Oil Alternatives of Energy - Research Paper Example

?Oil Alternatives By Karen Deneen Margaret Wilhelm English-1102 April 11, Oil Alternatives Introduction: Alternative and effective sources of energy to oil must be found, as oil is a limited resource which is extremely bad for the environment. I. Oil and its significance. A. Uses of Oil B. Oil as a limited resource II. Alternatives of Oil. A. Hydrogen B. Electricity C. Alcohol Fuels (Methanol and Ethanol) D. Vegetable Oils E. Liquefied Petroleum III. Key Issues Surrounding the Production and Utilization of Alternative Fuels A. Impacts of Alternative Fuels 1. Environmental Impacts 2. Social Impacts 3. Economic Impacts Conclusion: More research must be done on the various sources of fuel other than oil, in order to identify the most suitable and environmentally beneficial alternative. Karen Duneen Margaret Wilhelm English 1102 24 Apr. 2012 OIL ALTERNATIVES Alternative and effective sources of energy to oil must be found, as oil is a limited resource which is extremely bad for the environment. Oil is a non-renewable energy which is obtained through the drilling of oil reservoirs in particular regions. In the contemporary world, our daily operations are driven by oil (Sherman and Freemuth 6). The industrial world is well aware of the significance of oil in its operations. Ostensibly, oil was a great catalyst of the industrial revolution and was instrumental in enabling the economic advancement of numerous countries. Petroleum is the fuel of choice for industrial equipment while others are run by diesel. In the past coal was the preferable fuel until oil became known as a better alternative. A vast proportion of automobiles for example, are reliant on oil since they encompass oil-dependent engines. In addition, modern ships and boats have a structure that requires oil to propel it to various destinations. The aviation industry also constitutes engines that require the introduction of oil into their systems to enable them to function properly. Evidently commercial industries have been integrated with oil since it is cheaper and widely useful in most of their operations unlike electricity. Petroleum has high-energy capacities; its transportation is relatively easy and efficient in initiating numerous operations (Sherman and Freemuth 6). Its relevance in modern society is growing with most of its producers emanating from the Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran. Processing of oil also gives rise to several oil products like kerosene, diesel, petroleum, and gasoline. Kerosene is instrumental in cooking and other domestic tasks that require fuel. Invariably, oil is an essential element in the manufacturing of products that comprise of clothing, ink, crayons, paints, upholstery, antiseptics, heart valves and many others. Oil is increasingly becoming essential and thereby its price fluctuates especially in recent years. Recently doubts regarding the abundance of oil are surfacing, together with the detrimental effects of oil pollution to the climate. According to Sherman and Freemuth (7), oil is a finite resource and hence upon exhaustion the suppliers cannot replenish it. This suggests that oil is not adequately dependable as a resource in the end. This element has facilitated the debate of adoption of other renewable resources of power as an alternative to oil. There is a simmering debate over the possibility of replacing oil as the predominant energy resource, due to its limitations. Irrespective of the high-energy capacities of petroleum, it is essential to acknowledge the fact that oil is a limited reserve. There are dreadful assertions that some of the oil wells could be drying up since there is a reduction in the quantity of oil barrels that they produce. Such a stance also has undesirable ramifications politically, socially, and economically. Evidently, there is an increasing global effort in initiatives resulting from this awareness, for example, the introduction of electric cars and the manufacture of environmentally friendly containers. The alternative sources of energy will mitigate the adverse effects of petroleum that involve damaging carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, oil is a dangerous pollutant of water through oil spills in the sea. The latest catastrophe was the Gulf Oil Spill, which instigated the destruction of aquatic life and the beaches that were surrounding the Gulf. Some of the alternatives to oil are hydrogen, electricity, alcohol fuels, vegetable oils and liquefied petroleum. According to Busby and Linh (23), hydrogen as an oil alternative is receiving acclamation as the most appropriate replacement for petroleum since it features many attractive qualities. It has the greatest energy density in comparison to other potential fuels and it combusts cleanly by only creating water vapor unlike petroleum which produces smoke. Discussions are rife about whether or not hydrogen has the capability to be produced sufficiently and consistently to create confidence in its sustainability in the market. Hydrogen energy involves the use of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) cells that are capable of an electrochemical reaction, which releases vapor and heat as by-products (Busby and Linh 24). The hydrogen cells seem appropriate since they harbor high power density, high efficiency and are cleaner than petroleum. The PEM’s have shown promising results and this is encouraging various automobile manufacturers including General Motors and Honda. According to Busby and Linh (25), General Motors did a field test of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in 2008, which was successful. These vehicles are a worthy replacement for the petroleum ones, which discharge harmful emissions. Honda was able to construct fuel