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Electric Terms
Ampere - The unit of measurement of electric current. It is proportional to the quantity of electrons flowing through a conductor past a given point in one second and is similar to cubic feet of water flowing per second.
Boiler - A series of water tubes in which water is heated under pressure to make steam, which spins the turbine, then subsequently turns the generator to produce electricity.
British Thermal Unit (Btu) - The amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
Cooling Tower - Cools condenser water by circulating water from the plant instead of returning it to a lake, river or ocean.
Electricity - Energy derived from electrons in motion.
Electrostatic Precipitator - One of several air pollution devices used in plants that burn coal. It gives dust and ash particles an electrical charge, allowing them to be drawn out of the gas stream as if by magnet rather than being charged. It removes solid particles from the boiler exhaust gas (smoke).
Electron - An elementary particle with a negative charge which circles the nucleus of an atom.
Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) - Removes sulfur from the boiler exhaust gas after it has passed through the precipitator, with three absorber vessels using a limestone slurry. Residue from this system is used to produce wallboard gypsum.
Fossil Fuels - Fuels derived from the fossil remains of plants and animals that lived in ages past; includes petroleum, natural gas, coal, oil shale and tar sands.
Generator - A machine for changing mechanical energy into electrical energy.
Kilowatt (kW) - One thousand watts. A unit used to measure the production capacity or capability of electric generators and also the power requirement of electrical appliances and equipment. One kilowatt is the equivalent of about 1-1/3 horsepower.
Kilowatt hour (kWh)- One thousand watt-hours. A unit of electrical energy equal to the energy delivered by the flow of one kilowatt of electrical power for one hour. (A 100-watt bulb burning for 10 hours will use one kilowatt hour of energy.)
Megawatt (MW)- One million watts, or 1,000 kilowatts.
Ohm- The unit of measurement of electrical resistance. It is that resistance through which a difference of potential-or electromotive force-of one volt will produce a current of one ampere.
Potential Energy- Energy that is stored in matter because of its position or because of the arrangement of its parts. Examples include the tension of a spring, water stored behind a dam or chemical energy such as that contained in fuel.
Power- The rate that energy is used or generated. Power is commonly measured in units such as horsepower or kilowatts.
Scrubber- A cleansing device that chemically removes sulfur from gases produced in the coal-burning process.
Sulfur Dioxide- A heavy, pungent, colorless gas formed primarily by the combustion of fossil fuels.
Transmission- The process of transporting bulk electricity at a very high voltage.
Turbine Generator- A rotary engine driven by the pressure of water, air or steam against the curved vanes of a wheel to transform heat, chemical energy or water pressure into mechanical energy.
Volt- The unit of electromotive force or electric pressure analogous to water pressure in pounds per square inch.
Watt- Measures the amount of electricity used in electric equipment.
Water/Sewer Terms
Aeration- To mix with air by passing air under pressure through a liquid.
Aquifer- A geologic function that stores water. JEA's water source, the Floridan Aquifer, lies more than 400 feet below the earth's surface.
Clarifier- A tank or basin in which wastewater is held for a period of time, during which the heavier solids settle to the bottom and the lighter material floats to the surface.
Disinfection- The process by which disease-causing organisms are killed. There are several ways to disinfect, but chlorination is the more frequent method used in water treatment.
Effluent- Wastewater or other liquid (raw, partially or completely treated) flowing from a basin, treatment process or treatment plant.
Grit- The heavy mineral material present in wastewater such as sand, eggshells, gravel and cinders.
Micro-organisms- Very small organisms that can be seen only through a microscope. Some micro-organisms use the wastes in wastewater for food and thus remove or alter much of the undesirable matter.
MGD- Millions of gallons per day
Potable Water- Water that is fit to drink.
Primary Treatment- A wastewater treatment process consisting of a rectangular or circular tank which allows those substances in wastewater that readily settle or float to be separated from the water being treated.
Reuse Water- Treated wastewater that can be used for beneficial purposes, such as watering golf courses, rights of way and development areas.
SCADA- A technology that allows JEA water plants to be remotely controlled and monitored 24 hours a day.
Screen- A device with openings generally uniformly sized to retain or remove suspended or floating objects in wastewater larger than the openings. A screen may consist of bars, rods, wires, gratings, wire mesh or perforated plates.
Secondary Treatment- A wastewater treatment process used to convert dissolved or suspended materials into a form more readily separated from the water being treated.
Sludge- The settling solids that separate from liquids during processing.
Surface Water- Water that is found on the earth's surface. Sources include oceans, rivers, lakes and streams.
SSO- Sanitary Sewer Overflow
Wastewater- A community's used water and solids that flow to the treatment plant. Storm water, surface water and groundwater infiltration may also be included in the wastewater that enters a plant. The term sewage usually refers to household waste, but this word is being replaced by the term wastewater.
Water Meter- A mechanical device that measures the amount of water used by a customer.
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