AQA GCSE Coal, Oil and Gas
Coal, Oil and Gas
Most of our energy requirements are currently met by burning fossil fuels, such as Coal, Oil or Gas.
Fossil fuel power stations
In the boiler, the fossil fuel (coal, oil or natural gas is burnt to release energy. The energy heats water in the pipe to form steam, which drive the turbine, turning the generators to produce electricity.
The fossil fuel contains chemical energy store which is transferred by heating to the thermal energy store of water.
Thermal energy store of the water is transferred mechanically to kinetic energy store of the turbine.
The kinetic energy store of the turbine will transfer the energy mechanically to the kinetic energy store of the generator. The generator will transfer energy electrically along wires to national grid
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Reliable energy source | Combustion produces carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas, contributes to global warming |
| High energy density | Finite resource, which only has limited reserves |
| Convenient | Incomplete combustion produces carbon soot which causes breathing problems |
| Incomplete combustion produces carbon monoxide which is a toxic gas | |
| Combustion produces sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which contribute to acid rain |
Using the energy from fossil fuels
Coal can be burnt to release energy for:
Heating homes, using coal fires
Transportation, using steam trains
Producing electricity
Oil can be separated into fractions, these fractions can be used for:
Petrol and diesel are used for transportation in cars
Some homes are heated using oil boilers.
Oil fired power stations are used to produce electricity
Gas can be burnt to release energy for
Heating homes
Gas fired power stations are used to produce electricity
The electricity produced can be used for:
Heating of homes with electric heaters
Transportation (electric vehicles)
Electrical appliances
Practice Questions
1.Describe how a fossil fuel power station is used to produce electricity.
2. State different ways how we can heat our homes
3.State different ways that hot water can be produced for our home