What kind of fossil fuels

Energy gained from burning fossil fuels is converted to electricity and heat in commercial power plants. When fossil fuels are burned carbon and hydrogen react with oxygen in air to carbon dioxide CO 2 and water H 2 O.

During this reaction heat is released which further amplifies the reaction. Electricity is generated by transforming mechanical energy heat to electrical energy in a turbine or generator.

Power plants are very expensive to build, but once they are present efficiency in converting fuel to energy is very high. Most of the time more electricity is created than is actually needed, because electricity cannot be stored. Electricity demands vary throughout the year and provision must meet the peak load , which means the highest possible demand within a year.

If demands significantly exceed a power plant's capacity to generate energy this may cause temporary blackouts. Historically, fossil fuels were available in plentiful supply that was easy to obtain and transport.

But now signals are given that the supply is running out and that it will take centuries to be replenished. Both sources and sinks of fossil fuels are limiting in their use. Sources are deep earth layers and sinks are for example air and water, which absorb fossil fuel waste products. Burning fossil fuels is responsible for environmental issues that are high on the political agenda these days. Examples are greenhouse gas accumulation, acidification, air pollution, water pollution, damage to land surface and ground-level ozone.

These environmental problems are caused by release of pollutants that are naturally present in fossil fuel structures, such as sulphur and nitrogen.

Natural gas does not release as much carbon dioxide because of its methane structure. The largest emissions are cause by coal combustion. Coal may result in underground fires that are virtually impossible to extinguish. Coal dust can even explode. This makes coal mining a very dangerous profession. Oil may end up in soil or water in raw form, for example during oil spills or wars.

This has caused many natural disasters in the past. Why than are we still using fossil fuels to such a large extend? The answer is simple; because this is cheaper than any type of reasonable alternative we now know. Some environmental scientists predict that fossil fuel prices will increase in the coming century because of scarcity.

This may cause an eventual transfer to renewable energy sources. According to Bjorn Lomborg , this will eventually happen. The IPCC is not sure whether a fossil fuel future can be entirely ruled out. McKinney, M. Miller, G. Climate change glossary. Carbon capture is an important part of the Energy Department's Fossil Energy research and development efforts, but how does it work?

This infographic breaks it down for you. Quiz: Know Your Power Plants. Think you know where coal, solar and other power plants are located around the country? Test your knowledge with our power plants quiz! Our water and energy systems are closely interlinked. Water is used in all phases of energy production and electricity generation and energy is required to treat and distribute water.

Researchers at the National Energy Technology Laboratory developed a new catalyst for turning CO2 into fuel that is much cheaper and works much better than the platinum used today. Coal formation stage. Source: U. Energy Information Administration. The oil and gas we use today was formed by the decay of microscopic plants and animals that lived in the ocean millions of years ago.

As these plants and animals died they fell to the bottom of the ocean and formed layer after layer of sediment covered by sand and mud. In some areas where there is little tidal movement such as lakes or seas the plants and animals begin to decay in the absence of oxygen. As the layers build up the weight increases and the sediment is pushed further down, this increases both the temperature and pressure. With all of these factors combined the decayed plants and animals form oil and gas deposits.

In some cases these deposits rise to the surface and seep out into soil and water. In other cases the oil and gas deposits are trapped under impermeable layers of rock and drilling is necessary. Natural gas consists mainly of Methane CH 4 but can also contain other gases such as Butane and Propane.

Oil and gas formation stages. Peat is a very young form of coal, if left for a long period of time peat will eventually form coal. Peat was formed by the decay of plants and in some cases trees. These plants accumulated and decayed over hundreds of thousands of years in waterlogged areas. Peat formed in areas where there was poor drainage. When the last ice-age ended and ice melted it left behind glacial features such as eskers and moraines. These features are evident in the topography of Ireland, especially the midlands, and lead to poor drainage of the soil.

This poor drainage along with continual growth of vegetation, high levels of rainfall and a low levels of oxygen lead to the formation of peatlands.. Fossil fuels are burned to produce energy. In large power stations they are burned in the presence of oxygen. As the fuel burns the heat energy is used to heat water, as it is heated it produces steam which in turn rises and drives a turbine. The energy conversion goes from chemical energy stored in the fuels, to heat energy as it burns which is converted to kinetic energy as it drives large turbines and finally this is converted to electrical energy.

The problem with burning fossil fuels is their effect on the environment. As mentioned fossil fuels are Hydrocarbons. When hydrocarbons are burned in the presence of oxygen they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a Greenhouse Gas and is a leading cause of Global Warming.

Fossil fuels are also used in the petrochemicals industry, here the fossil fuels are used to make plastics, paints and even medication. Ireland has a history of coal mining in areas of Leinster including Kilkenny, Carlow and Laois. The Arigna coal mine in Co. Roscommon opened in the late 18th century and ran up as far as the 's.