M2, pt.1: Fuel - Types and Uses

Charcoal

a wood derivative

Charcoal

has been used since at least 6,000 BCE for melting metals

Coke

derived from coal

Coke

Used when European forests started to become depleted around the 18th century

Charcoal briquettes

are now commonly used as a fuel for barbecue cooking

Coal

was first used as a fuel around 1000 BCE in China

Coal

Used in the concept development of the steam engine in the United Kingdom in 1769

Coal

came into more common use as a power source when it was used in steam engines of trains

Coal

was later used to drive ships and locomotives

Fossil fuels

They have become a pivotal part of our contemporary society, with most countries in the world burning fossil fuels in order to produce power

Fossil fuels

they were more concentrated and flexible than traditional energy sources, such as water power

Fossil fuels

were rapidly adopted during the Industrial Revolution

Chemical Fuels

are substances that release energy by reacting with substances around them, most notably by the process of combustion

Chemical Fuels

are divided in two ways

1. by physical properties

2. based on their occurence

chemical fuels are divided in two ways, namely

Combustion

Most of the chemical energy released in combustion was not stored in the chemical bonds of the fuel, but in the weak double bond of molecular oxygen

Compressed natural gas (CNG)

may be found above oil deposits, or may be collected from landfills or wastewater treatment plants where it is known as biogas

Compressed natural gas (CNG)

is safer than other fuels in the event of a spill, because natural gas is lighter than air and disperses quickly when released

Compressed natural gas (CNG)

produces fewer undesirable gasses than the fuels mentioned above

Compressed natural gas (CNG)

is a fuel which can be used in place of gasoline (petrol), diesel fuel and propane/LPG

Compressed natural gas (CNG)

methane stored at high pressure

SOLID FUEL

have been used by humanity for many years to create fire

Coal

was the fuel source which enabled the industrial revolution, from firing furnaces, to running steam engines

Wood

was also extensively used to run steam locomotives

Peat and Coal

are still used in electricity generation today

LIQUID FUEL

are combustible or energy-generating molecules that can be harnessed to create mechanical energy, usually producing kinetic energy

LIQUID FUEL

they must take the shape of their container

Orimulsion

emulsified fuels of oil-in-water

Orimulsion

a registered trademark name for a bitumen-based fuel) have been developed a way to make heavy oil fractions usable as liquid fuels

LIQUID FUEL

are easy to transport and can be handled easily

LIQUID FUEL

play a primary role in transportation and the economy

Conventional diesel

is similar to gasoline in that it is a mixture of aliphatic hydrocarbons extracted from petroleum

Kerosene

is used in kerosene lamps and as a fuel for cooking, heating, and small engines

NATURAL GAS

can only exist as a liquid at very low temperatures (regardless of pressure), which limits its direct use as a liquid fuel in most applications

NATURAL GAS

composed chiefly of methane

LP gas

is a mixture of propane and butane, both of which are easily compressible gases under standard atmospheric conditions

LP gas

is denser than air, does not burn as cleanly, and is much more easily compressed

LP gas

Commonly used for cooking and space heating

LP gas

this and compressed propane are seeing increased use in motorized vehicle

Propane

is the third most commonly used motor fuel globally

hydrocarbons

Many fuel gases are composed of this (such as methane or propane), hydrogen, carbon monoxide, or mixtures thereof

Fuel gas

are sources of potential heat energy or light energy that can be readily transmitted and distributed through pipes from the point of origin directly to the place of consumption

Odorizers

are added to most fuel gasses so that they may be detected by a distinct smell

BIOFUEL

can be broadly defined as solid, liquid, or gas fuel consisting of, or derived from biomass

BIOFUEL

can be produced from any carbon source that can be replenished rapidly e.g. plants

BIOFUEL

have been developed for use in automotive transport (for example Bioethanol and Biodiesel)

Biomass

can also be used directly for heating or power— known as biomass fuel

FOSSIL FUEL

are hydrocarbons

FOSSIL FUEL

primarily coal and petroleum (liquid petroleum or natural gas)

FOSSIL FUEL

formed from the fossilized remains of ancient plants and animals by exposure to high heat and pressure in the absence of oxygen in the Earth's crust over hundreds of millions of years

FOSSIL FUEL

also includes hydrocarbon-containing natural resources that are not derived entirely from biological sources, such as tar sands

FOSSIL FUEL

contain high percentages of carbon and include coal, petroleum, and natural gas

FOSSIL FUEL

they range from volatile materials with low carbon to non-volatile materials

Methane

can be found in hydrocarbon fields, alone, associated with oil, or in the form of methane clathrates

Carbon dioxide

is one of the greenhouse gasses that enhances radiative forcing and contributes to global warming