Chapter 15 Nonrenewable Energy. How Long Will the Oil Party Last? Saudi Arabia could supply the...

Chapter 15Chapter 15

Nonrenewable EnergyNonrenewable Energy

How Long Will the Oil Party Last? How Long Will the Oil Party Last?

Saudi Arabia could Saudi Arabia could supply the world with oil supply the world with oil for about 10 years.for about 10 years.

The Alaska’s North The Alaska’s North Slope could meet the Slope could meet the world oil demand for 6 world oil demand for 6 months (U.S.: 3 years).months (U.S.: 3 years).

Alaska’s Arctic National Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would Wildlife Refuge would meet the world demand meet the world demand for 1-5 months (U.S.: 7-for 1-5 months (U.S.: 7-25 months).25 months).

We have three options:We have three options: Look for more oil.Look for more oil. Use or waste less oil.Use or waste less oil. Use something else.Use something else.

TYPES OF ENERGY RESOURCESTYPES OF ENERGY RESOURCES

About 99% of the energy we use for heat About 99% of the energy we use for heat comes from the sun and the other 1% comes comes from the sun and the other 1% comes mostly from burning fossil fuels.mostly from burning fossil fuels. Solar energy indirectly supports wind power, Solar energy indirectly supports wind power,

hydropower, and biomass.hydropower, and biomass. About 76% of the commercial energy we use About 76% of the commercial energy we use

comes from nonrenewable fossil fuels (oil, comes from nonrenewable fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal) with the remainder natural gas, and coal) with the remainder coming from renewable sources.coming from renewable sources.


Nonrenewable energy resources and Nonrenewable energy resources and geothermal energy in the earth’s crust.geothermal energy in the earth’s crust.

Figure 16-2Figure 16-2


Commercial energy use by source for the Commercial energy use by source for the world (left) and the U.S. (right).world (left) and the U.S. (right).



Net energy is the Net energy is the amount of high-amount of high-quality usable quality usable energy available energy available from a resource from a resource after subtracting the after subtracting the energy needed to energy needed to make it available.make it available.

The higher the net energy The higher the net energy ratio, the greater the net ratio, the greater the net energy available. Ratios < 1 energy available. Ratios < 1 indicate a net energy loss.indicate a net energy loss.

OILOIL Crude oil (petroleum) is a thick liquid Crude oil (petroleum) is a thick liquid

containing hydrocarbons that we extract from containing hydrocarbons that we extract from underground deposits and separate into underground deposits and separate into products such as gasoline, heating oil and products such as gasoline, heating oil and asphalt.asphalt. Only 35-50% can be economically recovered Only 35-50% can be economically recovered

from a deposit.from a deposit. As prices rise, about 10-25% more can be As prices rise, about 10-25% more can be

recovered from expensive secondary extraction recovered from expensive secondary extraction techniques.techniques.• This lowers the net energy yield.This lowers the net energy yield.

OILOIL Refining crude oil:Refining crude oil:

Based on boiling Based on boiling points, components points, components are removed at are removed at various layers in a various layers in a giant distillation giant distillation column.column.

The most volatile The most volatile components with components with the lowest boiling the lowest boiling points are removed points are removed at the top.at the top.


OILOIL

Eleven OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Eleven OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) have 78% of the world’s Exporting Countries) have 78% of the world’s proven oil reserves and most of the world’s proven oil reserves and most of the world’s unproven reserves.unproven reserves.

After global production peaks and begins a After global production peaks and begins a slow decline, oil prices will rise and could slow decline, oil prices will rise and could threaten the economies of countries that threaten the economies of countries that have not shifted to new energy alternatives.have not shifted to new energy alternatives.

OILOIL

Inflation-adjusted price of oil, 1950-2006.Inflation-adjusted price of oil, 1950-2006.Figure 16-6Figure 16-6

Heavy Oils from Oil Sand and Oil Heavy Oils from Oil Sand and Oil Shale: Will Sticky Black Gold Save Us?Shale: Will Sticky Black Gold Save Us? Heavy and tarlike oils from oil sand and oil Heavy and tarlike oils from oil sand and oil

shale could supplement conventional oil, but shale could supplement conventional oil, but there are environmental problems.there are environmental problems. High sulfur content.High sulfur content. Extracting and processing produces:Extracting and processing produces:

• Toxic sludgeToxic sludge• Uses and contaminates larges volumes of waterUses and contaminates larges volumes of water• Requires large inputs of natural gas which reduces net Requires large inputs of natural gas which reduces net

energy yield.energy yield.

