Geothermal Power Plants: Design, Operation, and Efficiency

Question 1

Which type of geothermal reservoir is characterized by high temperatures but low permeability?

Accepted Answer

Petrothermal

Answer

Hydrothermal

Answer

Magma

Answer

Geopressured

Question 2

What is the primary advantage of utilizing an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system in geothermal power plants?

Accepted Answer

Improved efficiency with lower-temperature geothermal resources

Answer

Reduced capital costs compared to conventional systems

Answer

Increased steam flow rates for enhanced power output

Answer

Significant reduction in environmental impact

Question 3

Which of the following factors is irrelevant in selecting the optimal location for a geothermal power plant?

Accepted Answer

Population density of the surrounding area

Answer

Availability of geothermal resources

Answer

Proximity to transmission lines for grid connection

Answer

Land and development costs

Question 4

What is the primary purpose of a cooling tower in a geothermal power plant?

Accepted Answer

Dissipating excess heat from the working fluid to maintain optimal operating conditions

Answer

Condensing the steam after it exits the turbine to complete the power generation cycle

Answer

Generating additional electricity through the use of waste heat

Answer

Removing impurities from the geothermal fluid to prevent equipment damage

Question 5

Which type of geothermal power plant harnesses the energy of hot dry rock (HDR) as its heat source?

Accepted Answer

Closed-loop

Answer

Dry steam

Answer

Flash steam

Answer

Binary cycle

Question 6

What factor has the greatest influence on the efficiency of a geothermal power plant?

Accepted Answer

Geothermal fluid temperature

Answer

Plant size

Answer

Steam turbine technology

Question 7

Which of the following is not a type of geothermal power plant?

Accepted Answer

Hydrothermal

Answer

Dry steam

Answer

Wet steam

Answer

Flash steam

Question 8

What is the ideal temperature range for optimal geothermal energy production?

Accepted Answer

300-450°C

Answer

50-100°C

Answer

150-250°C

Answer

Over 500°C

Question 9

Which component of a geothermal power plant converts thermal energy into mechanical energy?

Accepted Answer

Turbine

Answer

Generator

Answer

Condenser

Answer

Cooling tower

Question 10

Which type of geothermal power plant is suitable for areas with moderate temperatures?

Accepted Answer

Binary cycle

Answer

Dry steam

Answer

Wet steam

Answer

Flash steam

Question 11

What is the process called when geothermal fluid is extracted from the Earth?

Accepted Answer

Drilling

Answer

Fracking

Answer

Exploration

Answer

Production

Question 12

Which resource provides the primary energy source for geothermal power plants?

Accepted Answer

Heat from the Earth's core

Answer

Solar radiation

Answer

Wind energy

Answer

Fossil fuels

Question 13

In a geothermal power plant, what is the primary function of the working fluid?

Accepted Answer

To transfer heat from the Earth to the turbine

Answer

To generate electricity in the generator

Answer

To regulate the flow of steam through the system

Answer

To cool the turbine blades

Question 14

Which type of geothermal power plant directly utilizes steam from the geothermal reservoir to drive the turbine?

Accepted Answer

Dry steam power plant

Answer

Flash steam power plant

Answer

Binary cycle power plant

Answer

Hybrid power plant

Question 15

What is the primary purpose of the condenser in a geothermal power plant?

Accepted Answer

To condense steam back into water

Answer

To increase the pressure of the steam

Answer

To generate electricity

Answer

To extract heat from the steam

Question 16

Define the function of a geothermal heat pump.

Accepted Answer

Uses the Earth's heat to regulate building temperatures

Answer

Generates electricity using geothermal resources

Answer

Circulates geothermal fluid in a power plant

Answer

Disposes of geothermal waste

Question 17

What is the primary role of a cooling tower in a geothermal power plant?

Accepted Answer

Cools the condenser to maintain a vacuum

Answer

Cools geothermal fluid before reinjection

Answer

Generates electricity using waste heat

Answer

Filters impurities from geothermal fluid

Question 18

What is the primary advantage of employing binary cycle technology in geothermal power plants?

Accepted Answer

Improved efficiency in utilizing low-temperature geothermal fluids to generate electricity

Answer

Elimination of harmful gas emissions

Answer

Reduced water consumption

Answer

Lower equipment costs

Question 19

Which key factor significantly influences the efficiency of a geothermal power plant?

Accepted Answer

Optimizing all the aforementioned factors

Answer

Temperature of the geothermal reservoir

Answer

Flow rate of the geothermal fluid

Answer

Type of geothermal technology employed

Question 20

What is the main purpose of a surface condenser used in geothermal power plants?

Accepted Answer

Cooling and condensing the steam exhausted from the turbine

Answer

Preheating the incoming geothermal fluid

Answer

Reducing environmental emissions

Answer

Regulating the pressure within the geothermal reservoir

Question 21

Which of the following is not a potential environmental impact associated with geothermal power generation?

Accepted Answer

Release of carbon dioxide

Answer

Emission of hydrogen sulfide gas

Answer

Thermal pollution of water bodies

Answer

Noise pollution

Question 22

What is the primary reason for reinjecting spent geothermal fluid back into the reservoir?

