Throughout last month, our class learned much more about the different types of non-renewable energy forms that are widely used today, being nuclear, coal, crude oil, and natural gas.
Electricity from nuclear energy is produced through a system that contains a reactor, turbine, water source, and generator. To produce energy, water inside of the reactor is heated, which then produces steam to power up the turbine, causing a flow of energy to be transmitted to the generator, and therefore producing electricity.The main advantages of nuclear energy are that the use of coal decreased, no carbon is emitted, and there are no greenhouse gases released. The disadvantages, however, are that nuclear energy impacts Arctic melting, actually using radioactive waste, space is used for nuclear plants, and is widely used in weapons. When it comes to the environment, nuclear energy destroys land since it requires uranium, which is found underground, and also releases radioactive waste released, destroying our atmosphere and increasing risks of cancer in humans.
To produce energy from coal, it is necessary to ensure that the coal is separated from other minerals that may be mixed in, which requires flotation and smelting. Once the coal and minerals are separated, the coal is burned to produce energy. The number one advantage of using coal as an energy source is that it is incredibly cheap, and is relatively easy to find. On the flip side, coal requires a massive amount of land to be destroyed, and has proven to affect human health by causing black lung disease. Coal's environmental impacts include: air & water contamination, increased carbon dioxide emissions, and the disruption of many underground ecosystems.
To produce energy from crude oil, the process is slightly similar to that of nuclear energy. The oil is first burned, causing the water of a system to be heated and create steam, powering a turbine, and producing electricity. The only major advantage that one can see in crude oil is that it is easily accessible, and is used in everyone's daily life. The disadvantages include that burning crude oil contributes to air pollution, and has also become more expensive to import and use for electricity. One major environmental impact of crude oil is that carbon emissions increase when burnt, contributing to air pollution. In addition, dead zones are created underwater since the forming oil completely blocks out oxygen and sunlight for living organisms.
For natural gases, the production of electricity is the same as electricity production in nuclear energy and crude oil, and burns fossil fuels to start the process. For the US, natural gases are the most commonly used source of non-renewable energy, and is used mostly in industry. Although natural gases are important for the US, they can easily cause explosions, and their release into atmosphere contributes heavily to the greenhouse effect. In the environment, natural gas emissions contribute to the increase in glacier melting, and ozone layer depletion. What many people do not really recognize about natural gases is that they are able to stay in the atmosphere for extended periods of time, which contributes to the issue of global warming.
Electricity from nuclear energy is produced through a system that contains a reactor, turbine, water source, and generator. To produce energy, water inside of the reactor is heated, which then produces steam to power up the turbine, causing a flow of energy to be transmitted to the generator, and therefore producing electricity.The main advantages of nuclear energy are that the use of coal decreased, no carbon is emitted, and there are no greenhouse gases released. The disadvantages, however, are that nuclear energy impacts Arctic melting, actually using radioactive waste, space is used for nuclear plants, and is widely used in weapons. When it comes to the environment, nuclear energy destroys land since it requires uranium, which is found underground, and also releases radioactive waste released, destroying our atmosphere and increasing risks of cancer in humans.
To produce energy from coal, it is necessary to ensure that the coal is separated from other minerals that may be mixed in, which requires flotation and smelting. Once the coal and minerals are separated, the coal is burned to produce energy. The number one advantage of using coal as an energy source is that it is incredibly cheap, and is relatively easy to find. On the flip side, coal requires a massive amount of land to be destroyed, and has proven to affect human health by causing black lung disease. Coal's environmental impacts include: air & water contamination, increased carbon dioxide emissions, and the disruption of many underground ecosystems.
To produce energy from crude oil, the process is slightly similar to that of nuclear energy. The oil is first burned, causing the water of a system to be heated and create steam, powering a turbine, and producing electricity. The only major advantage that one can see in crude oil is that it is easily accessible, and is used in everyone's daily life. The disadvantages include that burning crude oil contributes to air pollution, and has also become more expensive to import and use for electricity. One major environmental impact of crude oil is that carbon emissions increase when burnt, contributing to air pollution. In addition, dead zones are created underwater since the forming oil completely blocks out oxygen and sunlight for living organisms.
For natural gases, the production of electricity is the same as electricity production in nuclear energy and crude oil, and burns fossil fuels to start the process. For the US, natural gases are the most commonly used source of non-renewable energy, and is used mostly in industry. Although natural gases are important for the US, they can easily cause explosions, and their release into atmosphere contributes heavily to the greenhouse effect. In the environment, natural gas emissions contribute to the increase in glacier melting, and ozone layer depletion. What many people do not really recognize about natural gases is that they are able to stay in the atmosphere for extended periods of time, which contributes to the issue of global warming.
Check this link for my infographic about Coal Gasification!: https://create.piktochart.com/output/28047032-new-piktochart
Check this link for a Padlet on Fracking!: https://padlet.com/vzehnder18/7xowo6fbqajp