Module 3: Energy

Module 3: Energy

The Energy is the go of things.

James Clark Maxwell

• Energy is the most basic element of progress for all economies—the pivotal force that sustains life and ensures a standard of living and, ultimately, the standard of life. Energy technologies are society’s most basic infrastructure that enables economic growth.

• In the pre-Industrial Revolution era, the population of planet Earth was small, and energy needs were limited to cooking and heating.

• Energy could be exploited without serious damage to the atmosphere, hydrosphere, or geosphere.

• But the dawn of the Industrial Revolution created an energy-hungry genie whose appetite for hydrocarbons has grown to such a degree that it is jeopardizing future prospects for a sustainable environment .

•Since the Industrial Revolution, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have risen from an estimated 280 parts per million to 362 parts per million, the highest in 150 years.

• The mainstream scientific community now finds evidence that human activity is indeed altering the earth’s climate.

•In 1996, worldwide carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels climbed to 6.25 billion tons, reaching a new high for the second year in a row.

Fossil Fuel Fundamentals

• Coal

• Oil

• Natural gas

Energy is the lifeblood of the global economy.

Despite tremendous advances in the various technological fields, fossil fuels still remain the number one source of energy, as they were a century ago.

World Crude Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas Reserves, January 1, 2003 (World Oil)

Crude Oil Recoverable Coal Natural Gas

Region/Country (billion barrels) (million short tons) (trillion cubic feet)

North America 45.359 280,464 262.057

Central & South America 75.854 23,977 244.360

Western Europe 17.033 101,343 175.690

Eastern Europe & former U.S.S.R. 81.921 290,183 2,046.953

Middle East 669.757 1,885 2,516.9686

Africa 96.271 61,032 438.875

Asia & Oceania 48.478 322,394 441.731

World total 1034.673 1,081,279 6,126.634

Source: Energy Information Administration, http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/iea/.

World CO2 Emissions from Consumption and Flaring of Fossil Fuels, 2002

Millions of Metric Tons *Country/Rank

1.United States 1,568.59

2. China 906.11

3. Russia 415.16

4. Japan 321.67

5. India 279.87

6. Germany 228.62

7. United Kingdom 150.77

8. Canada 161.37

9. Italy 122.36

10. France 111.08

World total 6,690.73

Table 14.4

Energy Consumption in the United States, 2003 (quadrillion Btu)

Energy Type Consumption Percentage

Wood (waste, ethanol) 2.93%

Hydroelectric (conventional) 2.83%

Nuclear 8.1%

Coal 23.13%

Natural gas 22.93%

Petroleum 39.8%

Fossil fuel total 85.92%

Renewables total 6.26%

Source: Energy Information Administration, http://www.eia.doe.gov.

OIL

Advantages

Oil is one of the most abundant energy resources.

Its liquid form makes it easy to transport and use.

Oil has high heating value.

Drawbacks

Oil burning leads to carbon emissions.

Oil has finite sources (some experts disagree).

Oil recovery processes need to be developed to provide better yields.

Oil drilling endangers the environment and ecosystems.

Oil transportation (by ship) can lead to spills, causing environmental and

ecological damage.

Natural GasAdvantages

Inexpensive compared oil.

Lean to burn less polluting than other fossil fuels.

Burning does not produce any ash particles.

Has high heating value.

Drawbacks

Not a renewable source.

Finite resource trapped in earth (some experts disagree).

Inability to recover all gas from a producible deposit because of unfavorable

economics and lack of technology.

World Energy Projections: 2003-2030

- total world consumption of marketed energy will expand

- from 421(Btu) in 2003 to 563 quadrillion Btu in 2015 and then

to 722 quadrillion Btu in 2030

71-percent increase over 2003 to 2030 period

-net electricity's consumption will more than double between 2003 and 2030,

from 14,781 billion kilowatt-hours to 30,116 billion kilowatt-hours.

