FOSSIL FUEL
Introduction:
This is a report regarding a research that we as groups at our college
have conducted successfully on the types of fuel oils which exist in our world
and their properties, characteristics as well as applications in our world. We
have conducted experimental tests in a lab to find out the different properties
which may lead us to guess the type of fuel oil that we are working on
according to certain chemical and physical properties which exclude this type
of fuel oil from others existed. Luckily we were able to find out the type of
fuel oil we were working on by comparing our data and findings to the real
properties of all different types of fuel oils that exist. So let’s take a look
first on the background of fossil fuel and the types of fuel oils existed,
their characteristics and applications in real life and then talk about the
negative impact of fossil fuel on the environment and the living organisms and
then mention the alternatives to fossil fuels and finally discuss our
experimental test and
findings.
People around the world use fuel for energy resources. The non renewable
ones which people often use to produce energy are called fossil fuels. It fuels
formed by natural processes such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead
organisms (Fossil fuel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 2013). These fuels have unfortunately become so essential in people’s lives
and millions of houses and businesses around the globe mainly depend on them
for energy. There are many different types of fossil fuels existed in the
world. Mainly speaking there are three different types including natural gas,
coal and crude oil. A look back at the history of fossil fuels we can easily
figure out that places where little animals and populated plants which died and
decayed in the underground were believed by scientists to be the home of fossil
fuels. This was mainly due to the creation of layers of organic materials which
happened when their dead bodies decomposed.
Fuel oil is often referred to the fraction of fuel which is obtained during the
distillation of petrol or during the residue of petrol as well. It is a liquid
petroleum product which is often burned in a boiler to generate heat and
eventually power. One type of fuel oil is diesel. It is made through a long
chain of hydrogen. Second type is residual fuel, but it is less used because it
high viscosity and it need to heat up by using special heating method before
used and it contains high amounts of sulfur which it effect the environment.
The common use of this type of oil is that it heats homes and businesses and fuels
trucks ships and some cars. A small amount of electricity is produced by
diesel, backup fuel for peaking power plants in case the supply of natural gas
is interrupted and the main fuel for small electrical generators
(Fuel oil - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 2013).
Jet fuel or aviation
turbine fuel is a type of aviation fuel designed for
use in aircraft powered by gas-turbine engines. It is colorless to
straw-colored in appearance. Jet fuel is a mixture of a large number of
different hydrocarbons. Jet oil is commonly used for commercial aviation. It can
used in civilian turbine-engine powered aviation is Jet B which is used for its
enhanced cold-weather performance (Jet fuel -
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 2013).
The term turbine oil is often called and referred to any oil
that is often found in bearings and machines. Its common uses are to lubricate
the bearings and auxiliary machinery and synthetic turbine oils are used in
control systems of high-power steam turbines (Turbine
Oil definition of Turbine Oil in the Free Online Encyclopedia 2013).
Gear oil is lubricant
oil that is often made specifically machineries. Its common
uses are mainly for transmissions transfer cases and differentials in
automobiles, trucks, and other machinery. It is also used to protect the gears
and usually is associated with a strong sulfur smell (Gear
oil - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 2013).
Transformer oil or insulating oil is usually a
highly-refined mineral oil which is more stable at high temperatures and it has
good electrical insulating characteristics. It is used in oil-filled
transformers and high voltage capacitors fluorescent lamp ballasts (Transformer
oil - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 2013).
Testing
description:
API gravity: after check the temperature by thermometer, use a funnel and pour the
sample into the hydrometer cylinder until it is about ¾ full. Then put a
hydrometer with an (SG rang 0.8 to 0.9), let it go you can give the hydrometer
a small spin to help it stabilize. Finally take reading from hydrometer and
make calculation to calculate API gravity. Do it for three times to get more
accurate result.
Cloud point: pour the oil sample into the test jar, put the jacket with
the test jar and sample into warmest section of the cooler (1.8C), let sample
cool. After check the sample every (1C) until found a cloud or haze at the
bottom of the test jar. Finally if you see a cloud forming write dawn the
temperate. Do it for three times to get more accurate result.
