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Fossil Fuels: Formation and Types

Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy resources formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals. The three main fossil fuels are coal, oil, and natural gas. Coal ranges from soft lignite to hard anthracite and is made of carbon and hydrogen. Oil is a liquid fossil fuel formed from animal and plant remains that is extracted as crude oil and refined. Natural gas is composed primarily of methane along with other gases and provides a cleaner burning fuel than coal or oil. Fossil fuels provide energy but are finite resources that are being depleted.

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252 views13 pages

Fossil Fuels: Formation and Types

Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy resources formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals. The three main fossil fuels are coal, oil, and natural gas. Coal ranges from soft lignite to hard anthracite and is made of carbon and hydrogen. Oil is a liquid fossil fuel formed from animal and plant remains that is extracted as crude oil and refined. Natural gas is composed primarily of methane along with other gases and provides a cleaner burning fuel than coal or oil. Fossil fuels provide energy but are finite resources that are being depleted.

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madara gamage
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Lecture 2

Fossil Fuels
What are Fossil fuels
Fossil Fuels are the energy rich substances formed
from the remains of once-living organisms.

The three major fossil fuels are

- coal

- oil

- natural gas.
How Fossil Fuels Are Formed
As fossil fuels are all derived from the remains of animals and plants, in
terms of chemical composition,

Principal constituents are carbon (C)and hydrogen (H).

other important constituents are nitrogen (N), oxygen (O) and sulfur
(S).

The global carbon cycle


We have a finite (limited) amount that is being depleted
Therefore,

Fossil fuels are


nonrenewable resources
Coal

Coal is a solid fossil fuel

It’s easy to transport

Types of coal:
- Lignite-soft coal; low in sulfur and produces less heat

- Sub-bituminous; intermediate grade coal between lignite and


bituminous. Low hear value and sulfur content.

- Bituminous- “soft coal” , high in sulfur and produces lots of heat

- Anthracite- “hard coal” that is low in sulfur and produces the most
heat and less pollution
Coal Ultimate Analysis
(elemental composition)
Carbon 60 - 96%
Hydrogen 2 - 6%
Nitrogen 1-2%
Sulfur 0.5 - 5%
Oxygen 1 - 30%
Oil

Oil is a thick, liquid fossil fuel, it is formed from remains of small


animals, algae and protists.

Petroleum is another name for oil.

When oil is first pumped out of the ground, it is called crude oil.

A factory where crude oil is separated into fuels and other products by
heating is called a refinery.

A very complicated liquid mixture of hydrocarbons

Liquid HCs start at C4-C5


Oil distillation
Some of the world’s most productive
sedimentary basins
Saudi Arabia

Kuwait

Alaska – north slope

Texas – Louisiana Gulf Coast

Iraq and Iran

Mexico

Venezuela
Natural gas
The third major fossil fuel is natural gas.

It is a mixture of methane and other gases.

oMostly methane, CH4 (60-80%)

oOthers: C2 HCs (5-9%), C3 HCs (3-18%), C4 HCs(2-14%)

Advantages:

o Provides lots of energy

o Lower levels of air pollutants than coal and oil

Disadvantage:

oHighly flammable
Fuel Calorific values
The calorific value of a fuel is the quantity of heat produced by
its combustion – at constant pressure and under normal”
 (standard) conditions (i.e. to 0oC and under a pressure of 1,013
mbar). Unit kcal/kg

Fuel Calorific Values


Natural gas 12500 kcal/kg
Propane-butane 11950 kcal/kg
Disel 10000 kcal/kg
Fuel oil 9520 kcal/kg
Brown coal 3500 kcal/kg
Woods 2500 kcal/kg
Example: Calculate the calorific value of the gas mixture 90%
methane and 10% butane by weight. Also calculate how much
CO2 produced by burning 1 kg of this gas mixture.

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