Energy from Gas Online PD

Background Information

The term gas usually relates to two types of naturally occurring gases (natural gas and coal seam gas), both of which contain mainly methane. It also includes liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), one of the petroleum products from the oil refining process.

When used in power generation particularly as a combined cycle, gas fired power typically produces 50% less carbon dioxide than conventional power plants.

Aims

Participants will:

• develop an understanding of the way that gas is extracted, and the way that energy can be produced using natural gas;
• develop an understanding of the process of converting natural gas to liquefied natural gas;
• develop an understanding of the process of underground coal gasification; 
• be made aware of teaching resources that exist to demonstrate each of these topics and processes, and will be provided with teaching materials that can be incorporated into their teaching;
• have the opportunity to contribute to a range of on-line activities designed to clarify their understanding of the main concepts, including on-line chats with industry experts.

Pre-Reading

Methane gas absorbed onto coal in underground deposits can be separated and collected. This gas can then be used to fuel turbines for electricity generation.

Coal seam gas deposits in the Bowen and Surat Basins have economic potential and are therefore being explored further. The Fossil Fuels Map demonstrates the location of gas reserves and present gas mining operations in Queensland. The yellow icons represent gas-fired power installations, while the black icons represent coal-fired power stations in Queensland.

A general understanding of the way in which electricity is generated from fossil fuels would be advantageous for successful completion of this PD, and can be developed using the coal-fired power station interactive.

Included Activities

Week 1 – Energy from Gas in Queensland

Methane (CH4) is the simplest hydrocarbon belonging to the alkane group. The principle component of natural gas and coal seam gas, this chemical burns in the presence of oxygen to produce carbon dioxide. It is a relatively abundant gas, making it useful as a fuel source, but it is also common greenhouse gas.
 
The Gas Fired Power fact sheet summarises the way that methane is used to produce electricity using a combined cycle process. A detailed summary of the way that combined cycle gas turbines work can be located here.

Natural Gas and Coal Seam Gas are presently being explored for, and mined in Queensland. Sources of these gases can be used in electricity generation. Methane is also a waste gas produced when coal is mined underground. This waste material can be captured and used for generation of electricity also.

Watch the Low Emission Energy Future movie.

Read the article ‘Waste coal mine gas fires Queensland’s newest power station’

Contribute to the forum in the Project Room.

 

Week 2 – Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

This week learn more about the way that natural gas (methane) is converted to liquefied natural gas, suitable for subsequent transport and storage.

The liquefaction process involves the cleaning of the gas before cooling. LNG is natural gas that has been cooled to approximately -1620 C. At this temperature, natural gas exists in a liquid phase. The cooling of methane reduces its’ volume enabling easier storage and more cost-efficient transportation of the fuel.

Read the article ‘US may steal green march on us’, then vote in the poll.

Read the information from the About LNG section of the ConocoPhillips website and watch the movie.

The process of converting natural gas to LNG involves a counter current process.

Discuss the way that you could demonstrate a similar process to students in the classroom by contributing to the blog on this topic.

 

Week 3 – Coal Seam Gas

Watch the Catalyst episode on Coal Seam Gas.

Then vote in the poll and contribute to the forum, by completing the tasks below.

• Compare Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) and Coal Seam Gas (CSG)
• List and discuss the obvious pros and cons of the technologies
• Comment on teaching activities that you could implement in your classroom to demonstrate these technologies to students.

Week 4 –  Underground Coal Gasification

This webinar will clarify your understanding of Underground Coal Gasification.

Guest speaker for the Webinar will be Matt Buchanan from LINC Energy.

Date: Tuesday August 24, 2010
Time: 3:30 – 4:00pm

Participants will be emailed URL and log on details prior to the webinar.

If you would like to participate in this event please email education@qrc.org.au to register.

Now,

Vote in the poll.