cell cars in 2008 and is confident that similar designs will be available on the market soon. A chief impediment of the PEM cells is the accumulation of water in the cells during combustion. This can distort the reactive capacity of the fuel cells. Cold conditions can also initiate stagnation of the cells following a shutdown. Institutions and experts are researching conventional methods through which water can travel within the cell. For example, the Rochester Institute is utilizing a visualization mechanism to observe the movements of water within the cell (Busby and Linh 25). This can enable researchers to determine efficient ways of addressing the problem of the fuel cells. Experts argue that hydrogen is a preferable energy resource and it is possible to eliminate the implications of oil by embracing the hydrogen option. However, for this venture to be viable there has to be a construction of hydrogen generation infrastructure. The sufficient quantity of potential investors in hydrogen outlets is currently not viable. The US has initiated the construction of hydrogen infrastructure, which is present in several states. This is advancing confidence in fuel cells, hence several corporations and government authorities are adopting the fuel cell inventiveness to maneuver their cars. Another of the processes that researchers can utilize is biomass production, which necessitates higher temperatures. Electrolysis enables the synthesis of the hydrogen energy to initiate electrical currents (Busby and Linh 26). Investments into oil alternatives can hugely benefit society, as the sustainability of oil production is uncertain. As we advance into the twenty first century hydrogen looks set to have a significant role in energy fabrication. The relevance of hydrogen will be noticeable by its adaptability to the various uses and fluctuating climatic conditions. It will be vital for researchers to activate mechanisms that will enable fuel cells to be compatible with numerous machines to enable the fuel cells to be chief competitors of oil. This will instigate a new approach to resolving energy discrepancies and malfunctions (Busby and Linh 26). To allow it to be acceptable, the institutions advocating for hydrogen require answers to challenges such as production in abundance. Another impediment of hydrogen production is financial expense, if this resolved it would be an appropriate resource. Electricity is an alternative which government and corporations can utilize to replace oil, since numerous machines depend upon electricity (Ozipineki 643). Electricity is a worthy resource since it can compete with oil in industrial production as several manufacturing processes require. A major merit of electricity is that it is a renewable energy as it is durable when hydroelectric plants are above the accepted levels. Ozipineki (644) insinuates that the production of automobiles that utilize electricity is rampant, as experts perceive it to be the sufficient replacement for vehicles that consume petroleum. This process is possible when electricity emanating from a central source transmits its energy to an electric motor that propels the car. The vehicle is able to move at a considerable speed in comparison to the ones that consume oil. In halting the car, the individual should reverse the power current, hence enabling the vehicle to stop (Ozipineki 645). The phenomenon of electric cars is exciting for many motor dealers since their clients can evaluate them on the inventiveness of their engineers to produce vehicles that both appeal and are better for the environment. Electric fuel cells contain high efficiency and minimal environmental consequences since the energy consists of an electric current that is not a severe pollutant compared to oil. Moreover, the electric fuel cells encompass a renewable energy that an individual can replenish if it is attached to a power source (Ozipineki 648). The fuel cells productivity varies depending on the age or capability of the electric batteries. If the fuel cells are in use for longer periods, they can be sluggish in generating output hence minimizing the efficiency of the equipment. This characteristic of fuel cells necessitates the introduction of converters that are essential in enhancing the voltage or even minimizing it. The electric cells that are capable of harnessing high voltage can enable manufacturing industries to accumulate enough energy to enable the industry to undertake production effectively. It is possible to restructure the manufacturing plants to accommodate electricity as the chief energy resource therefore eliminating the unfavorable implication of toxic emissions that oil produces while undergoing combustion. This will have a colossal impact on the conservation of the ozone, which is subject to extensive depletion due to the discharge of carbon dioxide compounds. In addition, electricity is readily available in numerous countries unlike oil, which is a resource that emanates from specific countries. The accessibility of electricity makes it preferable over oil since this resource is existent in every country. However, the development of electric fuel cells is dependent upon infrastructure. It is a greener means of energy and has minimal negative implications on the atmosphere (Ozipineki 651). The areas that are not capable of accessing electricity will not enjoy the benefits of this energy resource. In addition, rationing can affect the distribution of electricity and adversely affect the supply chain of this power resource. Rainfall will also be a determining factor in the production of this power. If rainfall is minimal, the production of voltage will not be sufficient to warrant the proper functioning of equipment. According to Allen (1), ethanol is an alcohol that can be blended with gasoline