Understanding Energy Sources: Types, Properties, and Applications
Understanding Energy Sources
Chemical Energy: The energy stored within the atoms that form molecules.
Electrical Energy: The energy resulting from the movement of electric charges.
Nuclear Energy: The energy that holds together the particles within the nuclei of atoms.
Radiant Energy: The energy transported by electromagnetic waves.
Sound Energy: The energy of vibration that travels through air molecules.
Classification of Energy Sources
By Nature:
- Primary Sources: Found in nature (e.g., coal, firewood, water, oil).
- Secondary Sources: Obtained from primary sources (e.g., electricity, petrol).
By Available Reserves:
- Renewable Sources: Reserves are unlimited because they regenerate (e.g., solar, wind, water).
- Non-Renewable Sources: Reserves are limited (e.g., coal, oil, natural gas, uranium).
By Level of Use:
- Conventional Sources: Sources that produce most of the energy for society (e.g., oil, natural gas, coal).
- Non-Conventional Sources: Sources that produce a fraction of the total energy consumed by society (e.g., solar, wind).
Combustible Materials
Substances that release heat energy when combined with oxygen.
- Solid: Coal, anthracite.
- Liquid: Oil, methanol.
- Gas: Natural gas and petroleum gases.
Calorific Value
The energy emitted during fuel combustion.
Heat Capacity
The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance by 1°C.
Types of Coal
- Lignite: Low calorific value, located 1,000 meters deep, often exploited in opencast mines.
- Bituminous Coal: High calorific value, waterproof, and easy to distill. Found at 3,000 meters deep.
- Anthracite: The oldest coals with the highest calorific value, located 6,000 meters deep, and with very little quantity.
Applications of Coal and Oil
Coal Applications
- As a Fuel for General Use: Used directly without any change.
- For Dry Distillation Process: Subjected to high temperatures to obtain:
- Coke: Fuel used in the steel industry.
- Gas-city: Domestic fuel use.
- Chemicals: Oils and tar.
- Gasification Process: Reaction of coal with hot steam to produce:
- Natural gas: Synthetic gas subjected to a gasification process.
- Hydrocarbons: Gas subjected to high pressures.
Oil
A variable-colored liquid less dense than water, consisting of a mixture of hydrocarbons. Crude oil has no direct application; its components must be separated by distillation.
Origin of Petroleum
Began forming 600 million years ago through the accumulation of microorganisms that formed marine plankton. The organic matter was trapped in phases:
- Aerobic bacteria: Microscopic organisms that need oxygen to develop.
- Anaerobic bacteria: Microscopic organisms that do not need oxygen.
The liquid moves inside the rocks, reaching impermeable rocks where it forms deposits or pockets of oil.
Localization and Extraction
Drilling is necessary to determine the presence of oil. A drill tower is built, and a well test is opened using metal structures. Once the rock is crossed, if oil is present, more wells are opened to determine the oil content of the pocket, and the amount of crude oil obtained is analyzed. If the assessment is positive, extraction can be natural or artificial.
- Natural Extraction: Oil is pressed through the tube and rises spontaneously.
- Artificial Extraction: Water is introduced into sounding tubes, forcing the oil to the surface, or pumps are used.