-worldwide consumption of electricity generated from nuclear power will

increase from 2,523 billion kilowatt-hours in 2003 to 2,940 billion kilowatt-hours

in 2015 and 3,299 billion kilowatt-hours in 2030.

FUTURE STRATEGIES FOR A SUSTAINABLE

ENVIRONMENT

•Conservation

•Alternate fuels

•Development of new technologies

•Education

•Environment-friendly policies

Energy for a New Century

The stone age did not end because the world ran out of

stones, and the oil age will not end because we run out of

oil.Don Huberts, Shell Hydrogen (Division Of Royal Dutch Shell)

The Immortal Waste or

Radioactive wastes is wastes that contain radioactive material. Radioactive wastes are usually by-products of nuclear power generation and other applications of nuclear fission or nuclear technology, such as research and medicine.

Plutonium- is mostly a byproduct of nuclear reactions, whose half-life of about 80 million years and has toxic properties even in small amounts. Radioactive waste is hazardous to most forms of life and the environment, and is regulated by government agencies in order to protect human health and the environment.

• Nuclear Waste Classification

• Irradiated Fuel - Spent nuclear fuel

• Types of Radiation- Alpha, Beta, Gamma and X

• Radioactive Decay- emission of radiation, (Decay-loss of energy)

• Half-Lives of Radioactive Elements- is the amount of time required for a quantity to fall to half its value as measured at the beginning of the time period

Oil and Blood• The notion that oil motivates America's military

engagements in the Middle East.

• Persian Gulf region—accounts for about 30 percent of

global oil production.

• Saudi Arabia, with 262 billion barrels, has a quarter of

the world’s total reserves and is the single largest

producer.

• Iraq: At 112 billion barrels, its known reserves are

second only to Saudi Arabia’s

Installing a U.S. client regime in Baghdad would

give American and British companies

(ExxonMobil, Chevron-Texaco, Shell, and BP) a

good shot at direct access to Iraqi oil for the first

time in 30 years—a windfall worth hundreds of

billions of dollars. And if a new regime rolls out

the red carpet for the oil multinationals to return,

it is possible that a broader wave of de-

nationalization could sweep through the world’s

oil industry, reversing the historic changes of the

early 1970s.

Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Economy

•A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts chemical energy into

electrical form. It consists of two porous electrodes—anode and cathode—

separated by an electrolyte in a solid or liquid form.

•A fuel cell is like a battery, but it is an active battery because it does not require

recharging as long as fuel (hydrogen) is supplied. In a battery, the electrodes are

chemically dissimilar, which develops an electric potential difference between

them, whereas in a fuel cell, the electrodes are chemically similar.

•One electrode is supplied with a fuel and the other with an oxidant; thus, an

electric potential difference is developed between them.

•By attaching a load to the fuel cell, an electric current can be drawn to generate

electrical power. The electrical energy delivered to the external circuit is less than

the energy changes due to a chemical reaction in the cell. The electrical power

generated can be used in vehicle propulsion and the operation of electrically

driven components.

Fuel Cell

Hydrogen-powered fuel cells and systems are becoming increasingly popular to power cars,

trucks, and buses and also to provide electricity and heat for homes and industrial units.

Advantages

•Fuel cells increase thermal efficiency.

•Fuel cells produce electricity for longer periods.

•Fuel cells generate power with little pollution. (Fuel cells release harmless byproducts in the

form of exhaust gases, water, and waste heat.)

•Fuel cells operate with a low noise level.

•Fuel cells can be quickly recharged by refueling compared to batteries that require time-

consuming recharge.

Disadvantages

•The cost is higher than conventional systems.

•The durability of a fuel cell system is not yet established.

•Platinum-group metals used for catalyzing reactions are expensive.

•Production of hydrogen for fuel cells causes emissions of CO2 into the atmosphere.

•Power density is low compared to combustion engines and batteries (power density refers to

power produced per unit volume or per unit mass).

