1. Chapter 4: Energy from Combustion

2. ENERGY? What do you think of when you hear the word
Like the energy of a crowd,
you can’t see it,
can’t measure it,
but you know it is there.

3. Complete Combustion – produces more energy:
fuel + oxygen → CO2 + H2O + energy
Incomplete Combustion – not as efficient:
fuel + oxygen → CO + H2O + energy
Some energy is still stored in CO, so:
CO + oxygen → CO2 + H2O + energy

4. Terms that need to be defined:
Energy is the capacity to do work.
Work is movement against a force (w = f x d).
Heat is energy that flows from a hotter to a colder object.
Temperature determines the direction of heat flow.
Heat is a consequence of motion at the molecular level; temperature is a measure of the average speed of that motion.
4.1

5. There are many different forms of Energy:
Potential – stored energy
Gravitational, electrical, coiled springs
Chemical – energy stored in chemical bonds and vibration/rotation of atoms
Nuclear – energy stored as matter or in binding subatomic particles together
Electrical – energy in motion and electrical potential of electrons

6. Kinetic – energy of motion: Anything with mass that is moving, vibrating, or spinning
Mechanical energy – moving machinery
Thermal energy – motion of atoms
Temperature measures average kinetic energy of matter: at absolute zero there is no motion

7. 1 kcal = 1000 cal = 1 Cal (1 dietary cal)
What are units of heat?
The joule (J): 1 J is the amount of energy required to raise a 1-kg object 10 cm against the force of gravity.
The calorie (cal): 1 cal is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 g of water by 1 oC.
1 calorie = J
1 kcal = 1000 cal = 1 Cal (1 dietary cal)
So that 450 Cal doughnut is really 450,000 calories!
4.2

8. Conservation of energy (First Law of Thermodynamics)
Energy may be converted from one form to another, but the total amount of energy remains constant.
Energy is often measured in:
Joules (J)
calories (cal): 1 cal = 4.18 J
Calories (Cal) = food calories 1Cal = 1000 cal

9. Coal is used to create electricity in a power plant:
Combustion
Boil water in a closed, high pressure system
Turn turbine to create electricity
4.1

10. Coal Power Plants
Convert energy to various forms:
Potential (chemical energy in coal)
Thermal (burning coal, heating water)
Kinetic (moving steam through pipes)
Mechanical (steam turns turbines)
Electrical (turbines produce electricity)
??? : homes and businesses turn electrical energy back into many other forms (light, heat, mechanical...)

11. Power plants are inevitably inefficient.
Potential energy
(chemical bonds)
The First Law of Thermodynamics
Energy is neither created nor destroyed, but may be transformed from one form to another.
burner
Kinetic energy
Taking random, thermal energy and transforming it into ordered work goes against the
Second Law of Thermodynamics.
gas turbine
Mechanical energy
The Second Law of Thermodynamics
The entropy of the universe is increasing.
generator
Electrical energy
There is no free lunch!
4.1

12. The stored chemical energy in fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas,
The stored chemical energy in fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas,...) and wood comes from photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is basically the reverse of a combustion reaction:
6CO2 + 6H2O + energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2
versus combustion:
C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy

13. CO2 and H2O have very little potential chemical energy.
The suns energy is stored in the products: saccharides (sugars) and oxygen.
Sugar molecules link together to form other sugars, starches and cellulose.
With time, pressure, and heat, dead plant material is converted into fossil fuels.

14. Coal Coal is a complex mixture of substances.
Although not a single compound, coal can
be approximated by the chemical formula
C135H96O9NS.
4.3

15. History of U.S. Energy Consumption by Source 1800–2008
1 EJ = 1018 J
4.3

16. Coal use around the world:
Green = 1999
The unit is million metric tons oil equivalent, the
approximate energy released in burning a million
metric tons of oil.
Gold = 2009
4.3

17. Efficiency of Energy Conversion
We are not able to completely convert energy from one form to another
During the conversion, energy is often also changed into other forms
Most if this energy is 'lost', since it is not in a useful form.
Some examples of this are friction, heat, light, and kinetic energy lost to the environment

18. For coal power plants:
Each energy conversion step may be 5-90% efficient, depending on the technology used.
Overall, most coal power plants are 35-50% efficient, with most energy lost as heat.
Higher temperature steam  more efficient

19. For coal power plants:
Each energy conversion step may be 5-90% efficient, depending on the technology used.
Overall, most coal power plants are 35-50% efficient, with most energy lost as heat.
Higher temperature steam  more efficient

20. Energy Changes at the Molecular Level
The energy changes are due to the rearrangement of the atoms of the reactants and products;
it is the breaking and forming of bonds that dictates if a reaction will be endothermic or exothermic.
Bond energy is the amount of energy that must be absorbed to break a chemical bond.
energy
Breaking bonds ALWAYS requires energy!
4.6

21. 4.6

22. Consider: 2 H O H2O
Bonds breaking
2 H–H + O=O
Bonds forming
4 O–H
(2 H–O–H)
4.6

23. Usually, reactions occur to lower the stored chemical (potential) energy.
For these reactions, the potential energy lost is usually released as heat and light.
Some reactions actually absorb thermal energy from the surroundings.
For this to happen, the overall Entropy must increase.

