Download File

SOLUTIONS TO FUEL PROBLEMS
Noadswood Science, 2011
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Solutions To Fuel Problems
 To identify possible solutions to the impact of burning fuels
Crude Oil
 Crude oil is a mixture of compounds called hydrocarbons – they only
contain hydrogen and carbon atoms, joined together by chemical bonds
 There are different types of hydrocarbon, but most of the ones in crude
oil are alkanes…
Crude Oil
 Why is crude oil so important?
 Some of the 21st century’s most important chemistry involves chemicals
that are made from crude oil – they are used for fuels in cars; warming of
homes; making electricity etc…
 When oil prices rise it affects us all – countries that produce crude oil can
have an affect on the world economy by the price charged for oil
 Crude oil originates as a dark, smelly liquid which is a mixture of lots of
different chemical compounds – it is not much use straight out of the
ground (there are too many substances in it, all with different boiling
points). As such it needs to be refined…
Fossil Fuels
 One impact of burning fossil fuels is that the products of combustion
can be very harmful to the environment
 Sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide are the two biggest gases which
cause environmental problems, as well as carbon monoxide and the
oxides of nitrogen…
 Sulfur can be removed from fuels before they are burnt, such as the
fuels used for most vehicles
 Sulfur dioxide can also be removed from the waste gases after
combustion, both in factories and vehicles (using a catalytic
converter)
Catalytic Converter
 Car exhaust systems have catalytic converters – these convert
carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide…
Carbon Monoxide + Nitrogen Oxide → Nitrogen + Carbon Dioxide
2CO + 2NO → N2 + 2CO2
Catalytic Converter
 Catalytic converters also convert nitrogen oxides into nitrogen and
oxygen as well as complete the oxidation of un-burnt hydrocarbons
to carbon dioxide and water
Nitrogen Oxides → Nitrogen + Oxygen
Hydrocarbon + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide + Water
Environment Versus Economy
 There are a variety of alternatives to fossil fuels, and one of the most
promising is using hydrogen as a fuel
 Hydrogen and oxygen will react together releasing energy – their
only by-product being water
 The problem at the moment is getting the hydrogen – it can be split
from water, but requires energy to do so (currently from burning
fossil fuels)!
 Biofuels such as biodiesels and ethanol are produced from plant
material – however is it right to grow crop for fuel when many of the
world’s population remain hungry?
Research
 Research the current fuel situation for the entire world, considering
the following criteria:  Economical
 Environmental
 Social
 Long term future
 Reliability
 Storage and convenience / infrastructure already in place
 Identify the pros and cons of fossil fuels / biofuels / hydrogen fuel
and form your own opinion of the way we should go forward…