Pour point: pour the first oil sample into the coldest section of the test jar
cooler (-34C) and let the sample cool all the way to (-34C) until become solid.
Then put the sample into the next section (-18C) and check it every (3C) by
taking it out of the copper jacket and tipping it over and watch it for 5
seconds. If the oil starts to flow, you have reached the pour point.
Viscosity: placed 2 viscometers with oil sample into oil path then when oil bath
and samples are at the correct temperature you may start talking viscosity
measurements by use a stopwatch to time how long it takes for the oil to flow
from the top line to the bottom line.
Flash point: First, put the sample on Cleveland Open Cup Apparatus which consist
with the cup, heating plate, test flame applicator and heater. Then expose fire
into sample until sample start catch the fire. Finally write down the
temperate.
Source for all tests (ASTM
International - Standards Worldwide 1996)
Experimental
data:
|
|
Physical appearance
|
Refractive index
|
API gravity
|
Viscosity
(cSt)
|
Flash point
|
Cloud point
|
Pour point
|
TAN
(Total acid number)
|
|
Sample #4
|
Light yellow
Lubricating oil smell
|
1.4717
|
32
|
40 C◦= 33.97
100 C◦= 6.78
|
207 C◦
|
NA
|
-30 C◦
|
0.09
mg KOH/g
|
Viscosity
at 40 C◦:
|
X
|
X
|
(X-X)
|
(X-X)2
|
|
34.1
|
33.97
|
0.13
|
0.0169
|
|
33.8
|
33.97
|
0.17
|
0.0289
|
|
34
|
33.97
|
0.03
|
9*10-4
|
|
|
|
|
0.3068
|
Viscosity
at 100 C◦:
|
X
|
X
|
(X-X)
|
(X-X)2
|
|
6.80
|
6.78
|
0.02
|
4*10-4
|
|
6.80
|
6.78
|
0.02
|
4*10-4
|
|
6.74
|
6.78
|
-0.04
|
1.6*10-3
|
|
|
|
|
2.4*10-3
|
BECAUSE BOTH RESULTE ˂ 2% THAT MEAN BOTH RESULTE ARE PRECISE
Discussion:
I can say that the
experimental process as a whole was a successful one indeed. However, few
problems occurred and that did not stop us from working on and continuing our
analysis and research. One of the problems was mainly happening during the
literature research. We had a difficult time finding the same actual results.
Every time we surf the net we find different numbers in different websites
which really frustrated us. We also had a hard time finding the viscosity of
few oils. As for the real lab research we can say that we felt good for our
findings. One problem we encountered was that we had to re test the TAN twice
because we didn’t find the answer in the computer the first time. Going back to
the results and according to the data and findings which we have conducted on
our sample we can say that the results are mostly close to the oil of being
turbine oil. This was due to different reasoning. Firstly speaking the TAN
number which we found was 0.09 and this number is mostly close t Turbine fuel
which has a TAN number of 0.08. Secondly speaking the Flash point which we had
taken earlier refers to 207 degree and this is a very close result to the flash
point of 224 degree of Turbine oil. For the reasons why we didn’t choose other
oils to be our sample we can say the following clues and proofs. Firstly it is
not gas oil because gas oil has a much less flash point of 66 degrees compared
to 207 of our sample. Also it is not jet fuel because the TAN of jet fuel is
0.015 and this number is not even close to 0.09 TAN of our sample. Furthermore,
the sample is not transformer oil because the sample is 0.09 compared to 0.014
TAN of transformer oil. Finally it is not gear oil for the same reason. The TAN
of gear oil is 0.05 and that also is not close to 0.09 of our sample.
The negative environmental impact of fossil fuel can be summarized by
the effect of combustion of these fossil fuels which is considered to be the
largest contributing factor to the release of greenhouse gases into the
atmosphere. (Every year politicians tell us we are going to cut our reliance on
fossil fuels, and every year consumption increases (Fossil Fuels -
Environmental Impact of Oil, Petrol, Gas & Coal & Future use | Du La
Bab - Now Is The Time 2011). Some of the negative effects of fossil fuel on
the environment includes: Air pollution, water pollution, accumulation of solid
waste all of which cause human diseases and harm the environment.