The Hydrogen Experiment

•In Reykjavík, Iceland, scientists, politicians, and business

leaders have conspired to put into motion a grand experiment

that may end the country’s—and the world’s—reliance on fossil

fuels forever. The island has committed to becoming the

world’s first hydrogen economy over the next 30 years.

About 85 percent of total primary energy supply in Iceland is derived from

domestically produced renewable energy sources.

In 2011, geothermal energy provided about 65 percent of primary energy, the share

of hydropower was 20 percent, and the share of fossil fuels (mainly oil products for

the transport sector) was 15 percent.

In 2013, Iceland also became a producer of wind energy. The main use of

geothermal energy is for space heating with the heat being distributed to buildings

through extensive district-heating systems.

About 85% of all houses in Iceland are heated with geothermal energy.

Renewable energy provides almost 100 percent of electricity production, with about

75 percent coming from hydropower and 25 percent from geothermal power.

In 2011, the total electricity consumption in Iceland was 17,210 GWh.

Geothermal energy - is thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth. Thermal energy is

the energy that determines the temperature of matter. The geothermal energy of the Earth's crust originates

from the original formation of the planet (20%) and from radioactive decay of minerals (80%).

Biomass Energy

•Biomass refers to any organic material — except: coal, oil, natural

gas — that is used for energy generation.

•It includes terrestrial and aquatic vegetation, agricultural and

forester residues, and animal wastes. It can be regarded as the

solar energy that has been collected by photosynthesis and is

stored as chemical energy from the organic material.

•In photosynthesis, plants convert radiant energy from the sun into

chemical energy by combining CO2 and water to form

carbohydrate molecules in the form of glucose or sugar.

•The photosynthesis process can be summarized as a chemical

equation.

• Biomass is a renewable energy source—it draws energy from the

environment rather than from the consumption of mineral fuels.

• The growth of new plants and trees replenishes the supply.

• In contrast to fossil fuels, renewable energy sources are more uniformly

distributed geographically.

•Many renewable energy technologies are presently being employed or have

the potential of becoming viable:

-biomass power –hydropower

-geothermal power -wind power -ocean wave power

-ocean tidal power -solar and thermal heating power

-ocean thermal electric power

Advantages

•There is an abundance of biomass sources (e.g., crops, plants,

trees, wood residues, crop waste, animal wastes).

•Biomass sources are inexpensive and widely available.

•Biomass sources are easy to store and transport.

•Biomass is a renewable source of energy.

•Biomass sources allow the disposal of biomass waste material.

•Biomass sources do not contribute to a net increase in CO2

(provided that the new biomass growth balances the biomass

used for energy generation).

•Biomass sources contain small amounts of sulfur and nitrogen

and do not produce pollutants that cause acid rain.

Disadvantages

•Air emissions from the combustion of biomass sources are not

always less than emissions from fossil fuels.

•Growth of new plants and trees to replenish the consumed

amount of biomass requires considerable time. (It may require a

few months for new crops and plants to grow and may take years

and decades for trees to grow.)

Solar Energy

Advantages

•Solar energy is a continuous source of energy.

•Solar energy is a clean source of energy.

•Solar energy is a safe source of energy.

Disadvantages

•The average solar power is not steady and depends on cloud cover, season,

latitude, and time of day.

•Solar energy is not available at night.

•Solar energy needs to be converted into other forms (e.g., electrical) for useful

applications.

Wind Power

• The revolving shaft spins the rotor of a generator, which produces electricity.

•The use of wind power dates back thousands of years. It was employed for

grinding grain and pumping water.

•The atmosphere is a reservoir of solar radiation.

• The wind is continuously regenerated in the atmosphere as the

solar radiation is converted into kinetic energy.

• The winds are local as well as regional. It is estimated that the

average power available from shifting air masses all over the earth

is 1.8 10^15 watts.

• Wind power available at any location depends on its topographical

features. The earth’s surface offers resistance to wind, thereby

decreasing its power density.

