Prof. R. Shanthini January 07, 2012 Module 03 Energy Impacts Ecological impacts of energy generation from non-renewable energy sources in global & local.

Prof. R. Shanthini January 07, 2012

Module 03

Energy Impacts

Ecological impacts of energy generation from

non-renewable energy sources in global & local scale

and probable mitigation measures

Global scale:

greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, and climate change

Local scale:

acid rain, particulate pollution, thermal pollution and related impact, fresh-water exploitation, and altering land use

non-renewable


- formed during Carboniferous Period (from about 360 to 286 million years ago).

- the land was then covered with swamps filled with vegetations and the water and seas were filled with algae.

Non-renewable Energy Source: Fossil Fuels

http://www.thecosmosphere.com/green-sea-in-china/


- carbonaceous matter was first compressed into peat (a spongy material with 90% water)

- peat, when got deeply buried, turned into coal owing to being subjected to increased pressure and temperature

- coal is made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and varying amounts of sulphur.

Non-renewable Energy Source: Coal



Lignite Bituminous Anthracite

30% carbon 45-78% carbon 80-86% carbon

softest hardest

lowest energy output

greatest energy output

relatively low amounts of smog-

causing sulfur

highest sulfur content and sulfur dioxide is released

into the atmosphere.

The three main types of coal:

Smog = smoke + fog


Non-renewable Energy Source: CoalSmog: Sulfuric

- Sulfur smog started occurring in the 1800’s (Industrial Revolution). That was when coal was used for heating and smelting iron.

- In the Black Fog of London, 1852, thousands died of smog inhalation.

- The two ingredients in this smog, sulfur dioxide and water vapor, don’t become extremely harmful until they chemically react and then bond together. This combination is sulfuric acid.

- Smog of this sort is like acid rain, it eats away and vegetation and can erode specific buildings and statues.

http://airawareness.webs.com/smog.htm

By installing scrubbers and electrostatic precipitators in the smokestacks of power plants,

sulfur emissions lower have been lowered (though not eliminated totally).



EKC for sulfur dioxide was discussed



Smog: Photochemical

Photochemical smog refers to ground-level ozone (O3).

Ozone is formed when nitrogen oxides (primarily from vehicle exhaust) and volatile organic compounds (from paints, solvents, and fuel evaporation) interact in the presence of sunlight.

Ozone in the stratosphere protects earth from harmful UV radiation, ozone on the ground is hazardous to human health.

The catalytic converters break down the vehicular pollutants when they are

released through them. Nitrogen oxides are split into pure oxygen and nitrogen.

Water vapors and carbon dioxide are released instead of carbon particles.


- Sulfur contained in coal forms sulfur dioxide when burned.

- Harmful nitrogen oxides is also released into the air during coal burning.

- Heavy metals (such as lead, mercury, nickel, tin, cadmium, antimony and arsenic) are released into the environment during mining and burning of coal.

- Radio isotopes of uranium and thorium are also released.

- The toxic fly ash remaining after coal burning is also an environmental concern and is usually disposed into landfills.

- Coal sludge is the liquid generated by washing coal. It is disposed of at impoundments or directly injected back into abandoned underground mines.



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from solid fuel burningfrom liquid fuel burningfrom gas fuel burningfrom cement productionfrom gas flaring

Global CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels & the manufacture of cement (in 109 kg CO2):

Source: http://cdiac.ornl.gov/trends/emis/glo.html



of global primary energy needs in 2010.


29.6%

of global electricity needs is provided by coal.42%

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BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2011




Reserves-to-Production (R/P) ratios:

World proved coal reserves in 2010 were sufficient to meet 118 years of global production,

which is well below the 2000 value of 210 years.

World R/P ratio


Peak Coal


Source: TW Patzek and GD CroftA global coal production forecast with multi-Hubbert cycle analysisEnergy, Vol 35, Issue 8, August 2010, Pages 3109-3122


Coal is most cheaply mined from near-surface deposits using strip mining techniques.


Prof. R. Shanthini January 07, 2012 Source: www.wesjones.com/death.htm

Strip mining for coal (1) Blast hole

drilled, explosives

planted

(1) (2) (3)

(4) (5)

Cross-section of typical mountain and valley in Kentucky

Coal deposits


(2) Blast hole fractures

overburden

(1) (2) (3)

(4) (5)

Overburden: Foliage, top soil, rocks

Bench cuts made by blasting


Strip mining for coal


(3) OverburdenRemoved

by dragline excavator

(1) (2) (3)

(4) (5)





Prof. R. Shanthini January 07, 2012 Source: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/razingappalachia/mtop.html

Dragline excavator



(4) Overburden

Dumped into valley

(1) (2) (3)

(4) (5)






(5) Coal

removed

(1) (2) (3)

(4) (5)






Valley filled with spoil

Cross-section after mountaintop has been removed Nine men – that is all it

takes to bring this mountain low

Let us discuss the sustainability issues in

strip mining for coal


Prof. R. Shanthini January 07, 2012 http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/MountaintopRemoval/

Mountaintop removal coal mines have changed the shape, altitude, and ecology of large areas of the Appalachian coalfields. This photograph shows part of the Kayford Mountain Mine in West Virginia on October 22, 2006.

