Guru
Introduction
According to Louis Ross, a fuel is any substance that provides energy output either through combustion or nuclear reaction. The useful features or characteristics of a fuel energy is primarily economic availability of energy which could be controlled and harvested in a planned manner for domestic and industrial activities. Fuels such as the wood, coal, charcoal, petrol, diesel, kerosene, producer gas and oil gas are some of the common fuels.
Notably within the turbulent energy, the concept of a “fuel” prompts a chain reaction of associations stretched from booming flames and roaring engines to crucial resources that pave the way for our modern world. Fuel have cemented themselves solidly as the bedrock of power development hence, they have profoundly powered industrial processes, powered vehicles and even lighten residency. This blog will guide you through the evolving canvas of fuel in all ramifications; nature of fuel, the source of fuel and the crucial impact it has in our daily lives.
Defining Fuel
Fundamental to the definition of energy is that a fuel is an energy medium that, in an exothermic burned or otherwise reacted with oxygen, produces energy to be useful. This energy primarily comes in the form of heat that we use to perform a plethora of functions ranging from running engines; to extracting electricity. Fossil fuels are divided into three categories depending on their state they can be either solid, liquid or a gas and further divided into origin such as fossil and renewables.
The specific fuels, which create thermal energy owing to the combustion process, are called chemical fuels. The process of combustion takes place when carbon, hydrogen, sulphur and phosphorous present in the fuel along with oxygen produce energy.
The specific fuels, which create thermal energy owing to the combustion process, are called chemical fuels. The process of combustion takes place when carbon, hydrogen, sulphur and phosphorous present in the fuel along with oxygen produce energy.
Fuel + `O_2` `rightarrow` Products + heat
`C+O_2rightarrow CO_2+heat`
`2H_2+O_2rightarrow2H_2O+heat`
However, combustion is not always necessary for a fuel to produce heat.Energy can also be liberated by fission or fusion of nuclei. This energy is much greater than the energy released by chemical fuels, and such fuels are termed as nuclear fuels. For example, plutonium, tritium,uranium, etc.
Classification of Fuels
Fuels can be classified on the basis of their
(1) occurrence
(2) physical state
1. On the basis of occurrence, fuels are of two types;
- Primary Fuels or Natural Fuels:These are found to occur in nature and are used as such either without processing or after being processed to a certain extent, which does not alter the chemical constitution of the fuel. These are also known as fossil fuels. Examples include wood, peat, lignite, coal, petroleum,natural gas, etc.
- Secondary Fuels or Derived Fuels:These are the fuels that are derived from primary fuels by further chemical processing, for example, coke, charcoal, kerosene, producer gas, water gas,etc.
2. On the basis of their physical state, fuels may be classified as follows:
- Solid fuels
- Liquid fuels
- Gaseous fuels
The classification can be summarised as shown in the following diagram.
Types of Fuels
1. Solid Fuels:
- Coal:A historically significant solid fuel, coal has powered industries and generated electricity for centuries. However, its use has raised environmental concerns due to emissions.
- Wood:A traditional and renewable solid fuel, wood has been used for heating and cooking for millennia. Today, it is still employed in many parts of the world.
2. Liquid Fuels:
- Petroleum Fuels:Derived from crude oil, liquid fuels like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel power a vast majority of transportation and industrial activities.
- Biofuels:Renewable alternatives like biodiesel and ethanol are derived from plant materials and are increasingly being used to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
3. Gaseous Fuels:
- Natural Gas:Composed mainly of methane, natural gas is a versatile gaseous fuel used for heating, cooking, and electricity generation.
- Hydrogen:An emerging and clean gaseous fuel, hydrogen has the potential to revolutionize energy systems when produced using renewable sources.
Sources of Fuels
1. Fossil Fuels
- Coal: The origin of coal dates from plant material that accumulated under early conditions in ancient marshlands and preservation of the buried mass into carbon-containing fossil fuel.
- Oil and Gas: Crude oil and the natural gas are fossil fuels formed from beings of marine microorganisms and power the greater part of the world’s power supplies.
2. Renewable Fuels
- Biofuels: Renewable sources of fuel that are manufactured from living matter, i.e. biofuels, come from plants, algae, or manure deposition from animals.
- Hydrogen: Hydrogen is available through techniques such as electrolysis and when it is generated using green energy, it can be considered a renewable fuel.
Fuels in Energy Production
1. Transportation
- Gasoline and Diesel: Power the internal combustion engines of cars, trucks, and similar commodities.
- Jet Fuel: Drives airplanes, allowing flying around the world.
