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Questions and Answers
What is the primary component of coal?
What is the primary component of coal?
- Sulfur
- Hydrogen
- Oxygen
- Carbon (correct)
Which fossil fuel produces almost twice as much CO2 emissions as natural gas per GJ?
Which fossil fuel produces almost twice as much CO2 emissions as natural gas per GJ?
- Oil
- Natural Gas
- Coal (correct)
- Peat
What is the primary use of coal worldwide?
What is the primary use of coal worldwide?
- Fueling cars
- Running steam trains
- Heating houses
- Production of electricity (correct)
In what geological period was coal formed?
In what geological period was coal formed?
What are coal beds or coal seams?
What are coal beds or coal seams?
Which fossil fuel is considered the dirtiest?
Which fossil fuel is considered the dirtiest?
What is one of the typical uses of coal?
What is one of the typical uses of coal?
Which fossil fuel has the highest energy content per kilogram?
Which fossil fuel has the highest energy content per kilogram?
Which industry is NOT typically associated with the use of coal?
Which industry is NOT typically associated with the use of coal?
What is a primary use of natural gas?
What is a primary use of natural gas?
Apart from electrical power generation, which industry is commonly associated with coal use?
Apart from electrical power generation, which industry is commonly associated with coal use?
Which type of coal has the lowest carbon content?
Which type of coal has the lowest carbon content?
What is the average energy content of coal in terms of MJ/kg?
What is the average energy content of coal in terms of MJ/kg?
Which country is classed as one of the biggest users of coal?
Which country is classed as one of the biggest users of coal?
Which method of extracting coal is considered the most dangerous job in the US?
Which method of extracting coal is considered the most dangerous job in the US?
What type of coal is burned in power plants to produce steam for electricity production?
What type of coal is burned in power plants to produce steam for electricity production?
What percentage of global coal is used for electricity production?
What percentage of global coal is used for electricity production?
What is the main component of coal?
What is the main component of coal?
Which type of coal has the least energy content?
Which type of coal has the least energy content?
What is the primary use of coal?
What is the primary use of coal?
Which environmental impact is NOT associated with coal?
Which environmental impact is NOT associated with coal?
Where is coal mainly mined?
Where is coal mainly mined?
What type of coal is used as a key fuel for the production of steel and cement?
What type of coal is used as a key fuel for the production of steel and cement?
At what temperature is Bituminous coal heated in the absence of oxygen to produce pure carbon for melting steel?
At what temperature is Bituminous coal heated in the absence of oxygen to produce pure carbon for melting steel?
Which type of coal is used in electric power plants to generate steam for creating electricity?
Which type of coal is used in electric power plants to generate steam for creating electricity?
What is the main environmental concern associated with the burning of coal?
What is the main environmental concern associated with the burning of coal?
What percent of global coal usage is attributed to the steel industry?
What percent of global coal usage is attributed to the steel industry?
What distinguishes charcoal from other fuel-coal types like coal and coke coal?
What distinguishes charcoal from other fuel-coal types like coal and coke coal?
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Study Notes
Fossil Energy - Coal
- Coal is the "dirtiest" of the fossil fuels, with an energy content of 29MJ/kg.
- It is primarily used for electrical power generation, steel and cement industry, direct heating of buildings, and materials production.
Origin and Formation of Coal
- Coal is a brownish-black combustible sedimentary rock, formed from fossilized plant matter.
- It was formed during the Carboniferous period, 300-350 million years ago.
Types of Coal
- There are four main types of coal:
- Lignite (brown coal): 150M years old, 30% carbon content, lowest energy content.
- Sub-bituminous: 150M-300M years old, 40% carbon content, higher energy content.
- Bituminous (black/hard coal): 300M years old, 50-80% carbon content, higher energy content.
- Anthracite (black/hard coal): 350M years old, >95% carbon content, highest energy content.
World Coal Reserves
- Coal is more widespread globally than oil and gas, with >850bn tonnes of reserves.
- The reserves are split 50/50 between high and low-quality coal.
- Coal is a cheap fuel for energy production, with less complex refining and processing than oil and gas.
Extraction and Uses of Coal
- Coal can be extracted through underground mining or surface mining (strip mining).
- The largest users of coal are the US, China, Russia, India, Germany, and Australia.
- Coal is mainly used for electricity production (68%), with the remaining 32% used for steel production (7%), cement production (5%), and other industries.
Environmental Impacts of Coal
- Coal mining has a huge environmental footprint, including:
- Landscape alteration and mine tailings from mining.
- Air pollution and climate change from burning coal.
- Water pollution from coal washing.
- Thermal pollution from cooling water.
- Waste production from power plants, including toxic ash.
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