Oil ShalesOil Shales

Oil shales contain Oil shales contain a solid a solid combustible combustible mixture of mixture of hydrocarbons hydrocarbons called called kerogenkerogen..


NATURAL GASNATURAL GAS

Natural gas, consisting mostly of methane, is Natural gas, consisting mostly of methane, is often found above reservoirs of crude oil.often found above reservoirs of crude oil. When a natural gas-field is tapped, gasses are When a natural gas-field is tapped, gasses are

liquefied and removed as liquefied petroleum gas liquefied and removed as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).(LPG).

Coal beds and bubbles of methane trapped Coal beds and bubbles of methane trapped in ice crystals deep under the arctic in ice crystals deep under the arctic permafrost and beneath deep-ocean permafrost and beneath deep-ocean sediments are unconventional sources of sediments are unconventional sources of natural gas.natural gas.


Russia and Iran have almost half of the Russia and Iran have almost half of the world’s reserves of conventional gas, and world’s reserves of conventional gas, and global reserves should last 62-125 years.global reserves should last 62-125 years.

Natural gas is versatile and clean-burning Natural gas is versatile and clean-burning fuel, but it releases the greenhouse gases fuel, but it releases the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (when burned) and methane carbon dioxide (when burned) and methane (from leaks) into the troposphere.(from leaks) into the troposphere.


Some analysts see Some analysts see natural gas as the natural gas as the best fuel to help us best fuel to help us make the transition to make the transition to improved energy improved energy efficiency and greater efficiency and greater use of renewable use of renewable energy.energy.


COALCOAL

Coal is a solid fossil fuel that is formed in Coal is a solid fossil fuel that is formed in several stages as the buried remains of land several stages as the buried remains of land plants that lived 300-400 million years ago.plants that lived 300-400 million years ago.


Fig. 16-13, p. 369

Waste heat

Coal bunker TurbineCooling tower

transfers waste heat to

atmosphereGenerator

Cooling loop

StackPulverizing mill

Condenser Filter

Boiler

Toxic ash disposal

COALCOAL

Coal reserves in the United States, Russia, Coal reserves in the United States, Russia, and China could last hundreds to over a and China could last hundreds to over a thousand years.thousand years. The U.S. has 27% of the world’s proven coal The U.S. has 27% of the world’s proven coal

reserves, followed by Russia (17%), and China reserves, followed by Russia (17%), and China (13%).(13%).

In 2005, China and the U.S. accounted for 53% In 2005, China and the U.S. accounted for 53% of the global coal consumption.of the global coal consumption.

COALCOAL

Coal is the most Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel, abundant fossil fuel, but compared to oil but compared to oil and natural gas it is and natural gas it is not as versatile, has not as versatile, has a high environmental a high environmental impact, and releases impact, and releases much more COmuch more CO22 into into the troposphere.the troposphere.


COALCOAL

Coal can be converted into synthetic natural Coal can be converted into synthetic natural gas (SNG or syngas) and liquid fuels (such gas (SNG or syngas) and liquid fuels (such as methanol or synthetic gasoline) that burn as methanol or synthetic gasoline) that burn cleaner than coal.cleaner than coal. Costs are high.Costs are high. Burning them adds more COBurning them adds more CO22 to the troposphere to the troposphere

than burning coal.than burning coal.

COALCOAL

Since Since COCO22 is not is not regulated as an air regulated as an air pollutantpollutant and costs are and costs are high, U.S. coal-high, U.S. coal-burning plants are burning plants are unlikely to invest in unlikely to invest in coal gasification.coal gasification.