to produce clean fuels that that do not have adverse influences on the atmosphere. The energy potential of ethanol is more than gasoline and it is capable of adding horsepower to move vehicles. E85 is a combination of 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent ethanol, which has sufficient energy for utilization in vehicles. The progress of E85 vehicles is been positive and better than that of gasoline since ethanol encompasses a higher thermodynamic efficiency. Ethanol is a chemical component that can be difficult to produce in abundance through commercial production. Ethanol chiefly originates from corn and entails numerous growing and fermentation procedures to enable the production to be precise. This method is not very convenient and its implementation has been insignificant. However, Demiras (345) insinuates that in 1925 ethanol production was rampant in Brazil surpassing the dependency on oil. If the world’s populace embraces this endeavor both domestically and commercially it can diminish the level of dependency and enable the creation of jobs to numerous individuals in the rural backdrop. Methanol is another alternative to petroleum that has the capacity to be a potential fuel. Experts did acknowledge the significance of methanol after the fuel impediments of the 1970’s (Demiras 349). In numerous occurrences where gasoline has been experiencing shortages, methanol has been the better alternative since before oil it was acceptable as the main energy resource. Methanol encompasses high energy levels thus illustrating viable results. Production of these fuels through biomass could be the solution that researchers can exploit to perform extensive evaluation of these fuels. However, alcohols are usually corrosive, hence the vehicle equipment should entail stainless steel, which can be an expensive initiative for companies. A vast proportion of automobile producers will perceive this as an initiative that will not be attainable (Demiras 352). Furthermore, these alcohol fuels can present hazards of high flammability due to their high octane rating, which surpasses petroleum. Cvengros asserts that vegetable oils are clean, efficient, and natural energies and are a good alternative to petroleum fuels. They can be derived from animal fats, indigenous plants and other natural sources. The fluctuations and uncertainties of the oil market are making investors look for alternative products that can substitute oil. However, vegetable oils are more viscous than petroleum and this influences the effective burning of this fuel. Consequently, vegetative fuels form residues in fuel containers can hamper the purity of the combustion processes (Cvengros). Vegetative fuels are accessible since people can readily produce it and it is vastly available. Moreover, low emissions of carbon dioxide make it preferable and it cannot damage the ozone since it is a clean energy. Methyl esters, which are present in vegetable oils, enable them to have considerable advantages over petroleum. This component can enable vegetable oils to diminish deposits in vehicles, which can accumulatively block the system (Cvengros). Researchers acknowledge that vegetable fuels are suitable for use in vehicles and specifically in compression ignition engines (CIF). Their perception was that vegetable oils are not dissimilar from petroleum but more examination is required to assure this alternative as efficient. According to Raut, Bhasin & Kamble (36), liquefied petroleum is derived from the combination of the elements propane and butane. This fuel is exists in a fluid form and hence is portable in containers. This means that suppliers can supply this fuel to numerous areas in a similar way to petroleum. Therefore, this fuel is accessible to a vast amount of clients and mass production is possible. This fuel is not as large a pollutant as petroleum and entails a “high octane rating” that is similar to petroleum (Raut, Bhasin and Kamble 38). It has several uses including cooking and the propulsion of vehicles among others. Due to its environmental and combustive advantages, it can be an appropriate substitute to petroleum. Fuels drive all sectors of the economy. The concern of the impacts of fuel, which may arise from the use of different fuels, has elicited heated debates on which type of fuel is more sustainable. The demand for fuel continues to increase as time goes on while resources remain limited. Scholars and policy-makers have challenged each of the many alternative fuel models by considering various aspects associated with each possible alternative. The basic arguments revolve around the production cost, sustainability, and the possible negative impacts of each. Major debates have revolved around the replacement of the traditional natural fuel with synthetic fuels. The exploitation of natural fuels such as petroleum is highly discouraged because of their pronounced contribution in the emission of green gas, which has adversely affected the environment. The need for cleaner fuels with less environmental impact has led to emergence of outstanding campaigns for the adoption of green fuels. Many people strongly believe that the available natural resources can no longer sustain the rapidly growing demand of the resource (Lowery 15). The finite nature of natural oil reserves challenges the availability of resources with massive exploitations witnessed in the current century. With such a strained condition, it is thought that bio-fuels are the only remaining solution. In light of this, numerous groups of bio-fuels are used. Ethanol and methanol are alternative fuels which have greatly challenged the traditional exploitation of petroleum. The results offered by ethanol have impressed many policy makers. Lately, a blend of ethanol and gasoline has been used as