EEE 463 Final Exam Newest 2026
Questions and Correct Detailed Answers
Already Graded A+
What are the main financial considerations in electricity generation? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Financial considerations include generation costs, transmission,
distribution, and administrative profits.
What is a flash steam geothermal plant? - CORRECT ANSWER-A plant where
geothermal water is pumped under high pressure to the surface, where it flashes
into steam to drive a turbine.
What type of geothermal plant uses a binary cycle? - CORRECT ANSWER-A
plant that uses geothermal water to heat a secondary working fluid with a lower
boiling point.
What is the typical temperature range for liquid dominated geothermal plants? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Between 225°F and 360°F.
,What is the role of hot springs in geothermal locations? - CORRECT ANSWER-
They release geothermally heated groundwater.
What percentage of consumer payments typically goes to electricity generation? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Approximately 60%.
How are electricity costs historically expressed? - CORRECT ANSWER-In mills
per kilowatt-hour, where 1,000 mills equal $1.
What are the three main components of generation costs? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Capital, Operating and Maintenance (O&M), and Fuel costs.
What does capital cost in electricity generation include? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Land, equipment, construction, and interest.
What are the two types of O&M costs? - CORRECT ANSWER-Fixed O&M costs
($/kW per yr) and Variable O&M costs (¢/kW·hr).
What is the relationship between plant size and costs according to the economy
of scale? - CORRECT ANSWER-As the plant size increases, costs decrease.
,What is the significance of capital costs in relation to the plant's operating
lifetime? - CORRECT ANSWER-Capital costs must be distributed throughout
the expected operating lifetime to find an annual payment.
How are power plants classified based on capacity factor? - CORRECT
ANSWER-They are classified as Base load, Peak, and Intermediate plants.
What characterizes base load power plants? - CORRECT ANSWER-They
operate 24/7 and have a high capacity factor.
What is a key feature of peak power plants? - CORRECT ANSWER-They are
used only as needed, typically during high demand periods.
What geological features are associated with geothermal power locations? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Cracks in the Earth's crust, known as rifts, often near
tectonic plate boundaries.
What are the three classifications of geothermal sources? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Hydrothermal, Geopressurized water, and Petrothermal.
, What is the typical thermal efficiency of geothermal power? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Approximately 20%.
What are the two types of hydrothermal systems? - CORRECT ANSWER-Vapor
dominated and liquid dominated systems.
What is the main advantage of binary cycle geothermal plants? - CORRECT
ANSWER-They produce no air emissions.
What is the typical depth range for drilling geothermal wells? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Between 3,000 to 9,000 feet.
What is the primary challenge associated with hydrothermal power plants? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Mineralization problems that can affect components over
time.
What is the purpose of drilling new wells in hydrothermal systems? - CORRECT
ANSWER-To maintain production after existing wells have been used for a few
years.
Questions and Correct Detailed Answers
Already Graded A+
What are the main financial considerations in electricity generation? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Financial considerations include generation costs, transmission,
distribution, and administrative profits.
What is a flash steam geothermal plant? - CORRECT ANSWER-A plant where
geothermal water is pumped under high pressure to the surface, where it flashes
into steam to drive a turbine.
What type of geothermal plant uses a binary cycle? - CORRECT ANSWER-A
plant that uses geothermal water to heat a secondary working fluid with a lower
boiling point.
What is the typical temperature range for liquid dominated geothermal plants? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Between 225°F and 360°F.
,What is the role of hot springs in geothermal locations? - CORRECT ANSWER-
They release geothermally heated groundwater.
What percentage of consumer payments typically goes to electricity generation? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Approximately 60%.
How are electricity costs historically expressed? - CORRECT ANSWER-In mills
per kilowatt-hour, where 1,000 mills equal $1.
What are the three main components of generation costs? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Capital, Operating and Maintenance (O&M), and Fuel costs.
What does capital cost in electricity generation include? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Land, equipment, construction, and interest.
What are the two types of O&M costs? - CORRECT ANSWER-Fixed O&M costs
($/kW per yr) and Variable O&M costs (¢/kW·hr).
What is the relationship between plant size and costs according to the economy
of scale? - CORRECT ANSWER-As the plant size increases, costs decrease.
,What is the significance of capital costs in relation to the plant's operating
lifetime? - CORRECT ANSWER-Capital costs must be distributed throughout
the expected operating lifetime to find an annual payment.
How are power plants classified based on capacity factor? - CORRECT
ANSWER-They are classified as Base load, Peak, and Intermediate plants.
What characterizes base load power plants? - CORRECT ANSWER-They
operate 24/7 and have a high capacity factor.
What is a key feature of peak power plants? - CORRECT ANSWER-They are
used only as needed, typically during high demand periods.
What geological features are associated with geothermal power locations? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Cracks in the Earth's crust, known as rifts, often near
tectonic plate boundaries.
What are the three classifications of geothermal sources? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Hydrothermal, Geopressurized water, and Petrothermal.
, What is the typical thermal efficiency of geothermal power? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Approximately 20%.
What are the two types of hydrothermal systems? - CORRECT ANSWER-Vapor
dominated and liquid dominated systems.
What is the main advantage of binary cycle geothermal plants? - CORRECT
ANSWER-They produce no air emissions.
What is the typical depth range for drilling geothermal wells? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Between 3,000 to 9,000 feet.
What is the primary challenge associated with hydrothermal power plants? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Mineralization problems that can affect components over
time.
What is the purpose of drilling new wells in hydrothermal systems? - CORRECT
ANSWER-To maintain production after existing wells have been used for a few
years.
