chapter 11 fossil fuels - coal. fossil fuels are fuels formed from the remains of once living...

Chapter 11 Fossil Fuels - Coal

Fossil Fuels are

fuels formed from the remains of once living things.

types coal, oil, natural gas

coal formed from the remains of swamp vegetation

oil and natural gas formed from the remains of microscopic marine organisms

All Nonrenewable

Nonrenewable Resources Nonrenewable:

used by humans faster than the earth can create

fossil fuels are still being formed by the same geologic processes but too slowly to replace what we’re using

Fig. 16-2, p. 357

Oil and natural gasOil and natural gasFloating oil drilling

platform Oil storage CoalCoalContour strip miningOil drilling

platform on legs

Geothermal Geothermal energyenergy

Hot water storageOil well

Pipeline Geothermal power plant

Gas well Valves Mined coal

Pump Area strip mining Drilling

tower

Pipeline

Impervious rock

Underground coal mineNatural gasWaterOil

Water is heated and brought up as dry

steam or wet steamWater

Coal seam Hot rock

Water penetrates

down through the rock

Magma

Coal is a Sedimentary Rock. Coal outcrop in Alaska

COALCountries with largest proven coal reserves

United States (~25%)Russia (~17%)China (~13%)

COAL Coal reserves in the United States, Russia,

and China could last hundreds to over a thousand years.

In 2005, China and the U.S. accounted for 53% of the global coal consumption.

Known coal deposits could last 200 years at present rate of consumption

Notice regions with very little coal – developed or developing countries? Any connection?

Coal

solid fossil fuel occurs in different grades based on variations

in heat and pressure during burialLignite SubbitumimousBituminousAnthracite

most, if not all, coal deposits have been identified primarily in northern hemisphere

Fig. 16-12, p. 368

Increasing heat and carbon content

Increasing moisture content

Peat (not a coal)

Lignite (brown coal)

Bituminous

(soft coal)

Anthracite

(hard coal)Heat Heat Heat

Pressure Pressure Pressure

Partially decayed plant matter in swamps and bogs; low heat content

Low heat content; low sulfur content; limited supplies in most areas

Extensively used as a fuel because of its high heat content and large supplies; normally has a high sulfur content

Highly desirable fuel because of its high heat content and low sulfur content; supplies are limited in most areas

Coal Mining Methods

Subsurface Mining Description – excavating a vertical shaft or

horizontal tunnel to the resource Benefits – can get to resources far underground Costs – more expensive, more time-consuming,

more dangerous

Surface Mining Description – if resource is <200 ft. from the

surface, the topsoil is removed (and saved), explosives are used to break up the rocks and to remove the resource, reclamation follows

Benefits – cheap, easy, efficient, relatively safe Costs – tears up the land (temporarily), byproducts

produce acid mine drainage that can accumulate in rivers and lakes

Strip Mining earth movers strip away overburden,

giant shovels remove coal often leaves highly erodible hills of

rubble called spoil banks

Figure 15-12Figure 15-12

Surface Mining

Surface Mining

Strip Mining earth movers strip

away overburden, giant shovels remove coal

often leaves highly erodible hills of rubble called spoil banks

Figure 15-12Figure 15-12

Surface Mining

http://library.ndsu.edu/exhibits/text/greatplains/text.html

Surface Mining

Contour Strip Mining

used on hilly or mountainous terrain

if land not restored, a highly erodible bank called a highwall is left

Figure 15-13Figure 15-13

Surface Mining

Surface Mining

Mountaintop Removal machinery removes

the tops of mountains to expose coal

waste rock and dirt are dumped into surrounding streams and valleys

Figure 15-14Figure 15-14

Surface Mining

Surface Mining

Coal-slurry impoundment in the Appalachian Basin. (Photo courtesy of Ben Stout, Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling, W. Va.)

Environmental Impacts of Mining Coal

formation and movement of highly acidic water rich in heavy metals

forms through chemical reaction of surface water (rainwater, snowmelt, pond water) and shallow subsurface water with rocks that contain sulfur-bearing minerals, resulting in sulfuric acid

Heavy metals can be leached from rocks that come in contact with the acid, a process that may be substantially enhanced by bacterial action.

Acid Mine Drainage http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/acid_mne.cfm#content

The resulting fluids may be highly toxic and, when mixed with groundwater, surface water and soil, may have harmful effects on humans, animals and plants.

Acid mine drainage comes mainly from abandoned coal mines and active mining.