a common fuel (Haller, Welch and Fulla 71). However, there is concern about the corrosion associated with alcohol and this has attracted substantial attention. Continued utilization of this type of fuel may cause even more corrosion in future. Additionally, ethanol-producing plants require enormous corn supplies (Chou 3). The mounting corn production requires the application of fertilizers and the use of heavy machines and chemicals. These agricultural practices could have serious negative effects. Continued production of these fuels will mean a compromised environment in the future. Using heavy machines with voluminous emissions in agriculture, but the adoption of green energy that is eco-friendly is not entirely justifiable. Therefore, although ethanol is an important alternative source, its production is not viable (Vieira 354). Another significant concern raised on the utilization of bio-fuels questions the production cost and the ability of these fuels to meet fuel necessities. Petroleum fuels are major economic systems of the world. The industrial production of bio-fuel attracts an argument that this model can never sufficiently replace petroleum and that such a scenario would never be practical. Moreover, these industrial productions siphon industrial finances extensively. This would exert pressure on an already strained budget hence maintaining such a model may become difficult. Investing in unsustainable systems is never a wise undertaking, hence those who hold this thought feel that bio-fuels are not a solution but a disaster in the making (Chou 6). The use of compressed gas is becoming a popular practice worldwide. Squashed natural gas drives internal-combustion systems. However, natural gas requires extractions and high-tech processing. Importantly, corn-growing requires large land sizes. Increasing populations will always demand higher productions of foodstuffs to feed the masses. However, land is a resource which remains limited. There is a feeling that the adoption of bio-fuels will worsen the condition as the practice brings about competition in the little land available. The cost of fueling the production tank would compromise food resources, which would otherwise supply the growing populations, and this is of critical concern (Haller, Welch and Fulla 90). However, there is a feeling that the production expenses associated with the compression of gas is not reasonable. The gas compression requires the establishment of high pressures of about 3600 psi, a condition that requires the use of sophisticated models. Putting up and maintaining these systems may be expensive. Additionally, the compression procedure uses a lot of energy. For instance, compressing one gallon of gasoline consumes around two kWh of electricity (Lowery 5-10). There is a strong feeling that the little energy supplies available are not in a position to support massive productions of this type of energy, hence this route is not an appropriate alternative. This condition has led to the questioning of the viability of this model with most people arguing that the production is a compromised approach (Vieira 357). An alternative provided by bio-diesel has also attracted mixed reactions among many observers. Bio-diesel employs a concept of using non-petroleum sources like vegetable oils and fats in producing fuel. Bio-diesel is capable of running heavy machines with lesser degrees of degradation as compared to petrol-diesel. Moreover, comparatively, bio-diesel has reduced emissions since they burn more than petroleum fuels (Hensher and Button 45-47). It is worth noting that bio-diesel particles have oxygen particles, hence they can ignite themselves. These important characteristics of bio-diesel have made many people advocate them. However, a significant group of people argue that bio-diesel is more expensive than petroleum and hence cannot be an effective alternative. Bio-diesel retails at a price which is higher than that of petroleum. Due to this, a more costly alternative is not preferred since this negates the budget restrictions (Mazraati and Haithem 74). Electricity as a fuel is a novel development that has provided a reasonable alternative to oil. However, aspects of this model have attracted tough disputes. Major concerns challenge the concept of the need of charging the systems. Low charge negates the performance of electric models. Furthermore, electric models are associated with high degrees of inconveniences since the system requires an electric backup. Charged batteries are not efficient in running heavy machines (Haller, Welch and Fulla 70). Importantly, this system has an association with factors such as blackouts and the amplification of electricity cost. This leads to a feeling that the alternative provided by electricity is of poor quality, hence cannot effectively substitute petroleum. However, there are strong arguments that the electricity alternative is appropriate since the route reduces emissions significantly. Electric cars and other systems record a considerably lower degree of pollution in contrast with their petroleum counterparts. In consideration of the rising concern on the increase of pollution, an alternative, which minimizes pollution, would be more appealing (Lowery 24). The utilization of alternative fuels is a multifaceted approach that affects numerous aspects of living and the environment. Production and utilization of these fuels will have significant impacts in the future, not just on the environment but on the economy and society as a whole. The utilization of specific alternatives affects each of these sectors differently. A certain alternative may have lesser impact on one factor but have notorious impact on another (Vieira 356). The use of alternative fuels would have a major impact on environment in the