About Coal Energy

Coal energy is one of the biggest suppliers of power worldwide, but along with supplying all of this power, the use of the energy comes with a lot of criticism. As the need for more electricity and power comes to citizens, an understanding of how coal energy works will make people choose the right decisions for future power options.

Features

Coal is a fossil fuel that is burned to retrieve its power. Coal is a nonrenewable source that will eventually run out across the whole globe, but its burning power has made it a dependable resource. Coal energy is also used to power trains because trains are large enough to carry the coal that is burned for power. Coal burning is not practical for cars because of their compact size.

History

Coal is made from a 100 million year process. Plants and animal life--like dinosaurs--would die in swampy areas found across the globe. The decay process would not occur due to the acids found in swamps and the dead debris would pile up and become pressurized. The pressure would create peat, and more pressure would eventually release gases into the air and leave the coal element buried deep into the ground.

Geography

Coal accounts for more than half of the United State's power supply. This accumulates to just over 1 billion tons of coal every year. China is the leader in coal production, doubling the United States with over 2 billion tons of coal used every year. As a whole, the world uses around 6 tons annually.

Function

In order to turn coal into electricity, a lengthy process is done at fossil-fueled power plants. First, coal is put into a high powered burner. The heat created by the coal boils water and turns water into steam. The ash is then turned into waste and smoke from the coal is processed through a stack. The smoke goes through specialized scrubbers that eliminate the worst parts of the pollution. Meanwhile, the steam spins a turbine that is connected to a generator. The generator spins and creates electricity that is distributed through the power grid.

Effects

One of the main arguments against the use of coal energy is that it causes harmful pollution in the air. This pollution is one of the leading causes of Global Warming (see Resourcs below), and now alternatives methods of energy are being considered. Coal mining is also a dangerous profession that leads to many lung illnesses and accidental deaths every year.

Resources

• Coal Power
• Coal-Fired Power Plant Presintation
• Global Warming Causes