Energy Sources

Non-Renewable Sources:

Fossil Fuels

• Coal

• Crude Oil

• Natural Gas

Nuclear Power

Hydrogen Energy

Clean Coal Technology

Renewable Sources:

Solar Energy

• Solar Panels (PVCs)

Wind Energy

Biomass

•   Biodiesel

•   Ethanol

•     Biogas

Hydroelectric Power

Tidal Energy

Geothermal Energy

Wave Energy

Energy Conservation:

Energy Efficiency

Fossil Fuels - Crude Oil (Petroleum)

Crude oil  or  "unprocessed" is a fossil fuel formed deep down in the ground from the remains of plants and animals from pre-historic times. It is also referred to as petroleum. It comprises of a mixture of several hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons are molecules containing carbon and hydrogen bonds.

In crude oil, the hydrocarbon molecules are of different sizes. Some are very small (having small chain lengths) while others are large with very many C-H chains. The smallest hydrocarbon in crude oil is methane - CH4, which is a very light gas, much lighter than air. Other smaller hydrocarbons are BTEX - Bezene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and xylenes. These substances are volatile and possess low boiling points of around 40 - 85 C.

To make the components of crude oil useful, they have to be separated into their respective fractions by a procedure called fractional distillation. This is achieved in a fractional distillation column. The small chains, usually gaseous molecules come out at the top while the liquid medium chain molecules come out at the middle and the solid remains at the bottom.

Crude oil prospecting is done to establish locations that have crude oil stored underground. The crude oil is then pumped out from the ground through the system of wells and pipes to the distillation station where the crude oil is separated into into various components.

Crude oil fractions include: - Naptha, gasoline, kerosines, gas oil or diesel, lubricating oil, and heavy gas oil.

These substances, undoubtedly, have been the drivers of the World's economy for centuries. In other words, crude oil have been an important resource to humanity. However, because it produces pollution like other fossil fuels and the fact the it is non-renewable, it is necessary to find other energy source replacement.

Crude Oil is burned at a power station just like coal to generate heat to generate the steam that drives a turbine connected to the generator that generate electricity

Crude Oil is burnt in the power plant to release heat. The heat released boil water until it turns to steam The steam generated is used to spin a turbine at fast speed. As the turbine spins, the ROTOR of an electrical generator attached to the turbine also spins at fast speed against the STATOR which is a coil of copper wire. The relative movement of the ROTOR and the STATOR generates the flow of electrons or electricity. The electricity flows through the STATOR to the generating station where it can be stepped up and transmitted to the end-users.

Besides use in powering power plants, other components of such as gasoline and diesel has been used to run cars and produce heat for domestic and industrial needs. Like other fossil fuels, crude oil is not good for the environment as it produces pollution, mainly CO2 which is one of the greenhouse gases scientists have said cause global warning. Consequently alternative/renewable energy sources are being advocated to replace crude oil components. For instance, car manufacturers are now manufacturing cars that will use ethanol or ethanol/gasoline blended (gasohol) instead of gasoline, while diesel fuelled vehicles are being replaced by biodiesel vehicles.

The push for these alternative energy sources are getting stronger by the day with substantial research funding into the manufacturing of the alternatives to oil. 

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