Coal as a Fuel Source

Questions and Answers

Nitrogen

Carbon (correct)

Hydrogen

Oxygen

It is not reactive with other substances

It is chemically inert (correct)

It is biodegradable

It absorbs infrared radiation

It absorbs infrared radiation and traps heat (correct)

It is broken down by ultraviolet radiation

It is converted back into coal

It mixes with oxygen to form water

The surface of the earth and the lower atmosphere warm up Signup and view all the answers

Because greenhouses trap heat Signup and view all the answers

It contributes to the buildup of carbon dioxide Signup and view all the answers

To make coal a cleaner source of energy Signup and view all the answers

Flue gas Signup and view all the answers

To remove impurities from coal Signup and view all the answers

To remove sulfur dioxide from flue gas Signup and view all the answers

Nitrogen oxide formation Signup and view all the answers

To reduce nitrogen oxide emissions Signup and view all the answers

A mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen Signup and view all the answers

Carbon capture and storage Signup and view all the answers

In depleted oil or gas fields Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Coal is a promising fuel for the future due to its abundance, with the US having approximately 486 billion short tons in 2007, enough to provide hundreds of years of energy.
Despite being a non-renewable fossil fuel that takes millions of years to form, coal is still widely available.

Coal is primarily composed of carbon and found underground, where it does not impact the environment when left undisturbed.
When coal is extracted and burned to generate electricity, it is converted to carbon dioxide, releasing pollutants into the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, absorbing infrared radiation and trapping heat, contributing to the greenhouse effect.
The buildup of carbon dioxide creates an invisible layer in the atmosphere, allowing sunlight to pass through while trapping heat, leading to global warming.

Coal washing is a preparation process that removes impurities by crushing coal into small chunks and washing it, separating coal from sulfur and other impurities.
Flue gas desulfurization systems (scrubbers) remove sulfur dioxide from flue gas, using limestone and water to combine with sulfur, forming a wet paste.
Low-NOx burners reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by restricting oxygen and manipulating the combustion process when coal is burned.
Gasification converts coal into a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which can generate electricity, while removing impurities from coal.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) involves capturing carbon dioxide after coal is burned, transporting it to permanent underground storage, preventing its release into the atmosphere.