Accepted Answer

Maintaining reservoir pressure

Answer

Replenishing the geothermal fluid supply

Answer

Mitigating environmental contamination

Answer

Reducing operational costs

Question 23

Which key factor plays a major role in determining the economic feasibility of a geothermal power plant?

Accepted Answer

All of the above factors combined

Answer

Capital costs of drilling and exploration

Answer

Availability and quality of geothermal resources

Answer

Government incentives and policies

Question 24

In a flash steam geothermal power plant, how is electricity generated?

Accepted Answer

Geothermal fluid is flashed into steam, driving a turbine.

Answer

Geothermal water directly powers a turbine.

Answer

Geothermal fluid heats a secondary fluid, which drives a turbine.

Question 25

Which of the following is not a type of geothermal power plant?

Accepted Answer

Hydroelectric

Answer

Dry steam

Answer

Flash steam

Answer

Binary cycle

Question 26

In binary cycle geothermal power plants, what is used as the primary heat transfer fluid?

Accepted Answer

Organic fluid

Answer

Water

Answer

Steam

Answer

Air

Question 27

Which component in a geothermal power plant converts mechanical energy into electrical energy?

Accepted Answer

Generator

Answer

Turbine

Answer

Pump

Answer

Condenser

Question 28

What is the main purpose of a cooling tower in a geothermal power plant?

Accepted Answer

Condensing steam

Answer

Cooling geothermal fluid

Answer

Generating electricity

Answer

Removing impurities

Question 29

Identify the essential component of a geothermal power plant responsible for transferring heat from the geothermal fluid to the working fluid.

Accepted Answer

Heat exchanger

Answer

Condenser

Answer

Solar collector

Answer

Turbine blades

Question 30

Specify the type of geothermal power plant that utilizes high-temperature geothermal reservoirs where steam exists as a dominant phase.

Accepted Answer

Dry steam

Answer

Binary cycle

Answer

Hybrid

Answer

Flash steam

Question 31

Indicate the primary concern associated with the operation of geothermal power plants.

Accepted Answer

Emission of hydrogen sulfide gas

Answer

Emission of methane

Answer

Emission of carbon dioxide

Answer

Emission of nitrogen oxides

Question 32

State the key advantage that geothermal power plants offer over other renewable energy sources.

Accepted Answer

Reliable baseload electricity generation

Answer

Minimal land requirements

Answer

Adaptability to varying climatic conditions

Answer

Low construction costs

Question 33

Specify the primary function of a cooling tower in a geothermal power plant.

Accepted Answer

Dissipate excess heat from the geothermal fluid

Answer

Increase pressure of the geothermal fluid

Answer

Generate steam for the turbine

Question 34

Indicate the significant environmental challenge associated with flash steam geothermal power plants.

Accepted Answer

Water pollution due to discharge of geothermal brine

Answer

Air pollution from sulfur dioxide emissions

Answer

Excessive noise generation

Answer

Land contamination resulting from geothermal fluid disposal

Question 35

Specify the most influential factor that affects the efficiency of geothermal power plants.

Accepted Answer

Temperature of the geothermal fluid

Answer

Size and capacity of the power plant

Answer

Type of fuel source used

Answer

Design characteristics of the turbine

Question 36

In a geothermal power plant, which component is primarily responsible for converting geothermal fluids into steam used for electricity generation?

Accepted Answer

Heat Exchanger

Answer

Generator

Answer

Condenser

Answer

Steam Turbine

Question 37

Regarding the future outlook of geothermal energy, which statement best reflects the current perspectives in the field?

Accepted Answer

Geothermal energy has a significant potential for growth and is expected to play a larger role in the global energy mix, especially with ongoing technological advancements.

Answer

Geothermal energy's potential is limited due to geographical constraints and resource depletion, which may hinder its widespread adoption.

Answer

The future of geothermal energy is uncertain as there are concerns over its environmental impact and the high costs associated with its exploration and development.

Question 38

Which type of geothermal power plant utilizes steam directly extracted from geothermal reservoirs, without the need for additional fluid circulation or steam generation?

Accepted Answer

Dry Steam Power Plant

Answer

Flash Steam Power Plant

Answer

Hybrid Power Plant

Answer

Binary Cycle Power Plant

Question 39

In binary cycle geothermal power plants, which type of fluid is typically used as the working fluid that undergoes vaporization and expansion to drive the turbine?

Accepted Answer

Organic Working Fluid

Answer

Water

Answer

Brine

Answer

Steam

Question 40

What is the primary limiting factor for the widespread adoption and development of geothermal power plants?

Accepted Answer

Limited geographical availability of suitable geothermal resources

Answer

High operational and maintenance costs

Answer

Intermittent power generation and reliability concerns

Answer

Significant environmental impact and potential risks

Question 41

Among the potential environmental concerns associated with geothermal power plants, which emission poses a particular challenge?

Accepted Answer

Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) emissions

Answer

Land use and habitat disturbance during geothermal exploration and development

Answer

Water pollution due to the disposal of geothermal fluids

Answer

Greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide (CO2)