Kinds of Energy
Energy is the ability to cause change! Any type of activity will require some type of energy. Energy is either absorbed or emitted during a physical or chemical change. Heat, sound, light, motion, chemical, electrical, radiation, are all examples of typs of energy. Most of the energy found on Earth is due to the influence of our sun. |  |
The Sources of Energy
Most of our energy comes from fossil fuels -- coal, oil, and natural gas supply about 85 percent of US primary energy consumption. Although the supplies of these fossil fuels are vast, they are not unlimited. And more important, the earth's atmosphere and biosphere may not survive the environmental impact of burning such enormous amounts of these fuels. Carbon stored over millions of years is being released in a matter of decades, disrupting the earth's carbon cycle in unpredictable ways.
But fossil fuels are not the only source of energy, and burning fuel is not the only way to produce heat and motion. Renewable energy offers us a better way. Some energy sources are "renewable" because they are naturally replenished, because they can be managed so that they last forever, or because their supply is so enormous that they can never be meaningfully depleted by humans. Moreover, renewable energy sources have much smaller environmental impacts than fossil and nuclear fuels.
Biomass energy, from plants, is a rich source of carbon and hydrogen, and one that can be used within the natural carbon cycle. Fast-growing plants, such as switchgrass and willow and poplar trees, can be harvested as "power crops." Biomass wastes, including forest residues, lumber and paper mill waste, crop wastes, garbage, and landfill and sewage gas, can be used to produce heat, transportation fuels, and electricity, while at the same time reducing environmental burdens.
Solar energy, power from the sun, is free and inexhaustible. Converting sunlight into useful forms is not free, but the fuel is. Sunlight has been used by humans for drying crops and heating water and buildings for millennia. A twentieth-century technology is photovoltaics, which turns sunlight directly into electricity.
Wind power is another ancient energy source that has moved into the modern era. Advanced aerodynamics research has developed wind turbines that can produce electricity at a lower cost than power from polluting coal plants.
Geothermal energy taps into the heat under the earth's crust to boil water. The hot water is then used to drive electric turbines and heat buildings.
Hydroelectric power uses the force of moving water to produce electricity. Hydropower is one of the main suppliers of electricity in the world, but most often in the form of large dams that disrupt habitats and displace people. A better approach is the use of small, "run of the river" hydro plants.
Coal is the largest source of fuel for electricity production, and also the largest source of environmental harm. Coal provides 54 percent of the US electricity supply.
Oil is used primarily for transportation fuels, but also for power production, heat and as a feedstock for chemicals. The US imports over half of the oil we use, more than ever before.
Natural gas is a relatively clean burning fossil fuel, used mostly for space and water heating in buildings and running industrial processes. Increasingly, natural gas is used in turbines to produce electricity.
Nuclear power harnesses the heat of radioactive materials to produce steam for power generation. Nuclear power provides about 21 percent of US power, but is expected to decline as old plants retire.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
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Over half of all household fires are cooking related1 with ovens and stove tops being the most likely appliances involved.2
Most kitchen fires result from people leaving cooking unattended and forgetting about it.3
Natural gas and LP Gas are colourless and odourless. An odorant is actually added to give these gases a distinctive smell. This odour ensures that leaks are easier to detect if and when they arise.Browse through our safety tips in the following areas:
Appliances
Gas Leaks
Barbecues
Cylinders
Pipes
What is natural gas? and What is LP Gas? Find out more here.
Important:Do not attempt to repair gas appliances. Instead hire a licensed gas fitter to do the work. Please note not all plumbers are licensed gas fitters.
APPLIANCES
Before turning on a gas burner, light the match or press the ignition button. If the burner will not light, turn off the gas and wait for the gas smell to clear before trying again
Do not turn the gas up to full before igniting it
Pilot lights and main burners should produce a blue flame. Call the manufacturer or a licensed gas fitter if the flame is yellow or red
Have all gas appliances serviced according to manufacturers instructions
Only use a specially trained licensed gas fitter to install, repair, service or remove a gas appliance
Always take care around gas appliances - DO NOT leave papers, rags, paint or other flammable material near them
Do not spray aerosols near operating gas appliances. The flammable gas in aerosols can be a fire hazard
LP Gas and natural gas are different. Operating an appliance on the wrong type of gas can be hazardous
Never tamper with safety valves or other fittings and do not use excessive force to open or close gas control knobs
Only use gas appliances for their intended purpose. Never use an oven to heat a room or as a clothes dryer
Turn your heater off when you leave the house or go to sleep
Always supervise young children near heaters or any gas appliance
Clean your oven and hot plate regularly to prevent the build up of spilled fats and burnt foods
Never use any outdoor gas appliance indoors (eg. barbecues and camping style equipment)
Only use appliances and equipment that have been approved for use in the Australian gas industry by the Australian Gas Association (AGA) and SAI (Standards Australia International) Global. Appliances certified and approved by the AGA and SAI Global are sold with an appropriate Approval Certification Badge.
Flueless heaters require permanent ventilation. For further information regarding the legal requirements or technical advice in reference to gas unflued heaters, please contact either Standards Australia and quote AS5601 Gas Installation Standard or contact the Technical Regulator or equivalent in your State for advice.
Ensure gas installations including gas meters and pressure regulators are maintained in a safe condition and protected from damage or interference.
