Transportation is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, but the use of alternative fuels and the new stricter regulations on existing fuels are helping Canadians achieve a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly future. Select information about alternative fuels based on your use:The Alternative Fuel site has been developed by the Transportation Energy Use Division within the Office of Energy Efficiency.
What is biodiesel? Biodiesel is a non-toxic and biodegradable fuel that is made from vegetable oils, waste cooking oil, animal fats or tall oil (a by-product from pulp and paper processing). BiCompared with conventional diesel, biodiesel combusts better with a higher cetane rating and produces fewer life cycle greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) which contribute to climate change.
Biodiesel is produced from these feedstocks through a process called transesterification, by reacting the oil with an alcohol (usually methanol, although ethanol can also be used) and a catalyst (such as sodium hydroxide). The resulting chemical reaction produces glycerine and an ester called biodiesel. The majority of biodiesel is produced by this method.
Compared with conventional diesel, biodiesel combusts better with a higher cetane rating and produces fewer life cycle greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) which contribute to climate change.
What is ethanol? Ethanol is a liquid alcohol made of oxygen, hydrogen and carbon and is obtained from the fermentation of sugar or converted starch contained in grains and other agricultural or agri-forest feedstocks. In Canada, ethanol is presently made principally from corn and wheat. Ethanol can be produced for different applications, for example, industrial ethanol or fuel grade ethanol. Research into technology to produce ethanol from non-food sources is advancing rapidly and is close to commercialization.
Fuel ethanol, which is sometimes referred to as "gasohol", has been distilled and dehydrated to create a high-octane, water-free alcohol. All water must be removed because a water-alcohol mixture cannot dissolve in gasoline. Fuel ethanol is made unfit for drinking by adding a small amount of a noxious substance such as gasoline. Ethanol is blended with gasoline to produce a fuel which has environmental advantages when compared with gasoline, and can be used in gasoline-powered vehicles manufactured since the 1980's. Most gasoline-powered vehicles can run on a blend consisting of gasoline and up to 10 percent ethanol, known as "E-10", which is available at some regular service stations across Canada.
Fuel cells generate electricity by electrochemically combining hydrogen and oxygen. On a life-cycle basis, they can produce zero or very low emissions, depending on the source of the hydrogen. Fuel cells are energy-conversion devices that utilize hydrogen and other fuels.
Fuel cell applications will likely be used in portable and stationary power devices, possibly followed by transportation applications. Most automobile manufacturers are now working on later prototypes for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Due to the variety of fuels available for conversion to hydrogen, fuel cells are a viable energy technology, one that may offer significant environmental, energy efficiency, supply and economic benefits. But there are still many barriers to their use in vehicles, including the lack of a hydrogen distribution infrastructure, high capital costs for fuel cells and hydrogen-production technologies, and challenges related to hydrogen storage.
Natural gas is a clean-burning fuel, found in abundance in Canada as a mixture of gases in porous rock formations. It is extracted from the ground, processed to remove impurities and compressed to be stored and transported by pipeline. Canada is one of the largest producers of natural gas in the world. Annual production in 2005 surpassed 6 trillion cubic feet, mostly from Alberta and British Columbia, and there are over 1 trillion cubic metres of proven reserves. Major high-pressure pipelines carry natural gas from its source to pipelines of natural-gas utility companies, which in turn take it to your home for heating or to a retail gasoline station to be compressed, stored and used to fuel vehicles.
Propane is a clean-burning, gaseous fuel that is pressurized and stored as a liquid when used in vehicles. When used as a vehicle fuel, it is pressurized, stored as a liquid and burned as a gas. It is often called LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) or auto propane. Most of Canada's propane is a co-product of natural gas production. About 85 percent of Canada's propane is produced at natural gas plants in Western Canada, whereas the rest is a by-product of oil refining. Propane is distributed by pipeline, railcar and bulk trucks and trailers. Like gasoline, propane is sold in litres.
vocabulary
largest: maior, grande
greenhouse: estufa
stricter: mais estrito
achieve: conseguir
environmentally: ambiental
means: significa
low : baixo
overall: globalmente
refueling: reabastecer
However: entretanto
heavy and bulky : pesado e volumoso
Researchers: investigadores
Lightweight: de pouco peso
Through: completamente
Although: embora
Better: melhor
Higher: mais altamente
Blended: misturado
Across: através de
Source: fonte
Stationary: estacionário
Barriers: barreiras
Challenges: desafios
Storage: armazenamento
Pressurized: pressurizado
Western: Ocidental
Sold: vendido
Perguntas...
1)Qual é a única fonte e a maior de emissões de gás na estufa?
2)Como é produzido o biodiesel?
3)Qual a diferença do biodiesel comparado com o diesel convencional?
4)Por que o ethanol é misturado com a gasolina?
5) Aonde seriam utilizadas as aplicações da célula combustível?
Aline 05, Carina 15, Carla 16, Taise 37
quinta-feira, 14 de junho de 2007
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