Coal Erin McCoy

Katie Wagner

How does coal work? • combustible sedimentary rock • Mostly carbon and hydrocarbons• Energy locked in coal is released

when burned

http://www.ornl.gov/~pk7/pictures/c60.html

Where did it come from?• Energy from plants millions of

years ago• layers of dead plants at the

bottom of the swamps were covered by water & dirt

• Energy trapped • heat and pressure turns plant remains into coal

http://www.keepbanderabeautiful.org/coal.html

What is coal suited to do? • Most commonly

used to produce electricity

• Burned – heats water – creates steam – pressurized steam – turns turbine – produces electricity

http://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/niagara-applies-for-a-coal-hand-out.html

What is coal suited to do? • iron & steel

production• cement

manufacturing • coal tar production• home heating • industrial applications

requiring heat

http://www.qrbiz.com/buy_Coal-Tar-Solution

http://www.mexicaliindustrialpark.com/2011/?p=4392

How realistic is this energy currently?

• Most abundant, but nonrenewable

• 50% of US electricity

http://someinterestingfacts.net/facts-about-electricity/electricity-distribution/

The Future of Coal• Possibility of a coal powered car

with nearly no emissions, including CO2.

http://griid.org/2011/07/13/the-limits-of-green-capitalism-in-west-michigan/

http://www.thinkgreenliveclean.com/2010/07/electric-or-coal-powered-car-depends-where-you-plug-it-in/

The Future of Coal• Liang-Shih Fan –iron-oxide pellets

as an oxygen source; contain the reaction in a small chamber

• “oxidation” –chemical combination of a substance with oxygen.

• Waste - water and coal ash• Metal is recyclable

http://www.austpacresources.com/dri.php

The Advantages of Coal

• One of most abundant energy sources

• Relatively inexpensive. • Useful byproducts–iron & steel production–Cement manufacture–home heating

• Electricityhttp://www.jewishjournal.com/the_entrepreneur/item/thermostat_or_thermometer_how_do_you_function_20120821

The Advantages of Coal

• Can be stored safely to save for emergencies

• Power is not dependent on weather

• Reduces dependence on oil

http://www.tateoil.co.uk/blog/2011/10/coal-vs-heating-oil-bout-three/

The Disadvantages of Coal• Emits carbon dioxide, sulphur

dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphuric acids, arsenic, ash.

• Can lead to acid rain• Can scar landscape and cause wildfires

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/5257162/Power-plants-could-store-carbon-dioxide-under-North-Sea.html

The Disadvantages of Coal• requires an extensive

transportation system (pollution)

• Limited – will be entirely depleted this millennium if we continue to burn coal.

• Health difficulties for miners; very dangerous to mine

• Pollution

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miner

Questions

1. Which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of coal?A.Extensive transportationB.Health effects on minersC.It produces radioactive wasteD.Pollution2. True or False: Coal is not an abundant resource.A.TrueB.False – abundant and renewableC.False – abundant and nonrenewable

Questions

3. What is coal made of?A.Just CarbonB.Just HydrocarbonsC.Mostly OxygenD.Mostly Carbon and Hydrocarbons4. What is the main use for coal?A.Home heatingB.Powers carsC.ElectricityD.Industrial uses

Work cited

• http://www.mexicaliindustrialpark.com/2011/?p=4392

• http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_coal_used_for

• http://teeic.anl.gov/er/coal/restech/uses/index.cfm

• http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/02/27/could-clean-coal-power-cars/#ixzz2MX37GyX0

• http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/02/27/could-clean-coal-power-cars/

• http://fossil-fuel.co.uk/coal/advantages-of-coal• http://fossil-fuel.co.uk/coal/the-disadvantages-

of-coal