Carbon Emission

Table of contents

Introduction

Some basic information about the power and Energy issue
Some basic type of energies
Global warming
The theme of this research paper

Heat engines
- Working principles of heat engine
- Type of heat engines
- Concise history of the heat engine
Carbon emission and its impact on the global warming
- Carbon emission of heat engines
- Its impact on the global warming
Possible adaption of the air engine for the part of a heat engine
- Can the air engine be used for the heat engine? Explain?
Discussions and conclusions
- Your findings
- Suggestions related to the global warming.
References

Introduction

Nuclear energy has for a long period posed a number of problems especially for environmentalists. As a cheap source of energy that does not consume fossil fuels or add to the greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, it is associated with alarming environmental problems such as the issue of radioactive waste disposal (Berners-Lee 32). There are various forms of energy. They include nuclear energy, potential energy, kinetic energy, electrical energy, chemical energy, heat or thermal energy, electrochemical energy, sound energy, and electromagnetic energy. Global warming is a contemporary issue in the modern world in environmental and related fields. It is the leading humanitarian and environmental crisis of the modern era (Berners-Lee 40). The globe’s atmosphere is overburdened with carbon dioxide that traps heat and threatens various disruptions in the earth’s climate with devastating effects. This calls for immediate action to stimulate the implementation of cleaner sources of energy in the environment. The paper focuses on explaining the concept of carbon emission and how it has affected the environment.

Heat Engines

A heat engine uses energy to execute work and then exhausts the heat that cannot be utilized in doing work. Heat engines operate on a number of principles that are constrained by the first and second law of thermodynamics. Thermodynamics refers to the study of the association between work and heat (Senft 19). The first law relates to the use of energy conservation to the system while the second law places restrictions on the probable efficiency and effectiveness of heat engines and establishes the energy flow direction. There are two kinds of heat engines: the internal combustion energy and the external combustion energy. Heat is generated through burning up the energy in a chamber placed outside the main engine body, in external combustion engines. The steam engine is a type of external combustion engine. In internal combustion engines, however, heat is generated through burning the fuel in the main engine body. Diesel engines and petroleum engines are types of internal combustion engines. Sometimes, they are also known as four stroke engines. The first functional engine was created in 1697 by Thomas Savery (Senft 18). It was known as “Miner’s friend“. Sadi Carnot, a French physicist, sought to generalize the operation principles of all kinds of heat engines, in 1824. From that period, heat engines began to be manufactured in large quantities.

Carbon emission and its impact on the global warming

Burning fuels and use of heat engines are responsible for emitting carbon into the air. Each time fossil fuels including oil, coal, and gas are burnt, there is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In a normal cycle of carbon, the carbon dioxide released into the air is re-absorbed by trees and plants. This trend is minimized by burning fuels in areas where the carbon dioxide emitted is trapped beneath the surface of the earth, meaning that trees and plants cannot absorb it (Dupont 110). The effect of the excess carbon dioxide from burning fuels and heat engines is that the general earth’s temperature is increases. This is what is known as global warming. As the average temperature of the earth is increasing, the climate is also changing in irregular ways as there are hurricanes, floods, droughts, and heat waves being experienced across various regions of the world. To minimize the risk of more extreme climate and weather, it is necessary to minimize the amount of fossil fuels and heat engines being used (Berners-Lee 56). People burn fossil fuels in order to create energy that may be required to warm the houses, to fuel cars (heat engines), to grow food, and to manufacture items that require heat engines in the industries.

When petrol or diesel is burnt in cars, for instance, it generates heat that is used to move the car. Carbon is produced into the air that mixes with oxygen to form carbon dioxide. Similarly, fossil fuels release carbon when they are burnt in the process of manufacturing products for human use. Human activities, therefore, result in carbon emissions into the air (Dupont 112). The emission of carbon into the atmosphere results in global warming. As stated, Global warming is a contemporary issue in the modern world in environmental and related fields. It is the biggest humanitarian and environmental crisis of the modern era. The earths’s atmosphere is overburdened with carbon dioxide that traps heat and threatens various disruptions in the earth’s climate with devastating effects. The global warming disastrous effects include oxygen depletion, hot weather and heat waves, radioactive forcing, acidification, droughts, floods, hurricanes among other adverse effects (Berners-Lee 57).

Possible adaption of the air engine for the part of a heat engine

The use of heat engines has proven to have diverse effects on the environment that threatens the health and life of plants and animals. The question as to whether air engines can be used in the place of heat engines can be resolved as both engines operate on similar principles. Air engines use the contraction and expansion of air under the temperature change that converts thermal power into mechanical work (Senft 20). They involve thermodynamic cycles as air is heated and cooled repeatedly in a chamber and the contraction and expansion resulting is used to move a piston and generate useful mechanical work. However, they only work best in internal combustion.

Discussions and conclusions

Carbon emissions into the atmosphere cause a number of challenges, the main issue being that of global warming. There has been increased use of heat engines in the contemporary world especially with the increase of cars on the roads. Although, this may be seen as some form of development and industrialization, it has adverse effects that even threaten the lives of individuals. The issue of global warming has proven to be a challenge even for the most developed countries with the high levels and sophisticated technologies. The globe’s atmosphere is overburdened with carbon dioxide that traps heat and threatens various disruptions in the earth’s climate with devastating effects. This calls for immediate action to stimulate the implementation of cleaner sources of energy in the environment. People need to focus on global warming on a wide-scale in order to try and minimize its risks. Individuals depend on the environment for survival. This means that if the environment is threatened, the human life is also threatened. Therefore, governments across the world should come together and establish programs and policies aimed at dealing with this environmental and humanitarian crisis.

Works Cited

Berners-Lee, Mike. How Bad Are Bananas?: The Carbon Footprint of Everything. London: Profile, 2010. Internet resource.

Dupont, André. An American Solution for Reducing Carbon Emissions, Averting Global Warming, Creating Green Energy and Sustainable Employment. Falls Church, VA: Dupont Group, 2009. Print.

Senft, J R. Mechanical Efficiency of Heat Engines. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Print.