•In some locations, a wind power density of 500 W/m 102 is

available at a nominal height of 25 m from the ground.

Advantages

•Wind power is a continuous source of energy.

•Wind power is a clean source of energy, with no emissions into the

atmosphere.

•Wind power does not add to the thermal burden of the earth.

Disadvantages

•For most locations, the wind power density is low.

•In most cases, wind velocity must be greater than 7 mph to be usable.

•A problem exists in the variation in the power density and duration of wind.

•Wind power may have some environmental effects, depending on the

location and number of wind power plants (local climate, bird migration

patterns, etc.).

Hydroelectric Power

• Hydroelectric power is the conversion of the gravitational pull of the falling water of rivers and the controlled release of water reservoirs through turbine generators.

• Hydroelectric power provides a clean and efficient means of producing electric power.

• It supplied 21 percent of electricity worldwide in 1986, less than coal and oil,but more than nuclear power.

• In 1984, the global yearly production of hydro energy amounted to about 1,700 billion kilowatt hours (kWh); an additional 550 was under construction.

• In 1999 hydro power provided 19 percent (2,659 trillion watt-hour [TWh]) of world’s electricity supply.

• The estimated technically feasible global hydroelectric potential is about 14,400 TWh per year, but only 56 percent of this potential is currently considered to be economically feasible for development. Total global installed hydro-power capacity is about 692 GW, and an additional capacity of 110 GW is under construction.

Hydroelectric Power

• The Unites States is the second largest producer of hydro-power in the world, Canada is number one.

• Hydro-power provides about 10 percent of electricity in the United States. (see Figure 24.1 and Figure 24.2).

• Throughout history, there have been instances of dam failure and discharge of stored water, which have caused considerable loss of life and great damage to property. Advances in soil mechanics and structural engineering have revolutionized dam construction and hence increased safety aspects.

• However, it is estimated that about 150,000 dams around the world present a potential hazard to life or property; there have been more than 200 failures since 1900.

Advantages

• Hydroelectric power produces no air, thermal, or chemical pollution in its electricity generation.

• Hydroelectric power has low production costs.

• Hydroelectric power has high efficiency (about 90 percent) converting from water to electrical energy.

• The water reservoir can provide potential flood protection for downstream currents.

• Groundwater reserves are increased by recharging from the dam’s water reservoir.

• The dam’s water reservoir can store large volumes of water for long periods of time; thus, downstream flow can be controlled for water quality and seasonal stream extreme conditions.

Disadvantages

• Hydroelectric power has high construction costs.

• There are limited feasible sites for dam construction.

• Electrical power production may be discontinued due to severe drought conditions.

• Dam construction causes loss of land suitable for agriculture.

• Construction of dams impacts the ecological cycles of the rivers and

surrounding landscape.

• Silt accumulation and sedimentation changes flow and land

drainage patterns.

• Water stored in the dam’s reservoir by impounding the river is low in

oxygen; therefore, the water issued from the dam is low in oxygen

and affects the species of the water stream.

• Dam construction prevents upstream migration of fish.

The Electric Car Arrives

Again

Electric Car

Hybrid Car

AdvantagesThe number one advantage of an electric vehicle is that no gas is required.

One example is the Chevy Volt. It has a battery range of 40 miles. That means it

can drive for 40 miles without using gas. 40 miles is more than the range of an

average commute to work, so you can go to and from work using no gas.

With minimal gas usage comes great savings. You do need gas in the Volt in

case your battery runs out or you go for a long distance. However, the amount

of fill ups per year will be much fewer with an electric vehicle

You can plug the car into any outlet of the proper voltage and charge the car.

Electricity is much cheaper than gas, and the savings will be dramatic

Electric cars give off no emissions.