Prof. R. Shanthini January 07, 2012 http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/MountaintopRemoval/

Mountaintop removal coal mines have changed the shape, altitude, and ecology of large areas of the Appalachian coalfields. This photograph shows part of the Kayford Mountain Mine in West Virginia on October 22, 2006.



- Downstream of mountaintop removal and valley fill sites, water quality and stream life are often degraded.

- Water, streambed sediments, and fish tissue often harbor concentrations of potentially toxic trace elements, including nickel, lead, cadmium, iron, and selenium, that exceed government standards.

- The diversity of fish and other aquatic life declines. Hundreds of thousands of acres of some of the world’s most biologically diverse forests outside of the tropics have been lost or degraded, and, to date, efforts to restore them have had limited success.

- Valley fills have worsened flash flooding during heavy rain events. Blasting has cracked house foundations.

- Floods from the collapse of valley fills and coal sludge impoundments, though rare, have devastated some watersheds and communities.

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/MountaintopRemoval



In 2000, 60 out of the 170 million tons of coal mined in

West Virginia were from strip mines.

75% of West Virginia's streams and rivers are polluted by mining and other industries.

300,000 acres of hardwood forest in West Virginia have been destroyed by mountaintop removal practiced in strip mining.

Source: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/razingappalachia/mtop.html

Over 1000 miles of streams have been buried by strip mine waste in

Appalachian Mountains that run through 13 states.


- Sub-surface mining of coal is less damaging to the surface environment, but is much more hazardous for the miners due to tunnel collapses and gas explosions.



- Crude oil (liquid petroleum) forms underground in rock such as shale, which is rich in organic materials.

- After the oil forms, it migrates upward into porous reservoir rock such as sandstone or limestone, where it can become trapped by an overlying impermeable cap rock.

- Wells are drilled into these oil reservoirs to remove the gas and oil.

- Over 70 percent of oil fields are found near tectonic plate boundaries.

Non-renewable Energy Source: Crude Oil


- Primary stage of oil recovery involves pumping oil from reservoirs under the normal reservoir pressure. About 25% of the oil in a reservoir can be removed during this stage.

- Secondary oil recovery stage involves injecting hot water into the reservoir around the well. This water forces the remaining oil toward the area of the well from which it can be recovered.

- Tertiary stage of recovery is used in order to remove as much oil as possible. This involves pumping steam, carbon dioxide gas or nitrogen gas into the reservoir to force the remaining oil toward the well. It is known as enhanced oil recovery (EOR).



- EOR is very expensive and can cost up to half of the value of oil removed.

- Carbon dioxide used in this method remains sequestered in the deep reservoir, thus mitigating its potential greenhouse effect on the atmosphere.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)



Fuel Oil

Gasoline

Gas

TarDiesel

Lubricating Oil

Kerosene

NapthaNon-renewable Energy Source: Crude Oil

Crude Oil

http://images.google.lk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.1-as.com/upl/Image/Crude-oil.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.1-as.com/business/business2/oil-rises-as-cut.html&usg=__cVFDnCpYKlxdXw1FO2p5bphj5ko=&h=303&w=310&sz=55&hl=en&start=3&tbnid=nGdY1v9hdcpPGM:&tbnh=114&tbnw=117&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcrudeoil%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den


Fuel Oil

Gasoline

Gas

TarDiesel

Lubricating Oil

Kerosene

Naptha

Crude Oil

Distillation

Laboratory scale production


Industrial production

Crude oil distillation products

Carbon atoms

Boiling range

Petroleum Gas C1 to C4 < 40oC

Naphtha C5 to C9 60 to 100oC

Gasoline C5 to C12 40 to 205oC

Kerosene C10 to C18 175 to 325oC

Diesel (Gas Oil) C12 and more 250 to 350oC

Lubricating Oil C20 to C50 300 to 370oC

Fuel Oil (Heavy Gas) C20 to C70 370 to 600oC

Residuals C70 and more > 600oC



Products Uses

Petroleum Gas used for cooking, heating and making plastics

Naphtha intermediate that will be further processed to make gasoline

Gasoline motor fuel

Kerosene fuel for jet engines and tractors; starting material for making other products

Diesel (Gas Oil) used for diesel fuel and heating oil; starting material for making other products

Lubricating Oil used for motor oil, grease, other lubricants

Fuel Oil (Heavy Gas) used for industrial fuel; starting material for making other products

Residuals coke, asphalt, tar, waxes; starting material for making other products


Petrol

Kerosene

Diesel

Fuel oil

Lubricating oil

Paraffin Wax

Tar (Asphalt)

LPG

Furnace

Crude Oil

Distillation column






of global primary energy needs in 201033.5%

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- An equivalent amount of oil produces more kilowatts of energy than coal.

