Chapter 17: Nonrenewable Energy

Fossil Fuels Chapter 17, Section 1

Discussion Prompt Contrast renewable and nonrenewable resources. Contrast renewable and nonrenewable resources. List some examples of each. List some examples of each.

Fossil Fuels Remains of organisms from millions of years ago Remains of organisms from millions of years ago Changed through heat and pressure over a long period of time Changed through heat and pressure over a long period of time Examples: coal, oil, natural gas Examples: coal, oil, natural gas

Problems Limited supply Limited supply Extraction & use have environmental problems Extraction & use have environmental problems Solutions Solutions Use other energy sources Use other energy sources Use less fossil fuels Use less fossil fuels

Uses of Fossil Fuels Cooking Cooking Transportation Transportation Manufacturing Manufacturing Heating and cooling buildings Heating and cooling buildings Generating electricity Generating electricity

Fossil Fuel Uses, cont. The type of fossil fuel used for a task depends on its properties. The type of fossil fuel used for a task depends on its properties. Example: even though coal is inexpensive, it would not work to fuel an airplane because it weighs too much. Example: even though coal is inexpensive, it would not work to fuel an airplane because it weighs too much.

Electricity Convert the energy of fossil fuels into electricity Convert the energy of fossil fuels into electricity More convenient to use More convenient to use Can be transported long distances Can be transported long distances Generated in a power plant and carried to uses on a distribution grid Generated in a power plant and carried to uses on a distribution grid Difficult to store and must use other energy sources to create Difficult to store and must use other energy sources to create

How is Electricity Generated? Electric Generator: machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy Electric Generator: machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy Turbine: wheel that changes the the force of a moving gas or liquid into energy that can do work Turbine: wheel that changes the the force of a moving gas or liquid into energy that can do work Fossil fuels burned to boil water Fossil fuels burned to boil water Usually use coal Usually use coal Steam turns the turbine Steam turns the turbine Turbine spins metal in a magnetic field (electric generator) Turbine spins metal in a magnetic field (electric generator) Electricity is easily transported Electricity is easily transported

Energy Use Patterns Developed > developing Developed > developing See Figure 4 on p. 469 See Figure 4 on p. 469 Canada/USA > Japan/Switzerland Canada/USA > Japan/Switzerland Both developed, Japan actually has higher personal wealth Both developed, Japan actually has higher personal wealth Read about on p. 469 Read about on p. 469 Low gas taxes in USA & Canada Low gas taxes in USA & Canada Could raise taxes to discourage wasteful use Could raise taxes to discourage wasteful use Small country/rail system in Japan & Switzerland Small country/rail system in Japan & Switzerland

Energy Use in the United States Read about on p Read about on p Explain at least 2 reasons why the US uses so much energy compared to other developed countries. Explain at least 2 reasons why the US uses so much energy compared to other developed countries. List 2 actions taken by the government that may cause you to decrease your energy usage. List 2 actions taken by the government that may cause you to decrease your energy usage.

How Fossil Fuel Deposits Form Read p Read p Summarize how coal is formed. Summarize how coal is formed. Summarize how oil and natural gas are formed. Summarize how oil and natural gas are formed.

Coal formation Eastern USA 320 – 300 million years ago when vast swampland covered this area Eastern USA 320 – 300 million years ago when vast swampland covered this area Western USA 100 – 40 million years ago on swamps also Western USA 100 – 40 million years ago on swamps also Repeated sediment layers over swamps Repeated sediment layers over swamps

Oil & Natural Gas formation Result from the decay of tiny marine organisms that accumulated on the ocean floor millions of years ago Result from the decay of tiny marine organisms that accumulated on the ocean floor millions of years ago Deposits were heated until they became complex energy-rich carbon-based molecules Deposits were heated until they became complex energy-rich carbon-based molecules AK, TX, CA, and the Gulf of Mexico AK, TX, CA, and the Gulf of Mexico

Coal Most of the world’s fossil fuel reserves Most of the world’s fossil fuel reserves North America and Asia North America and Asia Relatively inexpensive and needs little refining once mined Relatively inexpensive and needs little refining once mined ½ of electricity in the US is from coal-fired power plants ½ of electricity in the US is from coal-fired power plants Mining Mining Underground Underground Safer for environment Safer for environment Surface Surface Remove entire mountaintops Remove entire mountaintops Toxic chemicals into streams Toxic chemicals into streams

Burning coal Coal quality varies Coal quality varies Biuminous coal is higher quality: provides more energy with less pollution Biuminous coal is higher quality: provides more energy with less pollution Low quality coal releases more sulfur Low quality coal releases more sulfur Sulfur in all coal leads to acid rain Sulfur in all coal leads to acid rain Larger problem in China Larger problem in China Cleaner burning coal in USA Cleaner burning coal in USA

