fossil fuels/non-renewable energy sources used to generate electricity

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Fossil Fuels/Non-Renewable Fossil Fuels/Non-Renewable Energy Sources Used to Energy Sources Used to Generate Electricity Generate Electricity

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Page 1: Fossil Fuels/Non-Renewable Energy Sources Used to Generate Electricity

Fossil Fuels/Non-Renewable Fossil Fuels/Non-Renewable Energy Sources Used to Energy Sources Used to Generate ElectricityGenerate Electricity

Page 2: Fossil Fuels/Non-Renewable Energy Sources Used to Generate Electricity

Fossil fuels Fossil fuels Formed many hundreds of millions of Formed many hundreds of millions of

years ago before the time of the dinosaurs years ago before the time of the dinosaurs – that is why they were name fossil fuels.– that is why they were name fossil fuels.

Page 3: Fossil Fuels/Non-Renewable Energy Sources Used to Generate Electricity

How Did Fossil Fuels How Did Fossil Fuels Form?Form?

As the trees and plants died, they sank to the bottom of As the trees and plants died, they sank to the bottom of the swamps of oceans. They formed layers of a spongy the swamps of oceans. They formed layers of a spongy material called peat. Over many hundreds of years, the material called peat. Over many hundreds of years, the peat was covered by sand and clay and other minerals, peat was covered by sand and clay and other minerals, which turned into a type of rock called sedimentary.which turned into a type of rock called sedimentary.

More and more rock piled on top of more rock, and it More and more rock piled on top of more rock, and it weighed more and more. It began to press down on the weighed more and more. It began to press down on the peat. The peat was squeezed and squeezed until the peat. The peat was squeezed and squeezed until the water came out of it and it eventually, over millions of water came out of it and it eventually, over millions of years, it turned into one of 3 types of fossil fuels.years, it turned into one of 3 types of fossil fuels.

Page 4: Fossil Fuels/Non-Renewable Energy Sources Used to Generate Electricity

Why are fossil fuels non-Why are fossil fuels non-renewable?renewable?

Fossil fuels take millions of years to Fossil fuels take millions of years to make. We are using up the fuels that make. We are using up the fuels that were made more than 300 million years were made more than 300 million years ago before the time of the dinosaurs. ago before the time of the dinosaurs.

Once they are gone they are gone. Once they are gone they are gone. We can save fossil fuels by conserving We can save fossil fuels by conserving

energy and by using renewable energy and by using renewable resources to make electricity.resources to make electricity.

Page 5: Fossil Fuels/Non-Renewable Energy Sources Used to Generate Electricity

There are 3 major forms There are 3 major forms of fossil fuels: of fossil fuels:

CoalCoalOilOilNatural GasNatural Gas

Page 6: Fossil Fuels/Non-Renewable Energy Sources Used to Generate Electricity

CoalCoal

A hard, black colored rock-like A hard, black colored rock-like substance. substance.

It is made up of carbon, hydrogen, It is made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and varying amounts of oxygen, nitrogen and varying amounts of sulphur, oil and natural gas.sulphur, oil and natural gas.

www.freefoto.com

Page 7: Fossil Fuels/Non-Renewable Energy Sources Used to Generate Electricity

Oil Oil

Formed more than 300 million years ago.Formed more than 300 million years ago. Some scientists say that tiny diatoms are Some scientists say that tiny diatoms are

the source of oil. the source of oil. Diatoms are sea creatures the size of a pin Diatoms are sea creatures the size of a pin

head. They do one thing just like plants; they head. They do one thing just like plants; they can convert sunlight directly into stored can convert sunlight directly into stored energy.energy.

ncgogreen.myncblogs.com

Page 8: Fossil Fuels/Non-Renewable Energy Sources Used to Generate Electricity

Natural gas Natural gas Natural gas is mostly made up of a gas Natural gas is mostly made up of a gas

called methane. called methane. Methane is a simple chemical compound Methane is a simple chemical compound

that is made up of carbon and hydrogen that is made up of carbon and hydrogen atoms. It's chemical formula is CH4 - one atoms. It's chemical formula is CH4 - one atom of carbon along with four atoms atom of carbon along with four atoms hydrogen. hydrogen.

This gas is highly flammable.This gas is highly flammable.

www.energy.gov.ab.ca

Page 9: Fossil Fuels/Non-Renewable Energy Sources Used to Generate Electricity

How are fossil fuels used How are fossil fuels used to make electricity? to make electricity?

Coal-fired units produce electricity by Coal-fired units produce electricity by burning coal in a boiler to heat water to burning coal in a boiler to heat water to produce steam. The steam, at produce steam. The steam, at tremendous pressure, flows into a tremendous pressure, flows into a turbine, which spins a generator to turbine, which spins a generator to produce electricity. produce electricity.

The steam is cooled, condensed back The steam is cooled, condensed back into water, and returned to the boiler to into water, and returned to the boiler to start the process over. start the process over.