- CO2 emissions are lower than its energy equivalent coal.

- It also burns cleaner, producing about 50 percent less sulfur dioxide.

http://cnx.org/content/m16730/latest/



- Burning of oil releases atmospheric pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.

- These gases are smog-precursors that pollute the air and greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

- Substantial oil reserves lie under the ocean. Oil spill accidents involving drilling platforms kill marine organisms and birds.

- Some reserves such as those in northern Alaska occur in wilderness areas.

- The building of roads, structures and pipelines to support oil recovery operations can severely impact the wildlife in those natural areas.



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from solid fuel burningfrom liquid fuel burningfrom gas fuel burningfrom cement productionfrom gas flaring

Global CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels & the manufacture of cement (in 109 kg CO2):

Source: http://cdiac.ornl.gov/trends/emis/glo.html




World proved oil reserves

in 2010 were sufficient to

meet 46.2 years of global

production.

World R/P ratio





Production from Mexico's largest oilfield, Cantarell, fell

from 1.99 million b/d

in Jan 2006 to

1.44 million b/d in Dec 2006.

Source: http://www.hubbertpeak.com/mx/

Peak Oil



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Peak Oil

Prof. R. Shanthini January 07, 2012 Source: www.cartoonstock.com/directory/f/fossil_fuel.asp

Well number 34 has run dry and is now pumping fossils


Non-renewable Energy Source: Crude OilCrude oil prices since 1861US$ per barrel


$2010

Money of the day


- Oil shale is an organic-rice sedimentary rock with very fine pores that contain kerogen, a carbon-based, waxy substance.

- If shale is heated to 490º C, the kerogen vaporizes and can then be condensed as shale oil, a thick viscous liquid.

- This shale oil is generally further refined into usable oil products.

- Production of shale oil requires large amounts of energy for mining and processing the shale.

- About a half barrel of oil is required to extract every barrel of shale oil.


Non-renewable Energy Source: Oil Shale


- Oil shale is plentiful, with estimated reserves totaling 3 trillion barrels of recoverable shale oil.

- These reserves alone could satisfy the world's oil needs for about 100 years.

- Environmental problems associated with oil shale recovery include:

- large amounts of water needed for processing,

- disposal of toxic waste water, and

- disruption of large areas of surface lands.


Non-renewable Energy Source: Oil Shale


- Tar sands (oil sands) are a combination of clay, sand, water and bitumen (a heavy black viscous oil).

- This thick crude does not flow easily and thus normal oil recovery methods cannot be used to mine it.

- Tar sand deposits are mined, usually using strip mining or open pit techniques, if tar sands are near the surface.

- Tar sands are processed to extract the oil-rich bitumen, which is then refined into oil.

- In order to extract the oil from deep-seated tar sands, steam must be injected into the reservoir to make the oil flow better and push it toward the recovery well.

- The energy cost for producing a barrel of tar sand is similar to that for oil shale.


Non-renewable Energy Source: Tar Sands


- The largest tar-sand deposit in the world is in Canada (Alberta) and contains enough material (about 500 billion barrels) to supply the world with oil for about 15 years.

- Environmental problems associated with tar sands recovery include:

- greenhouse gas emissions and global warming

- impacts of wildlife and air and water quality

- large amounts of water needed for processing (several barrels of water for each barrel fo water produced)

- disposal of toxic waste water, and

- disruption of large areas of surface lands.


Non-renewable Energy Source: Tar Sands


Non-renewable Energy Source: Crude Oil & Oil Sands

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Non-renewable Energy Source: Natural Gas

of global primary energy needs in 201023.8%

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World proved oil reserves

in 2010 were sufficient to

meet 58.6 years of global

production.

World R/P ratio


Non-renewable Energy Source: Natural Gas

Prof. R. Shanthini January 07, 2012 Module 03 Energy Impacts Ecological impacts of energy generation from non-renewable energy sources in global & local.

Documents

coal smog

coal slide

nonrenewable energy

sulfuric sulfur smog

coal forms sulfur dioxide

sulfur emissions

coal ekc

temperature coal