All posts by Celine Ow

Energy Conservation in Singapore

Introduction

Another issue apart from pollution is energy conservation. As our energy resources are depleting, it is important for us to conserve energy. In Singapore where there are no fossil fuels, energy conservation is even more of an issue to us.

Explanation

In April 2013, the Energy Conservation Act (ECA) took effect in Singapore. The Energy Conservation Act aims to provide an impetus to large industrial consumers to increase their energy efficiency and reduce the impact of their greenhouse gas emissions. Large energy consuming companies are also required to adopt energy management practices so that the government can look into their problems.

References

Mandatory Energy Management Practices. (n.d.). Retrieved on March 27, from http://www.nea.gov.sg/energy-waste/energy-efficiency/industry-sector/mandatory-energy-management-practices

Ghadialy, S. (2014). Retrieved on March 27, from http://www.greenbusiness.sg/2014/03/27/singapores-energy-conservation-act-what-it-means-for-companies/

Oil Refineries in Singapore

Introduction 

The oil industry in Singapore accounts for 5% of the gross domestic product (GDP).  Singapore is also one of the world’s top three export refining centres, accounting for 68.1 million tonnes of oil exports in 2007. Thus, it is important for us to look at the costs of these oil industries in the environmental aspect.

Explanation

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The oil refinery industry is one of the main sources of air pollution in Singapore, releasing SO2, NOX and PM2.5. According to NEA, refineries account for 71% of SO2 emissions. Singapore has set a limit to the level of emissions from these oil companies. The various government agencies are also working with these oil companies to improve the refinery processes and decrease SO2 emissions.

References

ENERGY INDUSTRY IN SINGAPORE. (n.d.). Retrieved on 27 March, from https://www.edb.gov.sg/content/edb/en/industries/industries/energy.html

Air Quality and Targets. (n.d.). Retrieved on 27 March, from http://www.nea.gov.sg/anti-pollution-radiation-protection/air-pollution-control/air-quality-and-targets

Cracking of Oil

Introduction

Fuels made from oil mixtures containing large hydrocarbon molecules are inefficient. They do not flow easily and are difficult to ignite. Crude oil often contains too many large hydrocarbon molecules and are not enough small hydrocarbon molecules to meet demand.

Fractions that are produced by the distillation of crude oil can go through a process called cracking. This chemical reaction produces smaller hydrocarbons, including alkanes and alkenes.

There are a several types of cracking – Thermal Cracking, Catalytic Cracking, Hydrocracking etc.

Explanation

 

 

References

Cleveland, C. (2013). Cracking. Retrieved March 22 from, http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/151525/

Freudenrich,C. (2001). How Oil Refining Works. Retrieved March 22 from, http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/oil-refining5.htm

Polymers and ethanol from oil. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa_pre_2011/oils/polymersrev2.shtml

Fractional Distillation of Crude Oil

Introduction

Fractional distillation consist of a tall column is fitted above the mixture, with several condensers coming off at different heights. The column is hot at the bottom and cool at the top. Substances with high boiling points condense at the bottom and substances with low boiling points condense at the top. Crude oil is made up of different substances with different boiling points hence, these substances can be separated by fractional distillation.

Explanation

The steps of fractional distillation:

  1. Heat the mixture of crude oil to a high temperature. (High pressure steam + 600 degrees Celsius)
  2. The mixture boils, forming vapor (gases); most substances go into the vapor phase.
  3. The vapor enters the bottom of a long column that is filled with trays. The trays have many holes in them to allow the vapor to pass through. They increase the contact time between the vapor and the liquids in the column and help to collect liquids that form at various heights in the column. There is a temperature difference across the column (hot at the bottom, cool at the top).
  4. The vapor rises in the column.
  5. As the vapor rises through the trays in the column, it cools.
  6. When a substance in the vapor reaches a height where the temperature of the column is equal to that substance’s boiling point, it will condense to form a liquid.
  7. The trays collect the various liquid fractions.
  8. The collected liquid fractions may pass to condensers, which cool them further.

References

Fuels from crude oil. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa_pre_2011/rocks/fuelsrev3.shtml

Freudenrich, C. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, from http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/oil-refining4.htm

The Basic Products From Fractional Distillation. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, from http://www.spesttmigas.org/2014/07/the-basic-products-from-fractional.html

Formation of Crude Oil

Introduction

Crude oil, commonly known as petroleum is a liquid found in Earth’s crust and is made up of hydrocarbons, organic compounds and small amounts of metal.

Explanation

Dead animals and plants in the sea drop to bottom of sea bed and build up on the sea bed

There is a mud layer and dead animal layer on top of the sea bed. The mud layer gradually turns to rock

The mud layer turns into rock layer and dead animal and plant layer turns into crude oil

The remains of animals and plants in the sea were buried under sand and rocks where decomposition will occur. During  decomposition, certain chemicals such as phosphorus, nitrogen and oxygen will be removed by tiny bacteria. This leaves behind the remains that are mainly made up of carbon and hydrogen. At the bottom of the ocean there is insufficient oxygen for the remains to decompose entirely. Hence, what we are left with is the raw materials for the formation of petroleum.  In addition, over millions of years, the heat and pressure, without air, convert the remains to oil. In this process, gas is also produced.

At an oil rig, production wells cut through to oil layer in the sea bed and draws oil to the surface

Today, oil companies drill down deep into the sea bed through the impermeable rock to obtain crude oil through the process of fractional distillation.

References

How crude oil was formed. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/standard/chemistry/materialsfromoil/how_crude_oil_was_formed/revision/2/

Petroleum formation. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, from http://www.petroleum.co.uk/formation

Making crude oil useful. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/ocr_gateway_pre_2011/carbon_chem/4_crude_oil1.shtml