future. The use of fuels will adversely affect the quality of air and water - a process that may manifest into social consequences. Plants and systems used to synthesize alternative fuels produce high percentages of greenhouse gases. Moreover, the actual utilization of these fuels is associated with emission of these dangerous gases. Green house emissions leads to a diminution of the ozone, an important protection layer of the earth. Destruction of the ozone layer may lead to changes in the world’s climate (Vieira 349). This may lead to changes in temperatures, amount of rainfall and seasonal factors. Fluctuations resulting from this heterogeneous climate may render the environment as uncomfortable for various life-forms. Additionally, the need for land for establishing plantations for fuelling the production has led to the clearance of forest reserves (Hensher and Button 135). Forest cover is a major carbon sink hence it is important in stabilizing the climate. This means that the continued employment of such practices would compromise air quality. Spillages and the disposal of industrial wastes into the water reserves, affects the quality of water. Such practices will greatly interfere with the aquatic lives and will decrease the biodiversities of these habitats. Some fuel alternatives such as nuclear fuel are risky endeavors that may have detrimental effects on environment. However, most of the alternative fuels, though potentially yielding harmful results, comparatively provide safer models than customary systems (Hensher and Button 135). The adoption of alternative fuels would have noteworthy social impacts. Firstly, deterioration of air and water quality will pose health and safety complications on living organisms. The worsened air state has the potential of increasing breath-related diseases. Supplying poor quality water for household consumption accelerates the spread of waterborne diseases. Unhealthy societies are greatly affect the nation as a whole (Lima, Margaret and Gerlane 27). Nevertheless, aquatic exploitation such as fishing is a major source of food. This means in a situation where aquatic lives are interfered with, food shortages may arise. Additionally, the production of corn and other supplies needed for production of bio-fuels leads to acquisition of farm land (Vieira, 348). Considering the rapidly increasing world population, food shortages will be detrimental and would cause many social problems (Lima, Skutsch and Gerlane 45). Moreover, some practices such as hydroelectric production and cooling of production systems, consume a lot of water which is a limited resource. Continued exploitation of this resource will have a considerable negative impact in the society. Sacrificing the little available water resources in fuel production systems will be detrimental to society (Lowery 20). Importantly, the impact of adopting risky alternatives such as nuclear sources is evident. For instance, the case of the Hiroshima is a good living example of how grievous some models may be. The explosion continues to have an impact even today (Haller, Welch and Fulla 68). Lastly, the adoption of alternative fuels may emerge with severe impacts on the world’s economy. Industrial fuel production requires urbane machines and callous systems that are expensive to maintain. Integrating heavy production costs on already strained budgets would have enormous economic impacts. It is an obvious fact that fuel costs define the economies of the world. Effective management of fuel prices directly affects all sectors of the economy (Mazraati and Haithem, 78). Additionally, impacts such as those leading to the emergence and spread of diseases among the world’s population will greatly affect the economy. Preventing and managing heavy manifestation of diseases requires huge financial allocations that may affect the entire world’s economy. Importantly, unhealthy and a poorly nourished population generally has low output. This means some of these fuel alternatives may significantly affect the world’s economy negatively by deteriorating the status of crucial actors who fuel the economy (Haller, Welch and Fulla 87). More research must be done on the various sources of fuel other than oil, in order to identify the most suitable and environmentally beneficial alternative. The future of the world’s development and status largely depends upon the management of fuels. The question of alternative fuels remains to be of significant importance and the development of alternative fuels is crucial to all societies of the world. However, critical analyses of each of the alternatives available are required, to formulate and identify the most viable alternatives. Since the utilization of fuel is mandatory and cannot be dismissed, the identification of safer routes is the only solution. Recommendable alternatives will be ones that uphold economic growth, are viable and yield less negative impacts upon lives and upon the environment. Works Cited Allen, Mike. Crunching the Numbers on Alternative Fuels. Popular Mechanics. 2006. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. Busby, Joe. and Linh, Nguyen. "“Hydrogen Fuel Cells: Part Of The Solution." Technology & Engineering Teacher 70.2 (2010): 22-27. Professional Development Collection. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. Chou, Sandley. Corn Ethanol is Not Alternative Fuel. Washington D.C: The Daily of the University of Washington, 2007. Print. Cvengros, J. "Vegetable Oils and Animal Fats as Alternative Fuels for Diesel Engines with Dual Fuel Operation." Fuel Processing Technology 92.10 (2011): 1980-1986. 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Interdisciplinary Science Reviews 34.4 (2009): 345-349. Academic Search Premier. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. Read More