Fossil Fuels Flashcards
What do you know about the formation of fossil fuels
Fossil fuels are organic compounds that are from fossilized plants and animal remnants.
These plants and animal remains are covered by sand,silt and rock.
The creation of fossils bet natural gas, oil or coal is dependent on the type of fossil, amount of heat , and amount of pressure.
Planktons decomposed and became oil and natural gas while plants became coal.
Global coal reserves 2020
Asia, USA, South America,Canada,Australia,middle east,Russia,Poland , Ukraine.
Global natural gas reserves
Asia, Russia, Ukraine,north and South America, Australia,some parts of Africa, some parts of Europe
Global oil reserves
North and South America, Russia, Middle East, some parts of Asia, Australia,some parts of Africa
What happens when fossil fuel reserves are unevenly distributed in the world .
- Countries with high reserves tend to lend on them heavily for development which harms th environment.
- in some cases it is used as leverage during international relations which affects trade, allegiance and may even bring conflicts.
What do you know about Oil shale?
Oil shale is a solid mixture of organic chemical compounds from which liquid hydrocarbons can be produced.
Not very common and important in countries that have big fossil reserves.
What do you know about peat formation?
Peat is formed in 500years.
Not really desired as fuel because, it is dirty and inconvenient. It has moisture content and needs to be dried before being used as fuel.
Found in Europe(Sweden), Canada and some parts of Asia and Africa.
What is coal?
Coal is a solid mixture consisting largely of carbon , and variety of minerals like Pb,Hg,As, and various radioactive isotopes
How many common coal types are there and what are they ?
There are three types of common coal.
1. Anthracite (hard coal)
2. Bituminous coal (soft coal)
3. Lignite (brown coal)
How are the various forms of coal formed
Heat and pressure are applied to Peat (not coal ) then it becomes lignite more heat and pressure added it then becomes bituminous coal more heat and pressure added it then becomes anthracite.
As you move from peat to anthracite heat and carbon content increases.
As you move from anthracite to peat moisture content increases.
What is the precursor to form coal?
Peat
Is this this true or false: coal is formed from massive heat and pressure
True
Mention one characteristic about the common types of coal
Anthracite:the most desirable out of the three because of its high heat value. Has very limited supply in most areas and has low sulfur content.
Bituminous coal: extensively used because of its very high heat content and has high supply in most areas. Has a high sulfur content .
Lignite: low heat content , limited in most areas, low sulfur content.
What do you know about the formation of oil?
Crude oil is a mixture of thousand different molecules.
It has a ranging density can be thick and viscous as well as light and fluid.
It’s color can range from yellow to dark black.
In or Oder fro crude to be used it is separated into fuels and lubricants with specific properties.
What is an oil refinery?
This is an industrial processing plant where crude oil is transformed and refined into useful products such as :
Asphalt base
Gasoline(petrol)
Liquified petroleum gas
Diesel oil
Heating oil
Fuel oil
Kerosene
Petroleum naphtha
What do yo know about liquified petroleum gas?
Propane, butane ,unsaturated lighter C2 and heavier C5 fractions.
It is in a gaseous state at high pressure but can be condensed into a liquid state.
LPG is denser than air and leaked gases can travel long distances from the source
What do you know about natural gas ?
Consists of 95% methane, the other 5% is a mixture of propane, butane ,ethane , pentane,CO2 , nitrogen and other gases .
Has high calorific value (heating value).
Has no sulfur and does not need to be stored on site.
Mixes readily with air without producing smoke or soot.
What do you know about Fossil fuel consumption rate.
Oil consumed the most and is set to last about 32 years
Coal 2nd most consumed said to last about 175 years
Natural gas : 3rd said to last about 43 years.
Biomass : grows yearly with 2/3rds of it in the oceans and 1/3rd on land
What is termed as peak oil?
This is a point in time where oil production is predicted to reach its peak after which there will be an inevitable and unstoppable decline. Which is good for the environment but may cause so many other problems cars and industries are heavily dependent on oil.
What does oil production look like ?
USA highest then Saudi Arabia, then Iraq,then UAE, then Norway, then Oman and Qatar
What are some of the advantages of fossil fuels?
Can produce large amounts of electricity at a relatively low cost.
Transportation of oil and gas are relatively easy.
Gas power plants are found to most efficient and less polluting
A fossil fueled power station can be built anywhere.
What are some of the disadvantages of fossil fuels?
Air pollution
Contribution to global warming
Human health effects
air pollution Affects agriculture
Environmental impacts from mining
Environmental risks from oil spills and gas leaks
Depletion of limited resources
