Post on 26-Dec-2015
transcript
Energy Energy Resources
U.S. has 4.6% of world population; uses 24% of the world’s energy
84% from nonrenewable fossil fuels (oil, coal, & natural gas)
7% from nuclear power
9% from renewable sources (hydropower, geothermal, solar, biomass)
Energy Concepts Energy Resources
Oil: Petroleum (crude oil) is a thick and gooey liquid consisting of hundreds of combustible hydrocarbons along with small amounts of sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen impurities
Coal: A solid fossil fuel formed in several stages as buried remains of land plants that lived 300-400 mya. Mostly carbon with small amounts of sulfur impurities
Natural Gas: A mixture of 50%-90% by volume of methane, which is the simplest hydrocarbon. Also contains ethane, propane, and butane
Uranium: Uranium hexafluoride (UF6), referred to as "hex" in the nuclear industry, is a compound used in the uranium enrichment process that produces fuel for nuclear reactors
Energy Oil
Location (world): Middle East (OPEC 67%)
Location (US): Gulf of Mexico, Gulf Coast (3% of world reserves)
Availability projections (US reserves): 10-48 years
Availability projections (world): 42-93 years
Advantages: Abundant, convenient, relatively low cost, High net energy yield , and Efficient distribution system
Disadvantages: Dependant on foreign oil, running out, emissions, pollution, low prices encourage waste. At current rate, we will run out in 53 years
Energy Oil
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) -- 13 countries have 67% world reserves
Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, & Venezuela
Energy Coal
Location (world): China, Russia (60%)
Location (US): (25% of world supply) Eastern areas of US: Montana, Utah, Arizona and southern areas of mid-west
Availability projections (US reserves): 300 at current rates (64 years with 4% increase)
Availability projections (world):400+ years if new reserves are found and current rate of usage
Advantages: most abundant fossil fuel, high energy, US has large supply
Disadvantages: health concerns, high pollution when burned, high in sulfur, releases mercury
Energy Coal
Coal exists in many forms therefore a chemical formula cannot be written for it
Coalification: After plants died they underwent chemical decay to form a product known as peat
Over many years, thick peat layers formed
Peat is converted to coal by geological events such as land subsidence which subject the peat to great pressures and temperatures
Energy Coal
Pros Most abundant fossil fuel Major U.S. reserves 300 yrs. at current consumption rates High net energy yield
Cons Dirtiest fuel, highest carbon dioxide Major environmental degradation (High environmental impact) Major threat to health Primarily strip-mined
Energy Coal Refining
Coal gasification → Synthetic natural gas (SNG)
Coal liquefaction → Liquid fuels (Gasoline)
Disadvantage Costly High environmental impact Processes release more CO2 than burning coal does
Energy Natural Gas
Location (world): Russia (31%), Middle East (24%)
Location (US): (3%) Gulf coast, above crude oil
Availability projections (US reserves): 55-80 years
Availability projections (world): 62-125 (and up to 200 years with unconventional)
Advantages: Can be transported easily, lower pollution than other fossil fuels, high energy yield
Disadvantages: running out, greenhouse gas released, explosive (especially in liquid form)
Energy Natural Gas
Russia & Kazakhstan - almost 40% of world's supply
Iran (15%), Qatar (5%), Saudi Arabia (4%), Algeria (4%), United States (3%), Nigeria (3%), Venezuela (3%)
90–95% of natural gas in U.S. domestic (~411,000 km = 255,000 miles of pipeline)
Experts predict increased use of natural gas during this century
Energy Natural Gas
Mixture 50–90% Methane (CH4)
Ethane (C2H6)
Propane (C3H8)
Butane (C4H10)
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S)