APES Non-Renewable Energy Test

First Law of Thermodynamics

(law of conservation of matter) states that energy cannot be created nor destroyed

Second Law of Thermodynamics

when energy is changed from one form to another some of the useful energy is always degraded to a lower quality of energy; it takes energy to produce energy

Net Energy Yield

the amount of useable energy remaining after the production is subtracted

Types of Non-Renewable Energy

-coal

-petroleum/ crude oil

-natural gas

-nuclear

Stages of Coal Formation

1. Peat:

2. Lignite:

3. Bituminous:

4. Anthracite

Peat

-partially decayed plant matter in the first step of coal formation

-low heat content

Lignite

-soft coal

-low heat content

-low sulfur content

-limited supply

Bituminous

-extensively used as fuel

-high heat content

-fairly high sulfur content

-large supply

Anthracite

most limited and expensive coal because of its high heat content and low sulfur content

Advantages of using coal as an energy source

-ample supplies in many countries

-medium to high net energy yield

-low cost when not including environmental costs

-most abundant fossil fuel

-coal burned in power plants generates about 45% of the world's electricity

Disadvantages of using coal as an energy source

-severe land disturbance and water pollution

-fine particle and toxic mercury emissions threaten human health

- emits large amounts of CO2 and other air pollutants when produced and burned

-dirtiest of all fossil fuels

-coal mining jobs are dangerous

Synthetic Natural Gas (Synthetic Fuels)

-(aka Coal Gasification) removes sulfur and most impurities from coal

-can also be converted into liquid fuels thru coal liquefication; referred to as synfuels which are believed to be cleaner versions of coal

Advantages of Synthetic Fuels

-large potential supply in many countries

-vehicle fuel

-lower air pollution than coal

Disadvantages of Synthetic Fuels

-low to medium net energy yield

-requires 50% more coal with increased land disturbance, water pollution, and water use

-higher CO2 emissions than normal coal

Crude Oil/ Petroleum

a black, gooey liquid consisting mostly of different combustible hydrocarbons along with small amounts of other elements. Oil is the most widely used energy source. Found in areas where there was once a body of water covering the land.

Peak Production

when the pressure in an oil well drops and the rate of oil production starts to decline

Petrochemicals

a by-product of oil refining used in about 85% of organic products humans use

5 Groups of Petrochemicals

1.Plastics

2.Paints

3.Pesticides

4.Medicines

5.Synthetic Fibers

Oil Availability

is determined by:

1.the demand for the oil

2.the technology used to make it available

3.the rate at which we can remove the oil

4.the cost of making it available

5.market price of oil

Advantages of using Crude Oil

-ample supply for several decades

-net energy yield is medium but decreasing

-low land disruption

-efficient distribution system

Disadvantages of using Crude Oil

-water pollution from spills and leaks

-environmental costs not included in the market price

-release CO2 and other greenhouse gasses when burned

-vulnerable to international supply interruptions

Shale Oil

a potential supply of heavy oil produced by mining, crushing, and heating oil shale rock.

Tar Sands/ Oil Sands

a growing source of heavy oil consisting of a micture of clay, sand, water, and bitumen.

Advantages of using Heavy Oils from Oil Shale and Tar Sands

-large potential supplies

-easily transported within and between countries

-efficient distribution system in place

Disadvantages of using Heavy Oils from Oil Shale and Tar Sands

-low net energy yield

-releases CO2 and other pollutants when produced and burned

-severe land disruption and high water use

Natural Gas

a mixture of gases of which 50 to 90% is methane. Provides 28% of the energy consumed by the United States

Advantages of Natural Gas

-ample supplies

-versatile fuel

-medium bet energy yield

-emits less CO2 and other air pollutants than other fossil fuels when burned

Disadvantages of Natural Gas

-low net energy yield for LNG

-production and delivery may emit more CO2 and CH4 per unit of energy produced than coal

-fracking uses and polluted large volumes of water

-potential groundwater pollution from fracking

Liquefied Petroleum Gas & Liquefied Natural Gas

natural gas is transported in these forms

Unconventional Natural Gas (coal bed methane and methane hydrate)

Difficult and costly to exploit without high environmental impacts

Advantages of Nuclear Energy

-low environmental impact (without accidents)

-emits 1/6 as much CO2 as coal

-low risk of accidents in modern plants

Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy

-low net energy yield

-high overall cost

-produces long lived, harmful radioactive wastes

-promoted the spread of nuclear weapons

Nuclear fusion

A nuclear change at the atomic level in which the nuclei of two isotopes of a light element such as hydrogen are forced together at extremely high temps. until they fuse to form a heavier nucleus, releasing Energy in the process.

-some scientists hope that nuclear fusion will supply an unlimited source of energy

Nuclear Fuel cycle

1. Mining of uranium

2. Processing and enriching of uranium to make fuel

3. Using it in a reactor

4. Safely storing the resulting highly radioactive wastes for thousands of years until their radioactivity falls to safe levels

5. Retiring the highly radioactive plant by taking apart and storing its radioactive parts