Energy IAFNR MODULE 4 NATURAL RESOURCES. Fossil Fuels Fossil fuels play a large role in how our...
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Transcript of Energy IAFNR MODULE 4 NATURAL RESOURCES. Fossil Fuels Fossil fuels play a large role in how our...
EnergyIAFNR MODULE 4NATURAL RESOURCES
Fossil Fuels
• Fossil fuels play a large role in how our country operates
• Fossil Fuels are formed over time from compressed vegetation and include:• Coal
• Oil
• Natural Gas
• Tar Sands
• Oil Shale
Image retrieved from: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/basics/
Coal
• Black or Brown rock formed from the concentration of carbon matter
• Coal is classified by the amount of carbon it contains• Lignite- 25-35% carbon aka brown coal
• Subbituminous-35-45% carbon also considered to be brown coal
• Bituminous- aka soft coal 45-86% carbon
• Anthracite- aka hard coal 86-97% carbon, very rare
• 2013 world coal production- 7822.8 million tons
• Top two countries in Coal production- China and US
Image retrieved from: http://theenergycollective.com/ecsjessica/278901/epa-restrictions-can-encourage-clean-coal
Coal
Mining
• Two types of Coal Mines– Strip Mines
• 50 ft. under surface• Produce about 60% of US coal
– Underground Mines• Multiple methods of
underground mining and withdrawal of the coal
• Very hazardous work– Strict health and safety
measure to decrease death rate of miners
Uses
• Coal is said to generate over 40% of the world’s electricity
• Newest research in Coal industry involves finding new uses for coal
• Coal Gasification– Experimental process for
converting coal into fuel used as a raw product for chemicals and fertilizer
– Research shows promise of providing use for high sulfur graded coal
Oil• A vital part of US industry,
sometimes called “Black Gold”
• Formed by pressure and shifting of earth and squeezed into rock openings and layers
• Transported and sold by the barrel (42 Gallons)• 2011-2015 Oil prices ranged from
more than $100 a barrel to less than $48 per barrel. It currently averages at approximately $60.
• Oil can be distilled into various products• Fuels- diesel fuel, gasoline, jet fuel,
and kerosene
• Lubricants- greases, road oils, and medicine oil
• Petrochemicals- alcohol, ammonia, ink, and paint Image retrieved from: https://
www.mxtrade.com/posts/dailyfundamentalanalysis/2015/02/16/nymex-crude-oil-resumes-gains
Oil
Processing
• Petroleum Engineers use tools that measure sound waves, and gravitational and magnetic pull to find oil deposits
• Once Oil is found, company leases the land and drilling begins
• Oil is brought to the surface and pumped to trucks and taken to a refinery
Reserves
• Oil companies and geologists constantly review how much oil is left– Technology allows oil to be
recovered that wasn’t recoverable before
• World Petroleum Council defines two levels of reserves:– Proved Reserves- well-known
deposits located by geologists and engineers
– Unproved Reserves- located deposit, but limitations prevent it from being “proved”
Natural Gas
• One of the most in-demand fuels in the US
• Used to heat home, cook, produce plastics, detergents, and drugs
• Gas is normally located just above Oil deposits
• Most US gas is found in Texas and Louisiana
• Typically, gas is sold by volume in the US in units of 1,000 cubic feet
Image retrieved from: http://neftegaz.ru/en/analisis/tag/natural%20gas/
Alternative Energy Sources
• Fossil Fuels are non-renewable energy sources and as prices increase, Americans are searching for new energy sources to fulfil their energy needs
• We will briefly discuss the energy sources in the photo to the right!
Image retrieved from: http://www.arcticsun-llc.com/resources/renewable-101/
Solar Energy
• More abundant, less exhaustible and more pollution-free than any other energy source
• Solar energy system are divided in to two types• Active- capture, store, and
distribute energy from the sun
• Passive- provide ways for sun to enter but use natural airflow for distribution
• Newest research concerns converting sun rays (radiant energy) into electrical energy and the use of solar cells
Image retrieved from: http://wiseenergy.org/solar/
Nuclear Power• All matter is composed of atoms
which is made up of a nucleus of positively charged protons and neutral neutrons and traveling around outside the nucleus are negatively charged electrons
• When interactions occur between rays and compounds the atom splits—this is called fission• During the fission process heat is given off—
this is very important to nuclear power
• Once a fission process starts it can continue on its own and is called a chain reaction
• How it works?• The reactor within the power plant fissions
a mixture of uranium slowly, producing heat and energy
• 1 lb of uranium can produce 12 million KW hours of power!
• Concerns of Safety and radioactive waste disposal
Image retrieved from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/terry-tamminen/nuclear-power-is-so-20th-century_b_3423988.html
Geothermal
• Involves tapping into underground heat sources• Steam is piped through the ground to
electric generators
• Disadvantages• Energy is not uniformly located around the
country
• Minerals in the steam are hard on machinery
• Where it is available, it is cheap and clean and can even be used domestically to heat your home!
Geothermal
Image retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs6n0baLQ6w
Energy from Biomass
• Biomass in terms of energy• Agricultural, municipal,
industrial wastes
• Plants grown for energy use- corn and other grains
• Biomass sources• Ethanol from grains
• Methane from biowaste-with use of a digester
• Energy crops in addition to corn-raw sugar, trees, and oil crops
• Cellulosic Ethanol
Image retrieved from: http://stlenergy.org/?m=201207
Hydropower
• Hydropower is water power!
• Power produced from moving water• Example: Hoover Dam
• Water is released through opening and energy is used to drive turbines connected to electrical generators
• Development opposed in some areas• Waters become backed up and
it effects surrounding wilderness areas
Image retrieved from: http://app.emaze.com/@AORRQLIQ/#1
Wind Energy
• Wind power has been a source for many years
• Now experimenting with new and more efficient windmills
• Limitations• Wind speeds vary
• Special building codes for towers and possible interference with air traffic
• Need for storage mechanism
Image retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fowler_Ridge_Wind_Farm
References
• Camp, W., & Heath-Camp, B. (2009) Managing our Natural Resources. New York: Delmar.