Term
| What are the main products of the combustion of natural gas? |
|
Definition
carbon
dioxide and water vapor, the same compounds that we exhale when
we breathe |
|
|
Term
| Is natural gas relatively clean? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Is natural gas clean that oil and coal? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| How much carbon dioxide is released by natural gas? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What does the combustion of natural gas release? |
|
Definition
releases very small amounts of sulfur
dioxide and nitrogen oxides, virtually no ash or particulate matter
and lower levels of carbon monoxide and other reactive
hydrocarbons |
|
|
Term
| What are some environmental issues from the combustion of fossil fuels? |
|
Definition
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Smog, Air Quality and Acid Rain
• Industrial and Electric Generation Emissions
• Pollution from the Transportation sector |
|
|
Term
| What is the greenhouse effect? |
|
Definition
potential for global climate change due to increased levels of
atmospheric ‘greenhouse gases’ |
|
|
Term
| What is predicted to happen with global temperatures due to the greenhouse effect? |
|
Definition
over the
next 100 years, global temperatures will increase by between 2.4 and
10.4 degrees Fahrenheit |
|
|
Term
| Why have the levels of atmostpheric gases been increasing? |
|
Definition
| due to the widespread burning of fossil fuels |
|
|
Term
| What percent of greenhouse gases come from carbon dioxide? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| How is burning natural gas cleaner than burning other fossil fuels? |
|
Definition
The combustion of natural gas emits almost 30 percent less carbon
dioxide than oil, and just under 45 percent less carbon dioxide than
coal |
|
|
Term
| Is methane a greenhouse gas? |
|
Definition
Yes Methane, the principle component of natural gas, is itself a very
potent greenhouse gas and has an ability to trap heat almost 21
times more effectively than carbon dioxide |
|
|
Term
| Regarding emissions, does the good outweigh the bad with natural gas? |
|
Definition
The conclusion was that the reduction in emissions from increased
natural gas use strongly outweighs the detrimental effects of
increased methane emissions; The increased use of natural gas in the place of other, dirtier fossil
fuels can serve to lessen the emission of greenhouse gases in the US |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
• Smog is formed by a chemical reaction of carbon monoxide, nitrogen
oxides, volatile organic compounds and heat from sunlight
• Smog and ground level ozone can contribute to respiratory problems
ranging from temporary discomfort to long-lasting, permanent lung
damage
• Source include vehicle emissions, smokestack emissions, paints and
solvents
• The reaction to create smog requires heat, smog problems are the
worst in the summertime |
|
|
Term
| Does natural gas contribute strongly to smog? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| According to a study, how can smog be reduced? |
|
Definition
in the Northeast, smog and ozone-causing emissions
could be reduced by 50 to 70 percent through the seasonal switching
to natural gas by electric generators and industrial installations |
|
|
Term
| What also causes degradation of air quality in the US? |
|
Definition
Particulates such as soot, ash, metals and other airborne particles
also cause degradation of air quality in the United States |
|
|
Term
Rhe risk of premature
death for residents in areas with high airborne particulate matter
was how much greater than for those in areas with low particulate
levels? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react
with water vapor and other chemicals in the presence of sunlight
• The result is various acidic compound in the air and the principle
source are coal fired power plants
• As natural gas emits virtually no sulfur dioxide, increased use of
natural gas could provide for fewer acid rain causing emissions |
|
|
Term
Does the increased use of natural gas allow for the improvement in the
emissions profile of the electric generation industry? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What are the benefits of natural gas powered industrial applications? |
|
Definition
• Fewer emissions – Combustion of natural gas emits lower levels of
NOx, CO2, and particulate emissions and virtually no SO2 and mercury
emissions
• Reduced Sludge – Combustion of natural gas emits extremely low
levels of SO2 eliminating the need for scrubbers and reducing the
amounts of sludge associated with power plants and industrial
processes
• Reburning – It involves injecting natural gas into coal or oil fired
boilers. By adding natural gas to the fuel mix, NOx and SO2 emissions
can be reduced |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
The production and use of both heat and electricity
increases the efficiency of electric generation systems and natural
gas is the preferred choice for new cogeneration applications |
|
|
Term
| What is combined cycle generation? |
|
Definition
This increases energy efficiency and
uses less fuel and thus produces fewer emissions. These can be upto
60 percent energy efficient whereas coal and oil generation units are
typically only 30 to 35 percent efficient |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
These are sophisticated devices that use hydrogen to
generate electricity. The widespread use of fuel cells could in the
future significantly reduce the emissions associated with the
generation of electricity |
|
|
Term
| What is One of the greatest contributors to air pollution in the United States? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| How much air pollution in the US is caused by car and truck pollution? |
|
Definition
About half of all air pollution and more than 80 percent of air
pollution in cities are produced by cars and trucks in the United
States |
|
|
Term
| Can natural gas be used to cut down on transportation pollution? |
|
Definition
Yes, Vehicles operating on compressed natural gas have reductions in
carbon monoxide emissions of 90 to 97 percent and reductions in
carbon dioxide emissions of 25 percent |
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