Environmental Impacts of Mining Coal

Big problem with abandoned mines Shaft and tunnel systems allow water to

come in contact with coal remaining underground

Acid Mine Drainage

Environmental Impacts of Mining Coal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act

(1977) Requires filling (reclaiming) of surface mines

after mining Expensive!

Reduces Acid Mine Drainage Requires permits and inspections of active coal

mining sights Prohibits coal mining in sensitive areas

Environmental Impacts of Mining Coal Mountaintop Removal

Fills valleys and streams with debris

Strip & Open Pit Spoil Heaps Debris contains sulfur and mercury

Environmental Impacts of Burning Coal

releases large quantities of CO2 into atmosphere Greenhouse gas

releases Mercury into atmosphere

releases Sulfur into atmosphere Acid Precipitation

Forms Nitrogen oxides also

Figure 11.8

Environmental Impacts of Burning CoalSource of PollutantsCoal naturally contains:

CarbonMercurySulfur

Nitrogen found in atmosphere

Environmental Impacts of Burning Coal Pollutants contained in coal

Carbon Sulfur Mercury

Pollutants created by coal CO2

sulfur acids and nitrogen acids mercury – atmospheric, water, land

Acid Deposition / Acid Precipitation sulfur released as sulfur oxides when coal is

burned sulfur oxides react with water in atmosphere to

form sulfuric acid H2SO4

nitrogen in atmosphere = _____% when super heated N2 forms nitrogen oxides

nitrogen oxides react with water in atmosphere to form nitric and nitrous acids

drawing

Environmental Impacts of Burning Coal

Pollutant in Coal

Pollutant created by

extracting or burning coal

Environmental impact of pollutant

AIR WATER / LAND

________   

________

Environmental Impacts of Burning CoalPollutant in

Coal

Pollutant created by extracting or burning

coal

Environmental impact of pollutant

AIR WATER / LAND

Carbon CO2

greenhouse gas contributing to global climate change

ocean acidification

Mercury Mercurytoxicity - heavy metal in atmosphere (but falls out readily)

toxicity - heavy metal in groundwater and soil

Sulfursulfur oxides (SOx)

sulfuric acid

S-acids in atmosphere contributing to acid precipitation

-acid mine drainage leading to acidification of ground and surface water-leaching of heavy metals into groundwater

________nitrogen oxides

(NOx) nitrogen acids

N-acids in atmos. contributing to acid precipitation

________

terms to know Reclamation

land treatment that minimizes adverse effects from surface mining operations so that mine lands are reclaimed to a usable condition and creates no danger to public health or safety

paid for by mining company, not government overseen by gov’t agency

Deplete / Depletion Acid Mine Drainage Acid Deposition Overburden

How do we make Electricity? Need fuel source –

to boil water to make steam to turn a turbine to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy

Fuel sources = fossil fuels, nuclear Exceptions

solar – converts solar energy into electrical energy wind – turns turbine itself

Fig. 16-13, p. 369

Waste heat

Coal bunker TurbineCooling tower

transfers waste heat to

atmosphere

Generator

Cooling loop

Stack

Pulverizing mill

Condenser Filter

Boiler

Toxic ash disposal

Four widely used devices waste large amounts of energy:

Incandescent light bulb: 95% of energy is lost as heat.

Internal combustion engine: 94% of the energy in its fuel is wasted.

Nuclear power plant: 92% of energy is wasted through nuclear fuel and energy needed for waste management.

Coal-burning power plant: 66% of the energy released by burning coal is lost.

The major environmental impact common to all fossil fuels is that they:

A) are not found everywhere.

B) usually have to be processed.

C) produce heat when burned.

D) produce carbon dioxide.

E) have to be transported.

The major environmental impact common to all fossil fuels is that they:

A) are not found everywhere.

B) usually have to be processed.

C) produce heat when burned.

D) produce carbon dioxide.

E) have to be transported.

Which type of coal has the highest sulfur content?

A. lignite

B. subbituminous

C. bituminous

D. anthracite

E. peat

Which type of coal has the highest sulfur content?

A. lignite

B. subbituminous

C. bituminous

D. anthracite

E. peat

Which fossil fuel is most abundant in North America?

A. oil

B. natural gas

C. uranium

D. coal

E. peat

Which fossil fuel is most abundant in North America?

A. oil

B. natural gas

C. uranium

D. coal

E. peat

Which fossil fuel reserves will most likely last the longest?

A. oil

B. natural gas

C. coal

D. peat

E. uranium

Which fossil fuel reserves will most likely last the longest?