There are five alternatives to fossil fuel. These alternatives are
firstly solar energy in which the sunshine heats liquid in solar panels and
produce energy. Solar energy is expensive! Science is finding a way to make it
cheaper than oil or coal, but it will probably take another decade or so (Top
5 Fossil Fuel Alternatives | Hello World! 2008). Another one is wind energy
in which wind speeding power is used to move turbines to produce electricity.
Thirdly there is the hydroelectric power. In this type of alternatives to
fossil fuel the strong current in the river is able to generate electricity.
Fourthly there is the geothermal power in which the steam of hot springs
Conclusion:
In the end we would like to express our deep appreciation for this great
chance we were offered to work on one of the most important side of our study
and that is how to conduct a real experiment based on scientific research and
scientific method. We believe that after conducting this experimental method of
identifying a substance according to scientific data we feel much better and
proud of our findings. So that makes us point at turbine oil to be our sample.
Based on the literature
search and the test we did in the labs. We compared the results to each sample
I determine that our sample is turbine oil.
References:
References
ASTM
International - Standards Worldwide. (1996, January 1). ASTM International -
Standards Worldwide. Retrieved May 15, 2013, from http://www.astm.org/
Fossil Fuels -
Environmental Impact of Oil, Petrol, Gas & Coal & Future use | Du La
Bab - Now Is The Time. (2011, January 1). Ethical Living, Environmental
Information, Green Building, Eco News, Healthy Food & Medicine | Du La Bab
- Now is the time. Retrieved May 14, 2013, from
http://www.dulabab.com/energy-transportation/fossil-fuels/
Fossil fuel -
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2013, May 10). Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia. Retrieved May 14, 2013, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_fuel
Fuel oil -
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2013, May 4). Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia. Retrieved May 14, 2013, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_oil
Gear oil -
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2013, April 2). Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia. Retrieved May 14, 2013, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear_oil
Jet fuel -
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2013, May 13). Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia. Retrieved May 14, 2013, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_fuel
Top 5 Fossil
Fuel Alternatives | Hello World!. (2008, April 22). Hello World! | A Romance
With Nature¦. Retrieved May 14, 2013, from
http://helloworldbea.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/top-5-fossil-fuel-alternatives/
Transformer oil
- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2013, May 11). Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia. Retrieved May 15, 2013, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformer_oil
Turbine Oil
definition of Turbine Oil in the Free Online Encyclopedia.. (2013, January 1). Encyclopedia.
Retrieved May 15, 2013, from http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Turbine+Oil
APA formatting
by BibMe.org.
Appendix
1:
|
|
STANDER TEST
METHODS
|
Jet fuel
|
Gas oil
|
Transformer oil
|
Turbine oil
|
Gear oil
|
|
|
Physical
appearance
|
ASTM D 5531-05
|
Liquid
|
Clear liquid
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
|
|
Refractive index
|
ASTM D 1747-09
|
1.4511
|
1.4524
|
1.4820
|
|
1.4872
|
|
|
API gravity
|
ASTM D 1298-99
|
41.8
|
36.55
|
26.4
|
31
|
27.0
|
|
|
Viscosity
(cSt)
|
40C◦
|
ASTM D 445-06
|
NA
|
NA
|
10.9
|
33.97
|
NA
|
|
100C◦
|
NA
|
NA
|
2.54
|
6.78
|
NA
|
||
|
Flash point
|
ASTM D 93-07
|
NA
|
66 C◦
|
149 C◦
|
224 C◦
|
190 – 260 C◦
|
|
|
Cloud point
|
ASTM D 2500-05
|
-30 C◦
|
1 C◦
-5 C◦
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
|
|
Pour point
|
ASTM D 97-06
|
-55 to -44 C◦
|
0 C◦
6 C
|
-62 C◦
|
-29 C◦
|
-27 to -3 C◦
|
|
|
TAN
(Total acid number)
|
ASTM D 664-11
|
Max 0.015 mg KOH/g
|
0.1
Mg KOH/g
0.5 mg KOH/g
|
0.014 mg KOH/g
|
0.08 mg KOH/g
|
0.05 mg KOH/g
|
|
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