fuels Flashcards
definition of fuel
a chemical substance which has chemical energy stored in its bonds which can be used to release energy
define peak oil
consumer demand exceeds what is available in terms of energy
what are the two types of fuel?
renewable and non-renewable
what is renewable fuel?
- infinite in supply
- replenished in a shorter period of time
what is a non-renewable fuel?
- finite in supply
- originate from dead organic matter that requires 10^6 years to sediment/deposit and therefore it takes a long time to replace
what are the non-renewables?
coal, natural gas, crude oil
what does coal originate from? where is it found? what makes each type different?
- organic matter that takes many years to form
- mined from underground where there are different types all varying in %C
peat
- 60% carbon
- 25KJg-1
brown coal
- 70% carbon
- 30KJg-1
black coal
- 70% carbon
- 35KJg-1
why do the coals differ?
lower down (black coal) has more pressure, less H2O and increased temperature this increases % of carbon and so more energy is released
what is the reaction when coal burns?
C(s) + O2(g)—-> CO2(g)
how is energy made from coal?
- water is heated by coal
- steam moves at Hugh pressure to move a turbine
- steam is condensed and heads back to the water heater or to cool the cooling tower
- generater collects energy as electricity from the turbine and makes power
where is energy lost in coal burning? how much remains?
- 10% lost as heat
- 5% lost in various ways in the plant
- 50% lost as heat in steam from the cooling tower
- 35% remains
what is natural gas made of?
- mostly CH4 methane
- some ethane and propane
where is natural gas located?
- gas reservoirs between layers of rock
- where they mine for petroleum
- where they mine for coal because natural gas can bind to the surface of coal. this generates CSG (coal seam gas)
- trappen in shale rock
how is natural gas extracted?
fracking
how does fracking work?
- water, sand and chemical agents are injected at high pressure into a well under ground
- forces open fissures in shale from where the gas can flow to be collected
what environmental problems are there with fracking?
- geological instability
- chemicals may get in water supplies etc.