A. oil

B. natural gas

C. coal

D. peat

E. uranium

Anthracite coal:

A. causes the most air pollution

B. has the highest sulfur content

C. is very hard and is the cleanest burning coal

D. is the most abundant grade of coal

E. is very soft and burns at high temperatures

Anthracite coal:

A. causes the most air pollution

B. has the highest sulfur content

C. is very hard and is the cleanest burning coal

D. is the most abundant grade of coal

E. is very soft and burns at high temperatures

Bituminous coal:A. is the most common grade of coal

B. causes the least amount of air pollution of any type of coal

C. is very soft and burns at high temperatures

D. is very hard and burns cleanly

E. has the lowest sulfur content of any type of coal

Bituminous coal:A. is the most common grade of coal

B. causes the least amount of air pollution of any type of coal

C. is very soft and burns at high temperatures

D. is very hard and burns cleanly

E. has the lowest sulfur content of any type of coal

Which pollutant is a result of burning coal?

A. carbon dioxide

B. sulfur oxides

C. mercury

D. nitrogen oxides

E. all of these

Which pollutant is a result of burning coal?

A. carbon dioxide

B. sulfur oxides

C. mercury

D. nitrogen oxides

E. all of these

Which pollutant is not contained within coal?

A. carbon

B. sulfur

C. mercury

D. nitrogen

E. all of these

Which pollutant is not contained within coal?

A. carbon

B. sulfur

C. mercury

D. nitrogen

E. all of these

Sulfur and Nitrogen oxides lead to:

A. acid indigestion

B. acid mine drainage

C. acid precipitation

D. A & B

E. B & C

Sulfur and Nitrogen oxides lead to:

A. acid indigestion

B. acid mine drainage

C. acid precipitation

D. A & B

E. B & C

Sulfur and Nitrogen oxides lead to:

A. acid indigestion

B. acid mine drainage

C. acid precipitation

D. A & B

E. B & C

Which of the following has the largest proven coal reserves?

A. South America

B. The United Sates

C. Australia

D. Indonesia

E. China

Which of the following has the largest proven coal reserves?

A. South America

B. The United Sates

C. Australia

D. Indonesia

E. China

Scrubbers in smoke stacks remove large amounts of what major air pollutant?

A. carbon dioxide

B. sulfur oxides

C. nitric acid

D. sodium oxides

E. mercury

Scrubbers in smoke stacks remove large amounts of what major air pollutant?

A. carbon dioxide

B. sulfur oxides

C. nitric acid

D. sodium oxides

E. mercury

The concern about global warming is directly related to increased levels of what chemical in the atmosphere?

A. mercury

B. carbon dioxide

C. sulfur oxide

D. nitrogen oxide

E. chlorofluorocarbon

The concern about global warming is directly related to increased levels of what chemical in the atmosphere?

A. mercury

B. carbon dioxide

C. sulfur oxide

D. nitrogen oxide

E. chlorofluorocarbon

Today the world's main energy source is

A. coal

B. hydroelectric

C. natural gas

D. nuclear

E. oil

Today the world's main energy source is

A. coal

B. hydroelectric

C. natural gas

D. nuclear

E. oil

The legislation that has regulated mining activities in the United States since 1977 is the:

A. Wilderness Act

B. Clean Water Act

C. Endangered Species Act

D. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act

E. Soil Conservation Service Act

The legislation that has regulated mining activities in the United States since 1977 is the:

A. Wilderness Act

B. Clean Water Act

C. Endangered Species Act

D. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act

E. Soil Conservation Service Act

All of the following statements are true about surface mining except

A. It accounts for 60% of the coal mined in the United States

B. It is also known as strip mining

C. It is generally safer for miners than other coal mining processes

D. It is a less expensive mining process than subsurface mining

E. It is the most hazardous type of mining for workers

All of the following statements are true about surface mining except

A. It accounts for 60% of the coal mined in the United States

B. It is also known as strip mining

C. It is generally safer for miners than other coal mining processes

D. It is a less expensive mining process than subsurface mining

E. It is the most hazardous type of mining for workers

Which of these statements about coal is false?A. Some types of coal contain a lot of sulfur.

B. Subsurface mining accounts for about 40% of the coal mined in the U.S.

C. Coal powered the steam engine during the Industrial Revolution.

D. Coal produces far less SO2 than natural gas or oil.

E. Coal supplies about 20% of the energy used in the United States.

Which of these statements about coal is false?A. Some types of coal contain a lot of sulfur.

B. Subsurface mining accounts for about 40% of the coal mined in the U.S.

C. Coal powered the steam engine during the Industrial Revolution.

D. Coal produces far less SO2 than natural gas or oil.

E. Coal supplies about 20% of the energy used in the United States.