PSE 104 – Products and Energy from Renewable Resources
Exam 2 – Autumn 2009
Name _______Answer Key_________________
Student # _______________________________
There are 24 multiple choice questions worth 2.5 points each. There is only 1 right
answer for each question. These go on the scantron form. Make sure your answers
match up with the correct numbers on your Scantron form.
There are 2 (TWO) short answer questions worth a total of 40 points. Write your
answers on the test for the short answer questions.
1. The highest energy consumption during the papermaking process takes place during
A) The Stock preparation process
B) The Forming and Pressing process
C) The Dryer section
D) The Reeling of the paper
2. When preparing the papermaking stock before entering the papermachine, why do the
fibers need to undergo refining?
A) To improve brightness
B) To improve fiber bonding
C) To improve water repellency
D) All of the above
3. What is the purpose of the press section?
A) Remove water
B) Reduce bulk in the sheet
C) A & B
D) None of the above
4. Sizing is added to paper for the following reason.
A) To improve the paper strength.
B) To control paper opacity.
C) To correct fiber size problems.
D) To control the water repellency of the paper.
5. The headbox has intense turbulence for the following reason.
A) To refine the fibers.
B) To keep pulp fibers from flocculating.
C) To mix chemicals.
D) To improve drainage on the forming section.
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6. A watermark is made ___________.
A) during the printing process
B) during the papermaking process
C) using special dyes
D) using steam
7. The most common way for a bank teller or a grocery store clerk to recognize
counterfeit money is by ____________.
A) the picture on the bill
B) the security strip in the bill
C) the watermark on the bill
D) the feel of the bill
8. Which statement is true about watermarks?
A) They have been used for centuries as security features on currency
B) They are visible because of density variations in the paper
C) Neither A or B
D) Both A and B
9. The printing process used to print US currency is the ____________ process.
A) screen
B) xerographic
C) intaglio
D) offset
10. Which printing process uses a raised surface to transfer ink to the printing surface?
A) offset
B) letterpress
C) inkjet
D) All the above
11. The largest demand for energy in the United States is?
A) For cars and trucks
B) Making electricity
C) Producing food
D) Space exploration
12. The primary energy import to the United States is the following:
A) Electricity
B) Natural gas
C) Biomass
D) Petroleum
13. True or False: The presence of oxygen atoms in the fossil fuels’ molecular
composition causes these molecules to have very high combustion energy.
A) True
B) False
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14. Fossil fuels are mainly hydrocarbons. This is advantageous for the following reason.
A) They are not corrosive
B) They do not absorb water
C) They have a high heat of combustion
D) All of the above
15. The United States has enough coal to last for approximately how many years
A) 200 years
B) 2 years
C) 2000 years
D) Coal is renewable
16. The main motivation for developing biofuels is the following?
A) To reduce carbon emissions.
B) To become more energy independent.
C) We are running out of oil
D) A and B.
E) All of the above.
17. Which of the following best describes the purpose of the fermentation process?
A) Removes lignin from biomass
B) Converts hemicellulose to sugars
C) Converts sugars to ethanol and carbon dioxide
D) Produces syngas
18. Biofuels have the potential to be carbon neutral. What does this mean?
A) They do not release carbon when they are burnt.
B) Chemicals and fuels can be produced from them.
C) The carbon that is released in the air when they are burnt is balanced by the
carbon sequestered from the air during the biomass growth.
D) All of the above.
19. In 2006 the carbon emissions from Washington State forest fires were about equal
what.
A) Carbon emissions from Washington pulp mills.
B) Carbon emissions from production of electricity in Washington State.
C) Carbon emissions from all cars and trucks in Washington State.
D) Carbon emissions from agriculture in Washington State.
20. Ethanol production from cane sugar requires less fossil fuel per gallon of ethanol
compared to corn ethanol for the following reason.
A) Sugar cane ethanol has more energy
B) Energy from burning bagasse is used for distillation in the sugar cane process
C) Less energy is needed grow and harvest sugar cane than corn
D) A and B
E) B and C
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21. Sugar cane in Brazil primarily comes from:
A) The Amazon basin
B) From the foothills of the Andes mountains
C) Is imported from Uruguay
D) The southern more temperate region of the country
22. The corn to ethanol process would have a more favorable energy balance if the
process did the following:
A) Used coal instead of oil to produce steam for distillation.
B) The ethanol was not completely dried before sale.
C) Corn cobs and corn stover were used to produce steam for distillation
D) The corn was mixed with wheat prior to milling
23. The following are necessary for corn ethanol to be profitable in today’s market.
A) A direct subsidy for ethanol production
B) A tariff on imported ethanol
C) Sale of co-products such as distillers grains
D) A and B
E) All of the above (A – C)
24. The maximum production of corn ethanol in the US is 15 billion gallons per year.
This limit is due mainly to the following:
A) Insufficient corn to ethanol plants to produce more ethanol
B) Insufficient demand to warrant producing more than 15 billion gallons
C) Insufficient farm land to grow more corn
D) Insufficient number of flex vehicles that could burn ethanol
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Short Answer Section (2 questions, 40 pts total – 20 pts each)
1. Current Washington State law and policy will reduce the carbon emissions associated
with producing electricity.
a) Explain why these laws and policies are insufficient for the state to reach its carbon
emission goals.
Most of Washington carbon emissions come from transportation fuels.
Emissions from producing electricity are only 1/3 of that from transportation
fuels. Even if you eliminated all carbon emissions from making electricity (an
unlikely event) you would not reach Washington’s long term carbon emission
goals. To significantly reduce carbon emissions in Washington State you
need to be using renewable fuels in cars and trucks.
b) What laws or policies would you recommend for Washington State to meet its
green house gas emission goals?
You need policies that encourage use of more renewable transportation fuels.
Examples include minimum renewable fuel content, carbon tax on fossil fuels,
direct subsidies for renewable transportation fuels.
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2. Currently there is considerable research to convert sugars into hydrocarbons instead of
using them to produce ethanol
a) Explain chemically (in general terms) what is required to produce hydrocarbons from
sugars.
The main thing you need to do is get the oxygen out of all the molecules. Once
you are producing molecules with just carbon and hydrogen you can produce
fuels and chemicals with the properties you need for a given application.
b) Why would it be advantageous to produce hydrocarbons instead of ethanol from
sugars?
We would not have to change our fuel infrastructure to use the renewable fuel.
We would not need flex cars, new pipe lines, or new gas pumps. In addition, the
higher energy value in hydrocarbons make it a better fuel.
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