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Energy from Organic Fuels

Energy from Organic Fuels. Coal, Petroleum & Natural Gas, and Biomass. I can…. Explain how changes in human societies have changed the demand for energy. Describe the structure of organic fuels. The Need for Energy.

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Energy from Organic Fuels

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  1. Energy from Organic Fuels • Coal, Petroleum & Natural Gas, and Biomass

  2. I can… • Explain how changes in human societies have changed the demand for energy. • Describe the structure of organic fuels.

  3. The Need for Energy • The storage, transfer and conversion of energy are the driving forces behind all life on earth. • Almost all energy on Earth originated at the sun. • Fuel is any substance from which energy can be obtained.

  4. Other than lightning, electricity is not a form of energy that is common in nature. • Electricity is generated by the conversion of other forms of energy.

  5. Who are the biggest consumers of energy? • China (as of July 18, 2010) • The United States • The European Union

  6. Law of Conservation of Energy • “Energy can neither be created nor destroyed.” • Energy can be converted, stored, or transferred (heat  steam  electrical)

  7. Change of Energy Demands • Hunter-Gatherer Societies: light, heat, cooking • Agricultural: land maintenance, manufacturing of farm equipment • Industrial: production, distribution, marketing

  8. Hydrocarbons • Organic fuels were once part of living organisms. • Examples: methane, ethane, and octane.

  9. Hydrocarbons • compound composed of hydrogen and carbon • all hydrocarbons in a chain, except methane • many organic fuels contain other chemicals, including sulfur or lead compounds (contribute to pollution, although may increase usable energy)

  10. Fossil Fuels • The ancient organisms that provide our fuel today used energy from plants and microorganisms that obtained energy from the sun. • This energy was passed through the food chain. • When the organisms died, the energy was stored in their cells. • If they did not decay, it remained stored.

  11. The energy stored within the cells of organisms is used today as fossil fuels. • Examples of fossil fuels are coal, petroleum, and natural gas.

  12. I Can… • List the stages of coal formation and describe the characteristics of each stage. • Locate the major coal deposits on a map of the US.

  13. Coal • Formation occurs in stages over millions of years. • Each stage has less hydrogen and oxygen and the carbon becomes more concentrated. • As the carbon level increases so does the amount of energy that can be given off by burning it.

  14. Coal • remains of land plants in swampy areas covered by sediment • heat, pressure, dehydration (metamorphic)

  15. Peat = lots of water, low carbon, smoky when burned • Lignite = moderate water, 40% carbon • Bituminous coal = low water, 85% carbon, most abundant in US (therefore, produces largest amt. of electricity) • Anthracite coal = trace water, 95% carbon, burns hot with little smoke, most expensive

  16. I Can… • Describe the processes of petroleum formation and extraction. • List several uses for petroleum and natural gas.

  17. Petroleum & Natural Gas • Petroleum, also called crude oil, is a liquid fossil fuel. • Fossil fuel in the gaseous state is called natural gas. • Nonrenewable • At times, natural gas is burned off as a by-product of petroleum drilling and processing.

  18. Petroleum & Natural Gas • formed from organisms living in shallow seas, covered by sediments • pressure + heat = liquid fossil fuel • usually found with water and natural gas in porous rock between non-porous rock (shale) • gas, diesel, fuel oil, grease, lubricants, asphalt, nylon, polyester, plastic

  19. Natural Gas • Primary component is methane. • Pros: burns clean, inexpensive, usually a bi-product of petroleum drilling (no extra effort in this case). • Cons: other methods of extraction may negatively impact organisms and the environment

  20. I Can… • Describe some of the problems associated with the use of fossil fuels. • Compare biomass fuels to fossil fuels and give an example of a bioconversion technique.

  21. Problems • What are some problems with fossil fuels? • Availability (Non-renewable) • Pollution (20% increase in CO2 in 150 years) • Dangerous to obtain (combustible, suffocation)

  22. Organic Alternative • BIOMASS (look out the window!) • From living organisms; includes garbage, methane, alcohol & wood • Bioconversion: organic materials  fuels (plants  alcohol) • Unlike other examples, this is renewable

  23. Alternative Fuels • Wood: lots of smoke, high in carbon dioxide, damaging to forests • Garbage: some cities already use garbage as a fuel source. They burn it to heat up water and use the steam to turn turbines to create the power. • Methane: being used from swamps and dumps to be used like natural gas. • Alcohol: conversion of organic materials into fuel, plants make alcohol (corn sugarcane, sunflower and peanuts), creates ethanol

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