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Solutions: Energy Density Problems

This document discusses energy density problems and solutions related to different fuel sources. It provides calculations to determine the mass of various fuels (anthracite, gasoline, methane) needed to increase the temperature of water by a specific amount. It also compares the energy densities of coal, lignite, and rice husks and calculates the mass needed of each to generate a given amount of electrical energy. Finally, it notes that fossil fuels on average have a significantly higher energy density than biofuels, making them more suitable for large-scale electricity generation.

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Bosco Merino Echevarria
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85 views1 page

Solutions: Energy Density Problems

This document discusses energy density problems and solutions related to different fuel sources. It provides calculations to determine the mass of various fuels (anthracite, gasoline, methane) needed to increase the temperature of water by a specific amount. It also compares the energy densities of coal, lignite, and rice husks and calculates the mass needed of each to generate a given amount of electrical energy. Finally, it notes that fossil fuels on average have a significantly higher energy density than biofuels, making them more suitable for large-scale electricity generation.

Uploaded by

Bosco Merino Echevarria
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GEP 4

Solutions Energy density problems

Q1 Heat energy required to increase temperature of water is given by;


Q  mc  Q  0.5  4200  (85  15)  147000J
energy density = energy / mass
mass = energy / energy density.
(i) anthracite; mass = 147000 / 31.4 x 106 = 4.68 x 10-3 kg
(ii) gasoline; mass = 147000 / 45.8 x 106 = 3.21 x 10-3 kg
(iii) methane; mass = 147000 / 55.5 x 106 = 2.65 x 10-3 kg

Q2 All fuel is combusted leaving no residue, all heat is transferred into the water with no losses
to the surroundings etc.

Q3 methane because it has the highest energy density.

Q4 Cost, ease of storage and transport, volume of carbon dioxide produced per joule of energy
produced etc.

Q5 7.8 x 109 kwh = 7.8 x 109 x 3.6 x 106 = 2.8 x 1016 j, this is only 30% of the original chemical
energy.
100 % = 2.8 x 1016 x 100/30 = 9.3 x 1016 j
Energy density of anthracite = 31.4 x 106 jkg-1
 mass coal used in 1 year = 9.3 x 1016 / 31.4 x 106 = 3.0 x 109 kg
mass coal used in 1 day = 3.0 x 109 /365 = 8.1 x 106 kg

Q6 (i) Power = electrical energy generated (j) / time taken (s)


= 2.8 x 1016 / (365 x 24 x 60 x 60) = 8.9 x 108 w (890 Mw)
(ii) Mass of coal/household = mass coal used in 1day / no. households
= 8.1 x 106 kg / 500,000 ~ 16.2 kg per day per household.

Q7 Total electrical energy generated in 1 day = 450 x 106 w x 24 x 60 x 60 = 3.9 x 1013 j at 45%
efficiency.  100% = 3.9 x 1013 j x 100/45 = 8.7 x 1013 j.
(i) mass coal / day = energy needed / energy density = 8.7 x 1013 / 17.43 x 106
= 5.0 x 106 kg
(ii) mass coal/year = 5.0 x 106 x 365 = 1.8 x 109 kg

Q8 The energy density of lignite quoted is a maximum value. In general the mean energy
density will be lower than this hence in reality more lignite will be needed to generate
electricity at 450 Mw.

Q9 Total power = 9.2 + 5.5 = 14.7 Mw


Electrical energy generated in 1 year = 14.7 x 106 x 365 x 24 x 60 x 60 = 4.6 x 1014 j
at 28 % efficiency.
chemical energy needed from rice husks = 4.6 x 1014 x 100 / 28 = 1.6 x 1015 j
mass rice husks = energy needed / energy density = 1.6 x 1015 / 15.5 x 106
= 1.0 x 108 kg = 100,000 tonnes

Q10 On average, fossil fuels have a significantly higher energy density than biofuels;
approximately x 2 as much. Charcoal is an exception but this has been processed from the
raw bio fuel – wood. The most appropriate use of natural biofuels would be for small scale
electricity generation, to run a generator for a home or village for example, as much larger
masses are needed for each energy unit of electricity generated compared to fossil fuels.

Side 1 of 1

Sha Tin College Physics  OUP IB Physics Course companion, 2007, Kirk and Hodgson. These pages have been
adapted from the original

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