2. Electricity Generation
- Coal: Also an important source in the past but many countries have started refrain usage due to environmental issues.
- Natural Gas: In power plants as a manner of efficient electricity generation.
- Renewable Fuels: Generation of electricity by biomass, wind, solar, and hydropower eliminates direct consumption of traditional forms of fuels.
3. Industrial Processes
- Fuels for Heating: Power industrial processes ranging from steel manufacture through to food preparation.
- Chemical Production: Since they serve as the precursors for a wide range of formation of diverse chemical elements and materials, products of their combustion form raw materials for the production of various chemicals and materials.
Environmental Considerations
While fuels have been instrumental in powering progress, their combustion often releases pollutants and greenhouse gases, contributing to environmental issues such as air pollution and climate change. This has led to a growing emphasis on developing cleaner and more sustainable fuel sources.
Characteristics of a Good Fuel
- High Calorific Value:A good fuel should possess high calorific value because calorific value determines the efficiency of the fuel. Higher the calorific value, greater is the heat liberated
per unit mass or volume.
- Ignition Temperature:It is the lowest temperature to which a fuel must be preheated so that it starts burning smoothly.An ideal fuel should have moderate ignition temperature.Low ignition temperature can cause fire hazards, making storage and transportation difficult.Fuel with low ignition temperature can burn spontaneously leading to explosion.High ignition temperature,on the other hand, makes it difficult to kindle (ignite) the fuel.
- Moisture Content:Moisture content should be low because the presence of moisture lowers the calorific value of the fuel.
- Non-combustible Matter: After combustion, the non-combustible matter is left behind as ash or clinkers. Non-combustible matter reduces the calorific value of the fuel and also requires additional money investment for storage, handling and disposal of the waste products produced.
- Velocity of Combustion:If the velocity of combustion is low,then a part of the liberated heat may get radiated instead of raising the temperature; hence, the required high temperature may not be attained. On the other hand, if the velocity of combustion is very high then the rate of combustion might become uncontrollable.For a continuous supply of heat, fuel must burn with a moderate
rate.
- Combustion Products:The products obtained during combustion of the fuel should be harmless and non-polluting. Harmful gases such as `CO_2`,`SO_2`,`H_2S`,`PH_3` and `PbBr_2` should not be produced, and also the amount of smoke produced should be less.
- Cost of the Fuel:A good fuel should be readily available at a low cost.
- Storage and Transportation:A good fuel should be easy to handle, store and transport at low cost.
- Size:In case of solid fuels, the size should be uniform so that combustion is regular.
- Combustion Should Be Controllable:The combustion process should be controllable, that is it can be started or stopped when required.
| S.No. | Solid Fuel | Liquid Fuel | Gaseous Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cheap and easily available | Costlier than solid fuel except in the countries of origin | Costly, because except natural gas all other gaseous fuels are derived from solid and liquid fuels |
| 2 | Convenient to store without any risk of spontaneous explosion | Great care must to be taken to store them in closed containers |
Very large storage tanks are needed. Storing gaseous fuel requires extra care as they are highly inflammable |
| 3 | Large space is required | Storage space is less compared with solid and gaseous fuels | They must be stored in leak proof containers |
| 4 | They are easy to transport | They can be easily transported through pipelines | They can also be transported through pipelines |
| 5 | They posses moderate ignition temperature. Combustion is slow but it cannot be controlled easily |
Combustion takes place readily and can easily be controlled or stopped by reducing or stopping the fuel supply |
Combustion is fast and can be controlled and stopped easily |
| 6 | Ash is produced and its disposal is a big problem. Smoke is also produced |
Ash is not produced, however fuels with high carbon and aromatic contents may produce smoke |
Neither ash nor smoke is produced |
| 7 | They cannot be used in internal combustion engine | Used in internal combustion engine (petrol, diesel) | Used in internal combustion engines (CNG, LPG) |
| 8 | They have low thermal efficiency | Their thermal efficiency is higher than solid fuels | Their thermal efficiency is the highest |
| 9 | Their calorific value is lowest | Their calorific value is higher than solid fuels | Their calorific value is the highest |
| 10 | Least risk of fire hazards | Risk of fire hazards is high | Highest risk of fire hazards |
Conclusion
Fuel, in its myriad forms, is a driving force that has shaped the course of human civilization. From the industrial revolution powered by coal to the modern era fueled by a mix of fossil and renewable sources, the journey through the world of fuel reflects our ongoing quest for efficient, sustainable, and cleaner energy solutions. As we navigate the complex challenges of the 21st century, the exploration and development of innovative fuels will continue to be a key frontier in our pursuit of a more sustainable and energy-efficient future.