission is:

The list of processes:

Bibliography

A few more sites about the Israeli economy