PIPES
Take care when using lawn mowers, brush cutters or digging in the garden so you do not damage gas pipes
If you have a gas leak, call your current gas supplier immediately. Keep people clear of the area and ensure there is no risk of ignition (for instance, someone smoking or using a mobile telephone or electrical appliance in the near vicinity). To be safe, tape electrical switches so they cannot be used
If there is a gas leak in the house, turn off the gas supply at the meter or cylinder control valve. Most meters are mounted at the front or side of the house
Dial 1100 Before You Dig is a free service that provides information on most underground networks across Australia
Visit the Dial Before You Dig website for further information.
BARBECUES
Your gas cylinder is required to be re-tested and stamped every 10 years
To check for gas leakage, spray soapy water on any suspect connection or hose and watch for bubbles. If in doubt, turn off the gas and have a licensed gas fitter attend to the hose or connection
Ensure there is adequate clearing around the barbecue to prevent a fire hazard
Do not use in windy conditions ie. more than 10km per hour
Remove all excess fat from the barbecue after each use
Do not use your barbecue indoors or in a confined space
CYLINDERS
When carrying cylinders in the car the total capacity must not exceed 9kg and the cylinders should be transported in an upright position
Do not connect or disconnect cylinders in the vicinity of a naked flame
Do not expose cylinders to heat and do not leave in an enclosed vehicle in the sun
Do not attempt to refill dented or corroded cylinders, they must be returned to a test station for recertification
Stand your cylinder upright at all times
Your gas cylinder is required to be tested and stamped every 10 years
Cylinders should be stored outside in a well ventilated area
Replace cracked or damaged hoses
Cylinders used for household purposes must not be filled with automotive LP Gas
Do not store or use petrol, flammable liquids or aerosols near cylinders
GAS LEAKS It is a requirement in Victoria that if you smell gas in the street, on your property or inside your home that you call your natural gas distribution company in the first instance. The number is located in the top right hand corner of your gas bill under Emergencies or Leaking Gas.
Your distributor will attend and make your property safe
Safety TipsIf you smell gas in the street or on your property before or including the meter, you should call your natural gas distribution company to locate and repair the leak. If however, you believe the leak to be after the meter on a section of pipe work connecting your appliances, or on the appliance itself, you can contact any licensed gasfitter to rectify the problem. Remember, any person undertaking work involving gas must be appropriately licensed. more
If you smell gas inside your home:
Turn OFF all appliances and pilot lights
Turn OFF the supply at the gas meter or cylinder
Open all doors and windows for ventilation
Contact your licensed gas fitter or current gas supplier to repair the escape of gas and relight appliances
If you suspect a gas leak, do not use a naked flame or other ignition source (ignition sources include light switches, power points, mobile phones, pagers and cigarettes)
Do not operate electrical equipment in the vicinity of a gas leak. Isolate power at the main switchboard
Neither natural gas nor LP Gas is poisonous or toxic, but if an area becomes filled with gas, it can cause nausea and dizziness due to the lack of oxygen. In extreme cases it can result in asphyxiation
Call 000 in the event of an emergency
WHAT IS NATURAL GAS?Origin Energy supplies both natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LP Gas) to homes, business and industry. While both of these gases perform similar tasks, they have different chemical properties.
Natural gas is a colourless and odourless fossil fuel consisting mainly of methane CH4, which is the simplest hydrocarbon (that is, a particle made of hydrogen and carbon atoms). It formed over hundreds of millions of years from plankton, decomposing vegetable matter and other simple life forms that were buried by sediment during that time. Eventually large quantities of gas were trapped underground.
Ideal for Many Applications Natural Gas is distributed to your home or business through a network of underground pipes. It is safe, efficient, reliable and convenient for many applications:
Residential - cooking, heating and hot water
Commercial - catering, drying, heating and hot water
Industrial - manufacturing and processing
Power Generation - in power station turbines and cogeneration plants
Transport - as a fuel for vehicles such as trucks and buses
WHAT IS LP GAS?
Liquefied petroleum gas (LP Gas) is a different chemical compound to natural gas even though they are both hydrocarbons. LP Gas consists of propane and/or butane. Propane (C3H8) contains three carbon atoms and eight hydrogen atoms. Butane (C4H10) contains four carbon atoms and ten hydrogen atoms. By comparison methane is a much lighter gas than propane or butane.
Although gaseous under normal atmospheric conditions, LP Gas (propane) is stored under modest pressures in liquid form. In this way LP Gas can be transported and stored in a concentrated form to provide a source of high-energy fuel.
Other characteristics of LP Gas include:
A high heating value ("calorific value")
A virtual absence of sulphur, leading to cleaner burning
A consistent quality ensuring reliability, particularly in applications such as gas engines. Examples of specialist applications include: forklifts and burners on boilers. LP Gas is also the perfect choice for cooking, heating and hot water in the home.
LP Gas is produced during the oil refining process or is extracted during the natural gas production process. Because of its high calorific value, LP Gas is ideally suited for use in industrial, commercial, agricultural, horticultural and residential applications for heating, lighting, powering vehicles, metal cutting and in cogeneration.
For homes and businesses that are not connected to the natural gas underground mains network, LP Gas is a cost effective alternative energy source because it is easy to transport and store.
Bibliography:1. AAMI Firescreen Winter 20022. MFESB “Report on the cause of the most common electrical appliance fires” Fire Investigation and Analysis Unit, 20023. MFESB Fire Safety Information Sheet 2002
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