CHEE2695 – Lecture 4
Fuels:
- Solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels are very commonly used for generating
usable energy.
- Fuels are energy carriers.
Fossil fuels:
- Fossil fuel creation is dependent on 3 main factors:
o Vegetation (nature, constituents),
o Decay environment (temperature, pressure, water tables),
o Climate (aerobic/anaerobic conditions).
- Broad categories of fossil fuels are:
o Oil,
o Coal,
o Natural gas.
- Each of the above categories has many sub-categories.
Formation of coal:
- Takes millions of years.
- Initially, there is a biochemical process to form peat.
- Peat is then converted to coal.
- Coal seam gas contains toxic CO, and the extremely potent greenhouse gas
CH4.
- Coal is typically used for electricity generation and metallurgy (steel making).
Formation of oil/gas:
- Formed from the decomposition of plankton, algae, and other marine life, by
anaerobic decay.
- It is covered in silt until a layer forms, resulting in high temperature and
pressure, leading to the formation of liquid and gaseous products.
- Oil/gas isn’t always found where it was formed, and gas is found above oil,
and oil above water.
Other fuels:
Fuels:
- Solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels are very commonly used for generating
usable energy.
- Fuels are energy carriers.
Fossil fuels:
- Fossil fuel creation is dependent on 3 main factors:
o Vegetation (nature, constituents),
o Decay environment (temperature, pressure, water tables),
o Climate (aerobic/anaerobic conditions).
- Broad categories of fossil fuels are:
o Oil,
o Coal,
o Natural gas.
- Each of the above categories has many sub-categories.
Formation of coal:
- Takes millions of years.
- Initially, there is a biochemical process to form peat.
- Peat is then converted to coal.
- Coal seam gas contains toxic CO, and the extremely potent greenhouse gas
CH4.
- Coal is typically used for electricity generation and metallurgy (steel making).
Formation of oil/gas:
- Formed from the decomposition of plankton, algae, and other marine life, by
anaerobic decay.
- It is covered in silt until a layer forms, resulting in high temperature and
pressure, leading to the formation of liquid and gaseous products.
- Oil/gas isn’t always found where it was formed, and gas is found above oil,
and oil above water.
Other fuels:
