FH Südwestfalen Abteilung Meschede Klausur: Technical English 1 WS 2009 27.1.2010 10:00 11:00 Prüfer: N.Davie Name, Vorname (Druckbuchstaben) Matrikelnummer: Hinweise zur Klausur: Die Klausur hat vier Teile (60 Punkte max.) A. Terminology (20 points) B. Reading Comprehension (10 points) C. Grammar (10 points) D. Essay (20 points) Die Klammer der Klausur darf nicht gelöst werden. Keine Hilfsmittel (Datum) (Prüfer) 1
A. Terminology (20 points) Explain the following terms or expressions: application scope key performance indicator usability experiment forge transformer aerodynamic norm anodize 2
platform accreditation MTBF survey adequate circuit solder upload stopover reliability 3
B. Reading Comprehension (10 points) Read the following text and answer the questions, using your own words as far as possible: By 2050, electricity generated at solar-thermal power plants and wind farms in Africa and the Middle East is expected to cover 15 to 20 percent of Europe s energy needs. That s the goal of the Desertec Industrial Initiative. A team of researchers at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) in Stuttgart has determined that solar-thermal power plants could meet the world s entire energy requirements. To achieve that, however, it would be necessary to cover an area measuring around 90,000 km² about the size of Austria with mirrors. But, according to the DLR, which has been studying the associated technology for over 30 years, if only 15 to 20 percent of Europe s energy demand were covered, an area of around 2,500 km² would be sufficient. An additional 3,600 km² would be needed for the high-voltage power lines that would transmit the electricity to Europe. Solar-thermal power works there s no question about it, says Prof. Hans Müller-Steinhagen. In fact, a cluster of power plants in California s Mojave Desert has demonstrated for over 20 years that a huge amount of electricity can be generated with solar energy. The facilities feed some 350 MW into the grid enough electricity to power 200,000 households. There are many reasons why this technology is now being widely discussed in the context of Desertec, with increased awareness of the need for climate-friendly power being chief among them. In addition, technology for the low-loss transmission of electricity over long distances has now established itself, while recent innovations have made solar-thermal power plants even more efficient. When oil prices begin rising again, as is expected after the economic crisis, solar-thermal electricity may quickly become competitive. In fact, its production in favourable regions already costs less than 0.20 per kwh. Many of the elements of this visionary project have already been implemented in Europe, for example in the Andasol parabolic trough plant which went live in Spain at the beginning of 2009. The Andasol plant is equipped with curved parabolic mirrors laid out in long rows covering an area of 500,000 m². These mirrors will enable the plant, which will consist of three complexes in its final expansion stage, to generate 150 MW in all, and 176 GWh per complex and per year. To optimize the facility s yield, the mirrors continuously track the sun to within one-tenth of a degree. The light they reflect is channelled into vacuum-insulated receiver tubes that contain a special oil that is heated to nearly 400 ºC. The oil later transfers its heat to water in heat exchangers, thereby creating steam. At that point, a solar-thermal plant begins operating like a conventional facility. That s because the downstream power block, in which electricity is generated from steam, employs the proven technology used in steam-turbine plants. With the construction of more and more power plants, North Africa will eventually have an electricity surplus, which could be transmitted to Europe. Clearly, in such a case, losses must be minimized and this is achieved by high-voltage direct current transmission (HVDC). Transferring power via conventional AC lines over thousands of kilometres from Africa to Europe would lead to huge losses, says Dr. Dietmar Retzmann, expert on HVD technology. Such losses can be greatly reduced by using HVDC lines and undersea cables. HVDC loses only around 10 percent of power over 3,000 km that s roughly the distance from the southern end of the Sahara to Central Europe. The key issue with solar-thermal power today is no longer feasibility but the ability to achieve efficiency in large-scale applications. In conjunction with modern technology, the sun that beats down on this region could one day bring water, electricity and life to the desert. 4
Reading Comprehension (10 points): Read the text attached and answer the following questions using your own words as far as possible! Do not copy the text! 1. Why is it not practical to use solar-thermal energy to meet the world s entire energy needs? (1 point) 2. In addition to the room for the mirrors what other space is required? (1 point) 3. What is the proof that solar-thermal energy works? (2 points) 4. Why is this kind of energy now being more widely discussed? (3 points) 5. How does the Andasol plant in Spain maximise its power production? (1 point) 6. Why are conventional AC cables not appropriate for transferring electricity to Europe? (1 point) 7. What is now the most important issue for solar-thermal energy production? (1 point) 5
C. Grammar (10 points) Complete these using the correct form of the verb provided. 1. If I knew their idea was going to work, I (to join) their team immediately. 2. I will switch to a hybrid car next year, if it (to not be) too expensive. 3. I wouldn t have bought that new computer, if I (to be) you. 4. He would have been an amazing athlete, if he (to not break) his leg in that accident. Put the verbs into the correct form 5. Tom always (arrive) late but somehow no-one is ever angry with him. 6. We (to not have) a moment s peace since our new neighbours moved in. 7. They (run) for the train when the accident happened. 8. We were so late, the boat (leave) by the time we reached the harbour. 9. She (wait) for the results of her exams before she decides what to do next. 10. When they were on holiday last summer she (catch) a bad cold. 6
D. Essay (20 points) Write an essay of between 150 and 180 words on one (1) of the following topics: 1. If Apple hadn t failed so often they wouldn t have been able to succeed. Discuss. 2. Commercial space travel is still years away. Why have we still not got it right? 3. Money spent on quality is money well spent. Discuss. 4. Does ubiquitous computing mean the death of the operating system? 5. The fuel cell is the answer for the car of the future. Discuss. 6. Iceland may be the lesson we all need for global energy problems. Discuss. 7. Choosing the right material for a project is vital. Why is material engineering so important? 8. Leonardo da Vinci could now be considered the greatest engineer ever. Why was this not true during his lifetime? 7
8