24. Entropy – measure of disorder or chaos: more chaos → more entropy.
Second Law of Thermodynamics – the entropy of the universe is increasing.
The entropy and energy change both determine whether or not a reaction occurs.

25. Examples of increasing entropy (increasing disorder):
solid → liquid
liquid → gas
cold object → warm object
one compound → 2 compounds

26. Coal – a major driving force behind the industrial revolution.
Much more energy per gram than wood
More abundant – not enough wood to meet energy needs
There are different grades of coal
Some produce more energy per gram
Some are more pure carbon, while most contain many impurities, such as sulfur.

27. Not all coal is created equal:
4.3

28. Some problems with coal fuel:
Mine safety
mine collapse
dangerous gases
black lung disease from breathing coal dust
Environmental damage
strip mining

29. Pollution from combustion:
particulates
SOx – lung irritant, leads to acid rain
CO2 production – in recent years coal has accounted for up to 40% of anthropogenic CO2 production

30. Some ways to reduce pollution:
Coal washing – remove sulfur from coal before burning
Gasification – process used to turn coal into CO and H2 gases, which is a much cleaner fuel, though some potential energy is lost
Wet scrubbing – scrubs the exhaust gases to remove SOx.
This waste can be used for commercial products, such as gypsum drywall.

31. Hydrocarbons (HCs) – any compound containing only hydrogen and carbon
Crude oil – a mixture of HCs, such as methane, ethane, propane, octane, kerosene, waxes...
This mixture is separated by distillation:
Smaller molecules turn into gases at lower temperatures, so each compound is boiled off at a different temperature.

32. A Port Arthur, TX Oil Refinery
An Oil Refinery
A Port Arthur, TX Oil Refinery
4.4

33. Distillation Tower:
One of the drawbacks to petroleum is that it must be refined before use.
4.4

34. How do we use each barrel (42 gal) of petroleum?
This 7.3 gal includes nonrenewable feedstocks for all plastics, pharmaceuticals, fabrics and other carbon-based products.
Over 87% of each barrel is used for transportation and heating.
4.4

35. Heat of Combustion – energy released per mole or per gram of fuel.
Different HCs have different Heats of combustion, so some produce more energy per gram than others.
This energy comes from making/breaking chemical bonds.
The products have lower potential energy, and the lost energy is released as heat/light

36. Bomb calorimeters can be used to determine the heat of combustion.
If you test a reaction that releases heat, the temperature of the water will increase.
4.5

37. Energy is released in this process called combustion.
Hydrocarbon fuels like methane (CH4) burn in the presence of oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water.
Energy is released in this process called combustion.
CH4(g) O2(g) CO2(g) H2O(l) + ENERGY
When energy is released during the course of a chemical reaction, it is said to be an EXOTHERMIC reaction.
The combustion of methane gas releases 50.1 kJ/g of CH4.
This is the equivalent of kJ/mol CH4.
4.5

38. CH4(g) + 2 O2(g) CO2(g) + 2 H2O(l)
Exothermic reaction
The products are lower in energy than the reactants.
Exothermic reaction: E is a negative value.
4.5

39. Are all fuels created equal?
4.5

40. Gasoline
Compared to combustion of octane, C8H18 (Octane rating)
Not a pure HC, but a mixture of HCs, isomers, and additives
Isomers – same formula, different structure
Crude oil does not have enough octane to be used for fuel, and with mixtures, the combustive properties can be adjusted

41. Gasoline Additives
Additives improve properties
combustion rate (knocking)
combustion efficiency
residue left in engine
pollution

42. Gasoline Additives
Tetra ethyl lead (TEL)
Used to be a common additive
Potential problem for lead poisoning
can cause sterility, insanity, loss of teeth...
children more susceptible than adults
Absorbed by inhalation of exhaust fumes
Data shows a significant drop in lead concentrations in children after TEL was banned

43. Gasoline Additives
MTBE used to replace TEL
methyl tertiarybutyl ether (H, C, and O)
improves octane rating
provides oxygen for combustion
possible carcinogen
Ethanol often used to replace MTBE
Also contains only H, C and O
Renewable energy source
But attracts water – can cause rusting if left for prolonged periods

44. Gasoline Additives
Elimination of octane enhancing tetraethyl lead (TEL) created a need to find substitutes.
MTBE, methyl tertiary-butyl ether
Ethanol (ethyl alcohol)
Human health effects of exposure to MTBE are not known.
4.7

45. Fuel Alternatives
Biodiesel fuel use is on the rise. Made from natural, renewable sources (vegetable oils, animal fats), it can be used as pure fuel or blended with petroleum.
Ethanol is renewable, but more expensive than gasoline.
Some believe it takes more energy to produce a gallon of ethanol than you will obtain from burning it.
4.9

46. Additives may be used to raise/lower the activation energy of the combustion.
Activation energy – an energy barrier that needs to be overcome for the reaction to proceed.
The activation energy controls how easily the fuel ignites, and how quickly it burns.

47. Catalysts – something that lowers the activation energy (speeds up the reaction), but is not consumed.
The catalytic converter in automobiles is a hot metal (Pt) surface that:
catalyzes reactions in the exhaust gases
CO + O2 → CO2
NOx → N2 + O2
Energy released in this converter is 'lost' as heat

48. Historic and projected energy consumption worldwide:
Note: All three projections slope upward.
4.11