Energy Sources and Related Information +
(concern over the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels has resulted in looking for alternative fuels that are less polluting)
Renewable energy sources like wind, solar, geothermal, hydrogen and biomass play an important role in the future of our world
Tomorrow's generation of automobiles and trucks will have to be cleaner and much more efficient if the United States, and the world, is to strengthen its energy security and continue to improve its environment.
The ferrous sulfate can further react to form ferric hydroxide, or "yellowboy", a yellow-orange iron precipitate found in streams and rivers polluted by acid mine drainage.
It can be wet precipitation (rain, snow, or fog) or dry precipitation (absorbed gaseous and particulate matter, aerosol particles or dust).
Acid rain has a pH below 5.6. Normal rain has a pH of about 5.6, which is slightly acidic. The term pH is a measure of acidity or alkalinity and ranges from 0 to 14.
A pH measurement of 7 is regarded as neutral. Measurements below 7 indicate increased acidity, while those above indicate increased alkalinity.
- Methanol.
- Denatured ethanol, and other alcohols.
- Fuel mixtures containing 85 percent or more by volume of methanol, denatured ethanol, and other alcohols with gasoline or other fuels; such as, natural gas.
- Liquefied petroleum gas (propane).
- Hydrogen.
- Coal-derived liquid fuels.
- Fuels (other than alcohol) derived from biological materials (biofuels; such as, soy diesel fuel).
- Electricity (including electricity from solar energy).
The vehicle could be either a dedicated vehicle designed to operate exclusively on alternative fuel or a nondedicated vehicle designed to operate on alternative fuel and/or a traditional fuel.
The term is used in the context of global climate change to refer to gaseous emissions that are the result of human activities, as well as other potentially climate-altering activities; such as, deforestation.
Examples of common appliances include refrigerators, clothes washers and dishwashers, conventional ranges/ovens and microwave ovens, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, toasters, radios, and televisions.
Appliances are ordinarily self-contained with respect to their functions; however, equipment such as central heating and air conditioning systems and water heaters, which are connected to distribution systems inherent to their purposes, are not considered appliances.
Each fuel is stored in a separate tank.
Biodiesel fuels are typically made from oils; such as, soybeans, rapeseed, or sunflowers, or from animal tallow.
Biodiesel fuel can also be made from hydrocarbons derived from agricultural products: such as, rice hulls.
Bioenergy ranks second (to hydropower) in renewable primary energy production and accounts for three percent of the primary energy production in the United States.
Biomass offers tremendous opportunities to use domestic and sustainable resources to provide fuel, power, and chemical needs from plants and plant-derived materials; that is, if such production does not interfere with the eating needs of global populations.
The term biomass means any plant derived organic matter available on a renewable basis, including dedicated energy crops and trees, agricultural food and feed crops, agricultural crop wastes and residues, wood wastes and residues, aquatic plants, animal wastes, municipal wastes, and other waste materials.
2. A type of solid, gaseous, or liquid fuel, made without using petroleum; which can be used in an ordinary internal combustion engine.
Biofuels can be produced from such things as sugar cane and vegetable oil.
Units are grams of organic matter per square meter.
2. Plant-derived material usable as a renewable energy source, including wood energy crops; such as, hybrid poplars and willow trees, agricultural crops including soybeans and corn, and animal and other wastes.Biomass is one of the two most common energy sources in the U.S. today, along with hydropower. Forms of biomass; such as, wood can be burned to produce heat and generate electricity.
Agricultural crops can be chemically converted into fuels; such as, ethanol and biodiesel; these are the only known renewable liquid energy sources, and may one day replace petroleum and fossil-fuel.
Biomass waste includes municipal solid waste from biogenic sources, landfill gas, sludge waste, agricultural crop byproducts, straw, and other biomass solids, liquids, and gases; but it excludes wood and wood-derived fuels (including black liquor), biofuels feedstock, biodiesel, and fuel ethanol.
It should be noted that some so-called biomass waste also includes energy crops grown specifically for energy production, which would not normally be considered waste.
The purpose of construction may be for flood control, irrigation needs, hydroelectric power production, and/or recreation usage.
Electric energy is measured in kilowatt hours.
Index of additional Scientific and Technological Topics.
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