How do
people use coal to generate energy?
Why is the usage
of coal so popular?
What are the down sides to using
coal as a source of energy?
How do people use coal to generate energy?
The heat energy produced by burning coal is used to
turn water into steam. The steam is then used to push a turbine
to either produce electricity or to move a train or ship.
Producing electricity with coal usually involves two water
cycles: cycle A works with the furnace and the turbine and cycle
B is used for cooling. First, one segment of the water in cycle A
passes through the furnace where coal is used as fuel to turn the
water into steam. Next, the steam within water cycle A moves the
turbine and produces electricity. Then, the steam is cooled down
quickly by the second water cycle (B). Finally, the water in
cycle A goes back to the furnace again.
According to Ontario Hydro, there are five coal-fueled power
plants in Ontario. They are at Lakeview in Mississauga, Nanticoke
at Port Dover, Lambton near Sarnia, and Thunder Bay and Atikokan
in northwestern Ontario.1
Why is the usage of coal so popular?
The economical factor is one of the reasons why coal is so widely used to produce energy. Also, coal is the most widely available resource around the world. From the World Energy Council's "Fossil Fuel and Uranium Reserves at end of 1993", it is estimated that the total reserve of coal is 3 400 Gtoe, which is at least four times more than the oil reserve or eight times more than the natural gas reserve.2 Therefore, because of the large supply, coal is very economical.
What are the down sides to using coal as a source of energy?
There are many problems with the usage of coal. For
starters, obtaining coal can produce environmental problems. The
surface mining method not only destroys the appearance, but also
destroys the ecosystem in that area. Miners can get the black
lung disease even though there is equipment designed to protect
them. Along with that, poisonous chemicals can also pollute
bodies of water close by, especially underground water.
Furthermore, the consumption of coal produces coal ash and
additional amounts of carbon dioxide, which contributes to global
warming and smog. The impurities produced by coal combustion like
sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide also cause acid
rain.3
That is why many people around the world are trying to find
alternatives to using coal as a source of energy.
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