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04fossilfuels_4

Fossil fuels, formed from ancient plants and animals, are primary energy sources that release energy when burned, with three main types: coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Coal varies in carbon content and is used for power generation and steel production, while petroleum is refined into various products and natural gas is extracted through hydraulic fracturing. However, fossil fuels contribute significantly to air pollution and global warming.

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mvolker450
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0 views

04fossilfuels_4

Fossil fuels, formed from ancient plants and animals, are primary energy sources that release energy when burned, with three main types: coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Coal varies in carbon content and is used for power generation and steel production, while petroleum is refined into various products and natural gas is extracted through hydraulic fracturing. However, fossil fuels contribute significantly to air pollution and global warming.

Uploaded by

mvolker450
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Fossil Fuels

How fossil fuels are created!


Fossil Fuels
• Main energy sources that are formed from the
remains of ancient plants and animals.
• Energy is released when fossil fuels are
burned
– Runs cars, machinery, and generators.
• Three main types
1. Coal – organic sedimentary rock
• Varies in the amount of
carbon
– more carbon = more
energy
• Used to run power
plants and to make
steel
• At the present rate of
use it could last
hundreds of years…
India: Digging Deep for Coal
What is peat?
• Peat is a soft organic
material consisting of
partly decayed plant
matter together with
deposited minerals.
How we harvest/mine peat?
• Following technologies are presently used for peat
extraction:
– Milling method
– Sod peat extraction
Coal formation
Different types of Coal
1. Peat Low Energy
2. Lignite |
3. Bituminous |
4. Anthracite High Energy
2. Petroleum – organic liquid
plant/animal remains
• Contains carbon and
hydrogen
• Refined as gasoline,
kerosene, lubricants, etc.
• Used to heat homes, run
cars, in plastics, fertilizers,
dyes, medicines…
• Must drill wells to tap
source
• Often found with natural
gas
Drilling for Oil
3. Natural Gas
• Chain of hydrocarbons created with
petroleum
• Can be used as an energy source
Natural Gas Extraction
(Hydraulic Fracturing AKA “Fracking”)
• Technique for extracting natural gas from “tight”
rock(shale) structures deep below surface
• Has been used since 1950’s
• Hydraulic Fracturing involves
– Drilling a well deep down below earth
– Turning drill to horizontal
– Set off small charges to create cracks in the shale
– Inject 500,000 gallons of fluid to fracture shale
– Fluid is 99% water plus sand and chemicals
– Extracting natural gas
The Fracking Song
Opportunity or Danger?!?
Environmental Impact
• Fossil fuels are also the major source of air
pollution and therefore, the major contributor
to global warming!
True or False
• Renewable resources can be replaced at a rate
close to its rate of use or in an unlimited supply.
– True
• Fossil fuels are energy sources that are formed
from the remains of plants and animals.
– True
• The three main types of fossil fuels are coal and
oxygen and natural gas.
– False: Coal, Petroleum and Natural Gas

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