Page 10: Fossil Fuels/Non-Renewable Energy Sources Used to Generate Electricity

Coal Coal

http://www.tva.gov/power/coalart.htm

Page 11: Fossil Fuels/Non-Renewable Energy Sources Used to Generate Electricity

Oil and Natural GasOil and Natural Gas Combustion turbines are designed to start Combustion turbines are designed to start

quickly to meet the demand for electricity during quickly to meet the demand for electricity during peak operating periods. They are normally run peak operating periods. They are normally run with natural gas as a fuel, although low-sulfur with natural gas as a fuel, although low-sulfur fuel oil can also be used as needed. fuel oil can also be used as needed.

The turbines operate like a jet engine: they draw The turbines operate like a jet engine: they draw in air at the front of the unit, compress it, mix it in air at the front of the unit, compress it, mix it with fuel, and ignite it. The hot combustion with fuel, and ignite it. The hot combustion gases then expand through turbine blades gases then expand through turbine blades connected to a generator to produce electricity. connected to a generator to produce electricity.

Page 12: Fossil Fuels/Non-Renewable Energy Sources Used to Generate Electricity

Oil & Natural Gas.Oil & Natural Gas.

http://www.tva.gov/power/coalart.htm

Page 13: Fossil Fuels/Non-Renewable Energy Sources Used to Generate Electricity

Over 70% 0f Electricity is Over 70% 0f Electricity is Produced by Fossil FuelsProduced by Fossil Fuels

http://www.treepower.org/quickfacts.html

Page 14: Fossil Fuels/Non-Renewable Energy Sources Used to Generate Electricity

Advantages of Fossil Advantages of Fossil FuelsFuels

capacity to generate huge amounts of electricity in just a single capacity to generate huge amounts of electricity in just a single location.  location. 

When coal is used in power plants, they are very cost effective. When coal is used in power plants, they are very cost effective. Coal is also in abundant supply.  Coal is also in abundant supply. 

Transporting oil and gas to the power stations can be made Transporting oil and gas to the power stations can be made through the use of pipes making it an easy task.  through the use of pipes making it an easy task. 

Power plants that utilize gas are very efficient.  Power plants that utilize gas are very efficient.  Power stations that make use of fossil fuel can be constructed in Power stations that make use of fossil fuel can be constructed in

almost any location. This is possible as long as large quantities of almost any location. This is possible as long as large quantities of fuel can be easily brought to the power plants.  fuel can be easily brought to the power plants. 

e. Information on how important is this source likely to become in the e. Information on how important is this source likely to become in the future.future.

Page 15: Fossil Fuels/Non-Renewable Energy Sources Used to Generate Electricity

Disadvantage of Fossil Disadvantage of Fossil FuelsFuels

Pollution is a major disadvantage of fossil fuels. Pollution is a major disadvantage of fossil fuels. This is because they give off carbon dioxide when burned thereby causing a This is because they give off carbon dioxide when burned thereby causing a

greenhouse effect. greenhouse effect. This is also the main contributory factor to the global warming experienced by the earth This is also the main contributory factor to the global warming experienced by the earth

today.  today.  Coal also produces carbon dioxide when burned compared to burning oil or gas. Coal also produces carbon dioxide when burned compared to burning oil or gas.

Additionally, it gives off sulphur dioxide, a kind of gas that creates acid rain.  Additionally, it gives off sulphur dioxide, a kind of gas that creates acid rain.  Environmentally, the mining of coal results in the destruction of wide areas of Environmentally, the mining of coal results in the destruction of wide areas of

land. Mining this fossil fuel is also difficult and may endanger the lives of miners. land. Mining this fossil fuel is also difficult and may endanger the lives of miners. Coal mining is considered one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.  Coal mining is considered one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. 

Power stations that utilize coal need large amounts of fuel. Use of natural gas can Power stations that utilize coal need large amounts of fuel. Use of natural gas can cause unpleasant odors and some problems especially with transportation.  cause unpleasant odors and some problems especially with transportation. 

Use of crude oil causes pollution and poses environmental hazards such as oil Use of crude oil causes pollution and poses environmental hazards such as oil spills when oil tankers, for instance, experience leaks or drown deep under the spills when oil tankers, for instance, experience leaks or drown deep under the sea. sea.

Crude oil contains toxic chemicals which cause air pollutants when combusted.  Crude oil contains toxic chemicals which cause air pollutants when combusted. 

Page 16: Fossil Fuels/Non-Renewable Energy Sources Used to Generate Electricity

ReferencesReferences

Tennessee Valley Authority.Tennessee Valley Authority. Fossil-Fuel Generation. 8 Fossil-Fuel Generation. 8 May 2009. <http://www.tva.gov/power/fsslfax.htm>.May 2009. <http://www.tva.gov/power/fsslfax.htm>.

Alternative Energy Sources.Alternative Energy Sources. 9 May 9 May 2009.<http://www.alternativeenergysecret.com/fossil-2009.<http://www.alternativeenergysecret.com/fossil-fuels.html>.fuels.html>.

California Energy CommissionCalifornia Energy Commission. April 22, 2002. April 22, 2002Energy Story. 9 May 2009. Energy Story. 9 May 2009. <http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/index.html>.<http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/index.html>.

Energy Matters. 1998. 9 May 2009. Energy Matters. 1998. 9 May 2009. http://library.thinkquest.org/20331/types/fossil/advant.hthttp://library.thinkquest.org/20331/types/fossil/advant.html.ml.