How Is Oil Used as an Energy Source and What Determines Its Efficiency?

[rockergirl]

If anyone out there is able to give a brief overview of how oil is used as an energy source, I would really appreciate it! Nothing too fancy, I just need to know the basics of how it works and how to find its efficiency. Thanks so much.

 

[Pengwuino]

That's a rather complex problem. I'm sure no one will explain it to you entirely as we aren't in the business of giving you essays (as this is the homework section). We can point you in the right direction though.

Oil by itself is kinda useless. Once refined however, it is made into a variety of different types of gas. Gasoline is just 1 type of substance you can get out of oil. Using gasoline as an example, one way (although it is actually one of the only ways) to get energy out of it is to pump it into an internal combustion engine to produce power. I'm also not sure... but as far as diesel IC engines go, the most efficient ones are around 35% efficient, I'm really not sure. Here's some sites to get you going.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question105.htm
http://science.howstuffworks.com/oil-refining.htm

 

[quicknote]

Oil is a fossil fuel that is formed from the remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. It is a non-renewable resource, meaning that it cannot be replenished once it is used up. Oil is a major source of energy and is used for various purposes, including transportation, electricity generation, and heating.

In terms of power, oil is a highly efficient energy source. It has a high energy density, meaning that a small amount of oil can produce a large amount of energy. This makes it a convenient and practical choice for powering vehicles and machinery.

The efficiency of oil can be measured in terms of its energy conversion efficiency, which is the amount of energy produced from a given amount of oil. This efficiency can vary depending on the type of oil and how it is used. For example, the efficiency of oil used in a car engine may be different from the efficiency of oil used in a power plant.

To find the efficiency of oil, scientists use a measure called the energy return on investment (EROI). This measures the ratio of the energy produced from oil to the energy required to extract, refine, and transport it. A higher EROI indicates a more efficient use of oil.

However, it is important to note that while oil is a powerful and efficient energy source, it also has significant environmental impacts. The extraction, transportation, and burning of oil can release harmful pollutants into the air and contribute to climate change. Therefore, it is important to explore and invest in alternative, renewable energy sources to reduce our dependence on oil and mitigate its negative effects.