Non-renewable Resources 11/15/11

What are non-renewable resources? Resources that take millions of years for the earth to replenish by geological processes within the earth. Nonrenewable energy= Oil, Coal, Natural Gas, Nuclear

What are renewable resources? Resources that the earth can replenish in a short (within hundreds of years) time. Renewable energy sources= Water (hydroelectric), Wind, Solar (perpetual), Geothermal,

Natural Gas (life cycle analysis)

What are the raw materials of Natural Gas? Natural Gas

How is natural gas extracted? Drilling (often found with oil) or Fracking Inputs= metals and fracking instruments + gas sequestration materials. Outputs= VOC’s released by flaring (CO2, CH4, N2O, SFs), land subsidence, water pollution

How is natural gas processed? Acid gas removal  Dehydration  valve fugitive emissions and gas centrifuge (separating gases)  compressors Inputs= centrifuges, compressors (mostly made of metals) Outputs= VOC’s (CH4, NH3, CO2) released into the air, excess waste water used for processing, excess incineration waste/solid waste

How is natural gas transported? Pipelines Inputs = metal pipes Outputs= gas leaks, habitat degradation

How is natural gas used? Burned in power plants Used to heat homes/source of electricity Potentially used in automobiles Inputs = fire/heat source, generators, electrical appliances Outputs = carbon emission (CH4)

How is natural gas disposed of? Burned off/released into the air.

Oil

What are the Raw materials of Oil? Crude Oil For heavy oils = tar sands and heavy crude embedded in shale stone

How is oil Extracted? Drilling Inputs= metals and chemicals to make rigs that last 40 years, electricity for technology Outputs= Land subsidence, Deforestation, ground water pollution, leaking oil, possible release of natural gas/methane, habitat loss, ocean pollution in deep well drilling

How is oil processed? Refining in to different products Inputs = distiller, heater/electrical energy input, water for processing, chemicals Outputs= end products (motor oil, plastics, diesel, gasoline, jet fuel…etc), waste water + residual liquids and sludge, incineration ash, VOC’s (CO2, NOx, NH3, SOx, H2S), lead

How is oil transported? Oil Trucks or Pipelines Inputs = automobiles, Jets (metals) gasoline…etc. Outputs = Habitat degradation, groudwater pollution (if it leaks), CO2 emissions

How are petroleum products used? There are Soooooo many products that are all used differently: vehicles  diesel and gasoline, plastics, jet fuel, lubricants, gases, waxes Inputs= vehicles, jets….etc. Outputs= non-biodegradable liquid and solid waste (PCB’s), air pollution (CO2)

How can petroleum products be disposed of? Burning off Deposited in landfills Plastics can be recycled

Other LCA’s of Non- renewable resources Coal (see previous notes) + previous LCA Nuclear  we will cover this more in depth later Reactors induce nuclear fission of uranium atoms

Renewable Energy Sources Hydroelectric Geothermal Solar = perpetual resource Wind Motion = wave motion