Electric cars are even better than hybrids in this regard. Hybrids running on gas

give off emissions, while electric cars are totally 100 percent free of pollutants

Safety is a big concern with these vehicles. However, the fluid batteries actually

take impact better than a fully made gas car, and can help even more in the

event of an accident

Disadvantages

The first disadvantage is price. Electric car batteries are not cheap, and the

better the battery, the more you will pay. For example, the Chevy Volt has a 40

mile range and sells for around $30,000. Compare that to the 250 to 300 mile

range of cars made by Tesla Motors, which sell for anywhere between $50,000

and $100,000

Even though it is a quiet ride, silence can be seen as a disadvantage. People

like to hear cars when they are coming up behind them or beside them, and you

can't hear if an electric car is near you. This has been known to lead to

accidents

Most cars take a long time to recharge their batteries. Tesla Motors' Model S

can recharge in 45 minutes, but most electric cars right now take hours to

charge. You can't drive the car while the batteries are charging usually, so your

car will be out of commission while it is plugged in

Most electric cars currently on the road do not have long ranges. Although in the

future it will improve, most of the cars have a range of less than 25 miles, and

you can't truly see the great benefits until you ride in a vehicle with a longer

range.

Case Study 1: Chernobyl

http://rt.com/news/155072-chernobyl-images-now-then/

• Morning of April 26, 1986, the nuclear Reactor No. 4 went into meltdown.

• Cause of accident: Human error coupled with flawed reactor design

• Amount of radioactivity released 50–250 million curies of radiation (the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki released an estimated 1 million curies)

• Number of people exposed to radiation fallout 6.7 million (BBC News, May 2005)

• Number of people evacuated 200,000+

• Short-term death toll 224 (according to Soviet authorities); actual numbers are close to several thousand

• Long-term death toll Estimates range from 14,000 to 475,000 cancer-related deaths

Nuclear Reactor - Understanding how it works

Fission vs. Fusion

Nuclear fusion is the process by which more than one nuclei join together to

form a heavier nucleus. (Nuclear fusion is the process that powers our sun and

the stars). Nuclear fission is the exact opposite process, in which the nucleus

of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei.

Case Study 2: Tasman Spirit Oil Spill

Tasman Spirit Oil Spill

Chronology of Events.

1. July 27, 2003: Tasman Spirit, the Greek-owned oil tanker, ran aground off the

Karachi coast near Clifton Beach. Karachi Port Trust (KPT) authorities attempted

to push the ship back into the shipping channel with the help of two tug boats.

2. July 31, 2003: Endeavor II, a larger oil tanker, fails to reach the Tasman Spirit

to offload 67,500 tons of crude oil.

3. August 7, 2003: Lighterage operation begins with the help of Fair Jolly, a small

ship. Poor weather coupled with the ship’s limited capacity permits the transfer of

8,000 tons of oil from the Tasman Spirit in 48 hours.

4. August 15, 2003: More than 20,000 tons of oil leaked into the sea,

contaminated Karachi beaches, and damaged the ecosystem.Source: Herald/Dawn, September 2003, Karachi

Conclusion • During the past 50 years, the global economy has increased

fivefold, world population has doubled, and world energy use has

tripled.

•

•Will these trends continue in the 21st century? Increased production

and use of fossil fuel could have severe local and regional impacts.

• Locally, air pollution takes a toll on human health. Acid precipitation

and other forms of air pollution can degrade downwind habitats,

especially in lakes, streams, and forests.

• On a global level, the increased burning of fossil fuels will result in

increased emissions of greenhouse gases, which in turn could lead to

global warming and other adverse climate changes.

•It is predicted that, if energy consumption styles do not change,

world energy consumption will increase by 50 to 60 percent. Carbon

dioxide emissions will also increase by 50 to 60 percent.

•Therefore, as we plan for the future, we must use energy sources

that enable us to sustain our environment. Appropriate energy

policies at the individual, national, and international levels, along with

efficient energy technologies and conservation efforts, could play an

important role in achieving a balance between economic growth and

a sustainable environment.