NUCLEAR ENERGYNUCLEAR ENERGY

When isotopes of uranium and plutonium When isotopes of uranium and plutonium undergo controlled nuclear fission, the undergo controlled nuclear fission, the resulting heat produces steam that spins resulting heat produces steam that spins turbines to generate electricity.turbines to generate electricity. The uranium oxide consists of about 97% The uranium oxide consists of about 97%

nonfissionable uranium-238 and 3% fissionable nonfissionable uranium-238 and 3% fissionable uranium-235.uranium-235.

The concentration of uranium-235 is increased The concentration of uranium-235 is increased through an enrichment process.through an enrichment process.

Fig. 16-16, p. 372

Small amounts of radioactive gasesUranium fuel

input (reactor core)

Control rodsContainment shell

Heat exchanger

Steam Turbine Generator

Waste heatElectric power

Hot coolant Useful energy

25%–30%Hot water outputPumpPump

Coolant Pump Pump

ModeratorCool water input

Waste heat

Shielding Pressure vessel

Coolant passage

Water CondenserPeriodic removal and storage of radioactive wastes and spent fuel assemblies

Periodic removal and storage of radioactive liquid wastes

Water source (river, lake, ocean)


After three or four After three or four years in a reactor, years in a reactor, spent fuel rods are spent fuel rods are removed and stored removed and stored in a deep pool of in a deep pool of water contained in a water contained in a steel-lined concrete steel-lined concrete container.container.



After spent fuel rods are cooled considerably, After spent fuel rods are cooled considerably, they are sometimes moved to dry-storage they are sometimes moved to dry-storage containers made of steel or concrete.containers made of steel or concrete.


Fig. 16-18, p. 373

Decommissioning of reactorFuel assemblies

ReactorEnrichment of UF6 Fuel fabricationFuel fabrication

(conversion of enriched UF(conversion of enriched UF66 to UOto UO22 and fabrication of and fabrication of fuel assemblies)fuel assemblies) Temporary storage of Temporary storage of

spent fuel assemblies spent fuel assemblies underwater or in dry underwater or in dry caskscasks

Conversion of U3O8 to UF6

Uranium-235 as UFUranium-235 as UF66 Plutonium-239 as PuOPlutonium-239 as PuO22

Spent fuel Spent fuel reprocessingreprocessing

Low-level radiation Low-level radiation with long half-lifewith long half-life

Geologic disposal of moderate &

high-level radioactive

wastesOpen fuel cycle today“Closed” end fuel cycle

Case Study: The Chernobyl Nuclear Case Study: The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant AccidentPower Plant Accident

The world’s worst nuclear power plant The world’s worst nuclear power plant accident occurred in 1986 in Ukraine.accident occurred in 1986 in Ukraine.

The disaster was caused by poor reactor The disaster was caused by poor reactor design and human error.design and human error.

By 2005, 56 people had died from radiation By 2005, 56 people had died from radiation released.released. 4,000 more are expected from thyroid cancer and 4,000 more are expected from thyroid cancer and

leukemia.leukemia.


Terrorists could attack nuclear power plants, Terrorists could attack nuclear power plants, especially poorly protected pools and casks especially poorly protected pools and casks that store spent nuclear fuel rods.that store spent nuclear fuel rods.

Terrorists could wrap explosives around small Terrorists could wrap explosives around small amounts of radioactive materials that are amounts of radioactive materials that are fairly easy to get, detonate such bombs, and fairly easy to get, detonate such bombs, and contaminate large areas for decades.contaminate large areas for decades.


When a nuclear reactor reaches the end of When a nuclear reactor reaches the end of its useful life, its highly radioactive materials its useful life, its highly radioactive materials must be kept from reaching the environment must be kept from reaching the environment for thousands of years.for thousands of years.

At least 228 large commercial reactors At least 228 large commercial reactors worldwide (20 in the U.S.) are scheduled for worldwide (20 in the U.S.) are scheduled for retirement by 2012.retirement by 2012. Many reactors are applying to extent their 40-Many reactors are applying to extent their 40-

year license to 60 years.year license to 60 years. Aging reactors are subject to embrittlement and Aging reactors are subject to embrittlement and

corrosion.corrosion.

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