Petroleum: Crude Oil Oil that is pumped from the ground Oil that is pumped from the ground Fuels, chemicals, plastics Fuels, chemicals, plastics 45% of world’s commercial energy use 45% of world’s commercial energy use Location: in and around major geologic features like faults and folds Location: in and around major geologic features like faults and folds trap oil as it moves in Earth’s crust trap oil as it moves in Earth’s crust Burning Burning CO 2, Smog, Sulfur CO 2, Smog, Sulfur Can contribute to global warming Can contribute to global warming Oil spills: have been minimized Oil spills: have been minimized

Natural Gas: Methane (CH 4 ) 20% of world’s nonrenewable energy use 20% of world’s nonrenewable energy use Formerly burned off when found in an oil well Formerly burned off when found in an oil well Now used as fuel because very practical Now used as fuel because very practical Transport via pipeline Transport via pipeline Compress into tanks Compress into tanks Burns cleaner than oil or coal Burns cleaner than oil or coal

The Future of Fossil Fuels (p % of energy production in developed countries 90% of energy production in developed countries Predicted that by 2050, world demand will double Predicted that by 2050, world demand will double More humans and industry in developing countries More humans and industry in developing countries Slower increase of oil production Slower increase of oil production Oil reserve: oil deposits that can be extracted profitably Oil reserve: oil deposits that can be extracted profitably No new oil reserves in the past decade No new oil reserves in the past decade Deep ocean reserves? Expensive with current technology Deep ocean reserves? Expensive with current technology

Section 17-2: Nuclear Energy Discussion prompt: read the introduction on p. 476 Discussion prompt: read the introduction on p. 476 Write a 2 sentence reflection on this introduction. Write a 2 sentence reflection on this introduction.

Changing Views Nuclear Energy Nuclear Energy 50s and 60s 50s and 60s Energy of the future Energy of the future Clean and plentiful Clean and plentiful Cheap Cheap 70s and 80s 70s and 80s 120 planned plants canceled 120 planned plants canceled 40 partially constructed 40 partially constructed Today Today 17% of energy 17% of energy

Nuclear Fission: Splitting Atoms Nuclear energy: the energy in the nucleus of an atom Nuclear energy: the energy in the nucleus of an atom 1 million times stronger than chemical bonds 1 million times stronger than chemical bonds Uranium (U) used a fuel Uranium (U) used a fuel Nuclei of uranium bombarded with neutrons causing nuclei to split Nuclei of uranium bombarded with neutrons causing nuclei to split Releases energy Releases energy Uncontrolled fission reactions are atomic bombs Uncontrolled fission reactions are atomic bombs

How Nuclear Energy Works Nuclear reactor is surrounded by a thick pressure vessel filled with cooling fluid Nuclear reactor is surrounded by a thick pressure vessel filled with cooling fluid Thick in case of an accident Thick in case of an accident Inside, metal fuel rods contain uranium pellets that are bombarded by neutrons, splitting and releasing energy Inside, metal fuel rods contain uranium pellets that are bombarded by neutrons, splitting and releasing energy Energy heats a closed loop of water Energy heats a closed loop of water Boils water in a 2 nd loop Boils water in a 2 nd loop Steam turns turbine in generator Steam turns turbine in generator Generator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy Generator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy

Advantages Concentrated energy Concentrated energy No greenhouse gases No greenhouse gases Less radiation than coal-burning plants Less radiation than coal-burning plants No reliance on fossil fuels No reliance on fossil fuels

Why aren’t we using it? Expensive Expensive Nuclear power - $3,000 per kilowatt Nuclear power - $3,000 per kilowatt Wind power - $1,000 per kilowatt Wind power - $1,000 per kilowatt Natural gas - $600 per kilowatt Natural gas - $600 per kilowatt

Why aren’t we using it? Storing waste Storing waste Waste remains dangerous for 1,000s of years Waste remains dangerous for 1,000s of years Waste sites must be geologically stable Waste sites must be geologically stable USA has researched a site for 2 decades in Nevada USA has researched a site for 2 decades in Nevada Also considering a process called transmutation which recycles the radioactive material Also considering a process called transmutation which recycles the radioactive material

Safety Chernobyl 1986 (Ukraine) Engineers turned off safety devices (Derp!) Explosion Radiation in the air Old design Three Mile Island 1979 (PA) Human error, blocked valves, broken pumps Smaller leak 300 safety improvements

The Future Nuclear fusion Nuclear fusion 2 atoms combine to form a larger nucleus, releasing large amounts of energy 2 atoms combine to form a larger nucleus, releasing large amounts of energy This process powers stars This process powers stars Does not create radioactive waste like nuclear fission Does not create radioactive waste like nuclear fission Challenges: Challenges: High temps required: 100 millionº C High temps required: 100 millionº C High concentrations High concentrations Must be properly contained Must be properly contained