Energy & Fuels: overview

Question 1

What is the basic energy transformation of fuels?

Answer 1

Chemical energy –> Kinetic energy/mechanical work

Question 2

How much faster are we using up fossil fuels than they are replenished?

Answer 2

50,000 X

Question 3

What are the advantages and disadvantages of coal?

Answer 3

Advantages: Abundant, cheap, easy to extract energy, easy to transport, raw product is final product, easy to store
Disadvantages: Enviro impacts (use and mining), health impacts of burning, limited supply, must be imported/transported to utilise

Question 4

How many kg of CO2 does burning 1GJ of coal, oil and natural gas produce?

Answer 4

Coal = 24kg/GJ
Oil = 19
Natural gas = 14

Question 5

What are the advantages and disadvantages of petroleum

Answer 5

Advantages: High energy value, less CO2/Energy than coal, many products can be synthesised, easy to transport, easy to store
Disadvantages: Greenhouse gases, non-renewable, uncertainty around supply, sources concentrated in certain places

Question 6

What is bio energy?

Answer 6

Energy from plants and plant an animal derived materials (e.g. energy from biomass)

Question 7

Why don’t we use biomass more for our energy needs?

Answer 7

Because the land is used primarily for food

Question 8

What are some other large scale forms of electrical production (other than fossil fuels)?

Answer 8

Hydroelectric, nuclear, geothermal, wind, tidal