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Fossil Fuels
Leah, Marcelo, Alex
What are fossil fuels?
Fossil fuels are fuels with chemically stored energy
The most common fossil fuels are oil, natural gas, and coal
They were formed millions of years ago and are found deep in the earth’s crust
Produced by decomposition of buried animal/plant matter due to high pressure
from material on top and bacteria
Mostly made of carbon
Advantages
Able to be found anywhere on earth
Power plants are able to generate huge amounts of energy at a time, as the fossil
fuels combust quickly
Relatively cheap with a high power output (energy density)
Able to be used by a large variety of devices
Most fossil fuels can be stored for extended periods of time and in different
environments, as all forms of fossil fuel energy consist of hydrogen and oxygen,
making it consistent throughout all fossil fuels
Modern systems are designed around these forms of fuels
Disadvantages
The combustion of coal, oil, and natural gases releases air pollutants such as acid
rain-inducing sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, and other fine particulates
that contribute significantly to greenhouse gases and global climate change.
This mining using pipes and other manmade materials that can destroy habitats and
harm entire ecosystems for plants and animals and even harm native tribes of
people through eminent domain. Some of this natural harm comes from the water
and air pollution caused by the extraction of these fuels and the combustion of
them in power plants. Miners are also often harmed in this extraction process.
Fossil fuels are nonrenewable and will run out
Alternative Renewable Energy Sources to Fossil
Fuels
Solar power
Wind power
Hydropower
Geothermal energy
Why?
Because fossil fuels are finite sources of energy
Because they contribute to greenhouse gases and pollution
Because they are harmful to ecosystems, animals, miners, and more
Method of Processing Power: Coal
Coal is typically used primarily used to generate
electricity and is responsible for 39% of the
electric power supply in the U.S.
Method of Processing Power: Natural Gas
Typically used for heating buildings
One method of heating is forced air
heating in which the natural gas is
burned, heating the air, which is
then pumped throughout the
building (diagram at right)
For heating, the chemical energy of the
natural gas is transformed to kinetic
energy of the air molecules
Method of Processing Power: Oil
Typically used to provide mechanical energy for
transportation purposes through a combustion
engine
In the engine, gasoline, a product of oil, is combusted in
a cylinder forcing the piston out to crank the motor.
This is done repeatedly to constantly turn the motor
In this way, the chemical energy of the oil (gasoline) is
transformed into mechanical energy for engines
Sankey Diagram for Coal
Coal has 35% efficiency
Natural gas has 60% efficiency
Oil has similar efficiency to coal
Additional Information
For the entirety of the twentieth century and even long before that, renewable
energy was either inexistent or much more costly, so fossil fuels were the more
cost-efficient option. However, as time has passed and technology has advanced,
costs of renewable energy sources have fallen 75% below what they averaged back
in 2009, marking a modern transition to renewable energy.
This modern transition in energy sources is transitioning from fossil fuels and
nuclear energy to natural forms of energy such as solar, hydroelectric, wind, and
more.
Physics Application/Equations
Bibliography
http://www.eesi.org/topics/fossil-fuels/description
Summary of fossil fuels and uses
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa_pre_2011/energy/mainselectricit
yrev1.shtml
Describes fossil fuels for power stations and their disadvantages
https://occupytheory.org/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-fossil-fuels/
Summary of the advantages and disadvantages of fossil fuels
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter08.html
Overview of formation and extraction of fossil fuels
http://burnanenergyjournal.com/petroleum-natural-gas-and-coal/
Detailed summary of uses of fossil fuels
http://www.earthday.org/2015/02/02/are-renewables-as-cost-effective-as-fossil-fuels/
Cost-efficiency comparison of fossil fuels versus renewable energy