2 nonrenewable energies: Natural gas

what is coal? http://www.energy.alberta.ca/coal/645.asp

What is coal?

Coal is the worlds most plentiful fossil fuel. It is a mineral formed from the remains of land-based plants buried hundreds of millions of years ago and subjected to tremendous heat and pressure. Coal consists of a complex range of materials and varies greatly in quality from deposit to deposit, depending on the varying types of vegetation from which the coal originated, the temperatures and pressures exerted on the deposit, and the length of time the coal has been forming.

what is natural gas?

Natural gas is a fuel thats used to heat buildings, cook food, dry clothes, heat water, and even to help produce electricity. Its sometimes called gas for short, but dont confuse it with the gasoline that runs your car. Gasoline is a liquid, while natural gas is...you guessed it...a gas! In fact, natural gas is really a mixture of gases that formed from the fossil remains of ancient plants and animals buried deep in the earth. The main ingredient in natural gas is methane. Riddle: In what three states are fossil fuels found? Click Here for Answer

Methane is odorless and colorless. So, why does natural gas smell? The gas company adds a chemical called mercaptan, which gives natural gas that funny sulfur-like or rotten egg odor. Natural gas gives off a lot of heat and light when it burns, but doesnt produce smoke. That makes it a good fuel for use in the home. Today, more than half the homes in the U.S. are heated by natural gas. Natural gas is a popular fuel choice because it burns cleaner, hotter, and brighter than other fossil fuels like coal and oil. Its also reliable. Because natural gas pipes are buried safely underground, you arent likely to lose service during stormy weather.

http://www.pge.com/microsite/safety_esw_ngsw/ngsw/basics/whatis.html Coal

Coal Advantages
Coal can be found in lots of places in the world and there is still plenty in the UK. Coal can be easily transported to the power stations. Coal is a relatively cheap energy source.

Disadvantage
To dig up coal, we have to create mines which can be dangerous and not very nice to look at. Transporting coal by lorry and train from the mine to the power station causes pollution. Burning coal produces polluting gases like sulphur dioxide which make acid rain. Of all energy sources, burning coal releases the most greenhouse gases which may add to global warming. Coal is a non-renewable source and will run out in about 100 years. Coal miners can be affected by black lung disease or pneumoconiosis and also emphysema if they breathe in too much of the coal dust.

Natural gas

Advantages Is more environment friendly than oil or coal. It is largely because of the fact that it has only one carbon and hence, produces less emissions. It is a known fact that for same amount of heat, natural gas emit 30% less carbon dioxide than burning oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than burning coal. Thereby, improving the quality of air. Is cheap (less expensive than gasoline) therefore, very cost effective. Can be safely stored and burned. Most of the natural reserves of natural gas fields are still underutilized Emits 60 to 90% less smog-producing pollutants. Due to clean burning process, doesnt produce ashes after energy release. Has high heating value of 24,000 Btu per pound. Disadvantages One disadvantage of natural gas that is often credited as an advantage by experts, is that its a nonrenewable energy resource. Its availability is finite. Critics also point that their extraction leaves out large craters within the earth.

 Is highly volatile (highly flammable) and can be dangerous, if handled carelessly. Is colorless, odorless and tasteless that makes detection of its leak very difficult. In gas pipelines, a substance (contains carbon monoxide) that has a strong odor is added to help detect a leak. But, these substances may be harmful and cause deaths, in fact, natural gas use is the most common cause of carbon monoxide deaths. Constructing and managing such pipelines cost a lot.

http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/interactives/science/energy/discover more/advantages.pdf http://fossil-fuel.co.uk/coal/the-disadvantages-of-coal http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2005/07/68074 http://www.buzzle.com/articles/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-natural-gas.html How natural gas Generate Electricity go to http://www.naturalgas.org/overview/uses_eletrical.asp

how coal generate electricity?

coal produces steam power wants it is heated the coal then heats water that produces steam pressure that turns the turbines when the steam pressure increases the turbine has magnets with north & south poles oppisite of one another rotating poles passing over wires producing electrons that is forced along the wires producing electricy Thanks To Niokla Tesla

Using coal to generate electricity involves steam power. Coal is heated until it burns. The coal then heats water that is in a steam turbine. As the steam rises and moves it spins the turbine. The turbine spins its magnets within a coil of wire. As the magnets pass over the wires, electrons are forced along the wire and electricity is formed. Well, it has multiple steps and if you know the process used to convert oil and natural gas into electricity, then the following steps'll sound familiar to you. First, a machine called a pulverizer grinds the coal into a fine powder. Next, the coal powder mixes with hot air, which helps the coal burn more efficiently, and the mixture moves to the furnace. The burning coal heats water in a boiler, creating steam which is released and goes to power an engine called a turbine, transforming heat energy from burning coal into mechanical energy that spins the turbine engine. The spinning turbine is used to power a generator, a machine that turns mechanical energy into electric energy. A condenser cools the steam

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