FUTURE FUELS

OUTLINE

QUEST FOR FUTURE FUELS TYPES OF FUTURE FUELS FUELS HOW THEY ARE PREPARED USES CONCLUSIONS REFERENCES

QUEST FOR FUTURE FUELS

Fuel resources that our planet hold is exhaustible and will end in the coming future

Rapid industrialization and massive growth in population has increased the dependence and use of natural fuels

Approximately 90% of our energy requirement are met by fossil fuels

This increase in energy consumption particularly in the past several decades has raised fears of exhausting vital natural resources

So this has placed a need for us to engage ourselves in search of fuels which would support us in the future when no fossil fuels are present

TYPES OF FUTURE FUELS

BIODIESEL

Derived from Soy bean, sunflowers, corn, olive, peanut, palm, coconut and animal fats

Has same vehicular performance as Diesel

Economical fuel source

It is sulfur free

Completely renewable fuel source

HOW IS IT PRODUCED

chemically reacting lipids (e.g., vegetable oil, animal fat )with an alcohol producing fatty acid esters which is biodiesel

USES

Mixed with diesel to reduce pollution

Can be directly used in vehicles

HYDROGEN

It is an emission less fuel

By-product of hydrogen burning is water

Stores up to 3x as much energy as conventional natural gas

If used in a car, it would take comparatively less to fill it up than a car running on standard fuel due to the hydrogen fuel cell efficiency

WAYS TO PRODUCE HYDROGEN

 hydrogen is usually produced by the steam reforming of methane or natural gas

CH4 + H2O → CO + 3 H2 + 191.7 kJ/mol

Partial oxidation of sub stoichiometric fuel-air mixture in a reformer, creating a hydrogen-rich syngas

C12H24 + 6 O2 → 12 CO + 12 H2

H2 is also produced by Coal Gasification yielding syngas

USES

H2 is widely used in fuel cells for electricity generation and vehicle propulsion

Widely used for Rocket Engines

ALCOHOL FUELS

They are convenient fuels for storing and transporting energy

Is a renewable energy source

Can be produced from a variety of feedstock such as sugar cane, potatoes, sweet potatoes, molasses, corn, etc.

Is a particulate-free burning fuel source

HOW IS IT PRODUCED

Methanol is produced from natural gas, although it can be produced from biomass using very similar chemical processes

Ethanol is commonly produced from biological material through fermentation processes

C6H12O6 → 2 C2H5OH + 2 CO2

USES

Most commonly used to power automobiles Additive for gasoline

NUCLEAR REACTORS

Nuclear power is a nuclear technology designed to extract usable energy from atomic nuclei via controlled nuclear reactions

Nuclear power is usually used by using a nuclear reactor to heat a working fluid such as water, which is then used to create steam pressure, which is converted into mechanical work for the purpose of generating electricity or propulsion in water

It is completely a pollution free source, however spent nuclear fuel poses a threat

HOW IS NUCLEAR FUEL PRODUCED

To prepare uranium for use in a nuclear reactor, it undergoes the steps of mining and milling, conversion, enrichment and fuel fabrication

USES

It is most widely used for electricity generation

TOPAZ nuclear reactor are built to minimize moving parts and use methods that convert nuclear energy to electricity directly making them useful for space missions

Naval vessels making use nuclear powered engines have come into existence

Nuclear powered crafts are under development

RADIOTHERMAL GENERATORS

Radio Thermal Generators produce electricity from

the decay of a radioisotope

Radioisotopes have been used as alternative fuels,

on both land and in space

The decay of radioisotopes generates both heat and electricity in many space probes, particularly probes to outer planets where sunlight is weak, and low temperatures is a problem

CONCLUSIONS

The future fuel sources are environment-friendly as opposed to fossil fuels

Throughout the year these sources are available without affecting the Environment

Using these fuels helps diminish Global Warming

Helps conserve natural resources

REFERENCES

“Alternate Fuels”. 20 september 2012. http://www.gvepinternational.org/en/business/biofuels

“Hydrogen”. 20 september 2012.

http://www.alternatefuels.com/hydrogen.htm

“Ethanol Fuel”. 20 september 2012.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuel

“Future Fuels”. 21 september 2012.

http://www.rac.co.uk/advice/car-knowledge/top-ten/top-10-future-fuels/