Sources of energy
History of energy:
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2.)
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4.)
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6.)
7.)
Slaves and domestic animals
Wind mill and water wheels
Steamship
Steam locomotives
Gasoline engine cars and planes
Turbine engines
Nuclear power
Fossil Fuels: Petroleum and Coal
Formation of Fossil Fuels:
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2)
3)
4)
Photosynthesis exceeds decomposition under water (millions of years)
Accumulation of debris (millions of years)
Organic matter buried under sediments
Time, heat and pressure in millions of years produce coal, natural gas, and oil.
Coal: Carbon residues mixed with other stuff such as sand, sulfur, etc.
Peat (not coal)  Lignite  Bituminous  Anthracite
Peat: partially decayed plant matter in swamps and bogs, low heat content
Lignite (Brown Coal): Low heat content, low sulfur content, limited supplies in most areas
Bituminous (Soft Coal): Extensively used as fuel because of its high heat content and large supplies,
normally has a high sulfur content.
Anthracite (Hard Coal): High desirable fuel because of its high heat content and low sulfur content,
supplies are limited in most areas.
Petroleum products: Hydrocarbons (contain carbon and hydrogen only):
C1
C2
CH4 (Methane)
C3
C2H6 (Ethane)
C4
C3H8 (Propane)
C4H10 (Butane)
NATURAL GAS (above)
BOILING POINT IS BELOW 20 DEGREES CELSIUS
C5-C10
C5H12 (Pentane)
C8H18 (Octane)
C10H22 (Decane)
GASOLINE
BOILING POINT IS 40-200 DEGREES CELSIUS
C12 and Higher
DIESEL FUEL
BOILING POINT IS 250-400 DEGREES CELSIUS
Petroleum oil (mineral oil): Lubricants, C20 and up, nonvolatile liquids
Solid Petroleum (wax)
The remainder is asphalt used for pavement.
Nuclear power:
Nuclear elements: uranium, plutonium, radium
Nuclear emission: Alpha particle (helium nucleus), beta particle (electrons), gamma rays
(electromagnetic radiation)
Nuclear Reactions: 1.) Fission (separation) (atomic bomb and nuclear reactor):
Uranium-235 + neutron  fragments + energy
Nuclear Reactor: A large mass of uranium in adjacent tubes. The rate of reaction is moderated by
inserting or removing control rods (neutron absorbing material) between the fuel elements. The fuel
rods are surrounded by pure water, which heats up and produce electricity by turning a turbine.
1) Fusion (hydrogen bomb, no fusion reactors):
Hydrogen- 2+ Hydrogen-3  helium and much more energy.
The hydrogen bomb needs high temperatures (inside the sun) and the heat is produced by an
atomic bomb inside the hydrogen bomb.
Renewable Sources of Energy:
1) Solar Power: As heat is absorbed by sunlight, it is converted into heat, and hot water produces
electricity.
2) Hydropower: Falling water (early in history) was used to turn paddle wheels, which caused
grinding grain or other tasks. Today, huge hydroelectric dams, where water under high pressure
flows through channels, driving turbo generators producing electricity.
Tradeoffs of water dam: a) drowning the land b) impeding migration of fish
3) Wind power: from windmills to wind farm today.
4) Bioconversion (Biomass energy): a) burning of wood, b) burning of wastes, c) producing of
alcohol (ethanol) from fermentation of starches and sugars.
5) Geothermal energy: Hot (boiling) springs and geysers
6) Tidal power: producing electricity from ocean tides
7) Ocean Thermal- energy conversion (OTEC): Thermal gradient between surface water heated by
the sun and colder deep water.
8) Hydrogen power: Electrolysis of water produces hydrogen gas (H2), which reacts with air oxygen
(O2), to give water and produce energy.
2H2 + O2  H2O + energy