Coal and Petroleum

• Introduction

  • Natural Resources
    • Inexhaustible (e.g., Sunlight, Air)
    • Exhaustible (e.g., Coal, Petroleum, Minerals)
  • Fossil Fuels
    • Formed from dead remains of living organisms
    • Limited availability

• Coal

  • What is it?
    • Hard, black combustible rock
  • Formation
    • Carbonisation: Slow conversion of dead vegetation over millions of years
    • High temperature and high pressure
  • Uses
    • Fuel for cooking and thermal power plants
    • Used in railways
  • Products of Processing (Industry)
    • Coke: Tough, porous, pure form of carbon; used in steel extraction
    • Coal Tar: Thick black liquid; used for synthetic dyes, explosives, plastics, and road surfacing
    • Coal Gas: Obtained during coke formation; used as fuel

• Petroleum

  • What is it?
    • Dark, oily liquid with an unpleasant smell ("Black Gold")
  • Formation
    • Formed from organisms living in the sea
    • Covered with layers of sand and clay, absence of air, high pressure/temperature over millions of years
  • Refining
    • Separation of various constituents/fractions
    • Processed in a Petroleum Refinery
  • Constituents & Uses
    • LPG: Fuel for home and industry
    • Petrol: Motor fuel, aviation fuel, dry cleaning
    • Kerosene: Fuel for stoves, lamps, and jet aircraft
    • Diesel: Fuel for heavy motor vehicles, electric generators
    • Lubricating Oil: Lubrication
    • Paraffin Wax: Ointments, candles, vaseline
    • Bitumen: Paints, road surfacing

• Natural Gas

  • What is it?
    • Very important fossil fuel, easy to transport via pipes
    • Stored under high pressure as CNG (Compressed Natural Gas)
  • Uses
    • Power generation
    • Fuel for transport (eco-friendly)
    • Starting material for chemicals and fertilizers

• Conservation of Resources

  • PCRA (Petroleum Conservation Research Association) Tips
    • Drive at a constant and moderate speed
    • Switch off engine at traffic lights
    • Ensure correct tyre pressure
    • Ensure regular maintenance of the vehicle
  • Why conserve?
    • Limited reserves
    • Burning causes air pollution and global warming