Essay on Fuel

Have you noticed how food is cooked in your house? More so, what is used in your car or the bus you use for going to one place to another? All such things which are used to generate energy and do work are called fuels. A car runs on petrol, diesel or (Compressed Natural Gas) CNG, while households use Liquefied Petroleum Gas) LPG or (Piped Natural Gas) PNG. Wood and charcoal are also used to generate heat. Such is the importance of fuel in our life that we cannot imagine life without them. They are a valuable resource to us. Therefore, we have come up with short essays on fuel which shall help the students know more about these natural and valuable resources.

List of Essays on Fuel in English

Essay on Fuel – Essay 1 (100 Words)

Introduction:

Fuel is anything which generates energy to do work. It is a substance which produces heat, chemical or nuclear energy. There are different kinds of fuels available to mankind in order to perform different work. Fuels are a limited type of resource and therefore should be put to optimum use.

Importance in Daily Life and Economy:

Fuels are very important for many of our activities. The vehicles we drive run on petrol, diesel or compressed natural gas. The gas we use for burning a stove is liquefied petroleum gas. All things starting from small household work to large activities such as running planes, ships and industrial plants, fuel is required almost everywhere. Due to its numerous uses, it is a basic part of the worldwide economy. That is why fuel is one the most important natural resources on the Earth.

Essay on Fuel – Essay 2 (250 Words)

Introduction:

There is no energy release without fuel, or at least that is how we like to conceptualize things. The matter of fact is that a lot of things can be considered fuel because we have mastered the ability to release energy through the manipulation of chemical reactions between organic and inorganic matter. From the first use of fire to the development of nuclear power plants fuel is one of the key components of what makes us human.

Conceptualizing Fuel:

When we think about fuel in technical terms, we notice that many things that surround us can be considered as such. The fact is that there are many objects or substances that we can burn and therefore use as fuel. We can burn wood, coal, paper, petrol and use it in some form or another to fuel for our ovens or engines. This fact also implies that we depend on fuel in our daily lives and without this technological advancement we use to create and manipulate energy there would be no humanity.

The Future of Fuel:

Having all of that in mind, there are many problems we are faced with when the future of fuel is considered. The fact is that the matter we burn or use in other types of chemical reactions as fuel is not infinite. There is a limit to what we can burn but there are energy flows that surround us like the sun and the wind that are harvested and used as fuel to power our future.

Essay on Fuel – Essay 3 (300 Words)

It takes millions and millions of year to produce fossil fuel like coal because they are produced using the fossilized remains of too many ancient plants and animals which decay under high pressure.

The Definition:

So, let us first see as to what can be categorized as a fuel. A fuel would be any kind of material which can react with otter substances and ends up releasing energy which, in turn, can be used for constructive work.

Initially, it was believed that the energy released should be chemical energy but with times the definition has modified to include nuclear energy and other energy forms too.

The fuel can be broadly categorized as three main types – solid, liquid and gaseous. Of course, each category has its own use to offer and it is upon us to make sure that we put the fuel to right use and do not exploit the natural ones unnecessarily.

The Problem:

However, what is pitiable is the fact that we have depleted a large amount of fossil fuel and their regeneration is not going to be quick. This is why the focus has recently shifted to the use of alternate fuel so that we could save the fossil fuel for the future generations. Further, there has been a lot of hue and cry regarding how the burning of fossil fuel tends to impact the global environment. The researchers have pinpointed that it is one of the leading cause of global warming owing to production of greenhouse gases.

The Solution:

The real solution lies in promoting the use of renewable and alternate source of energy and fuel. Bio fuel too has increased in popularity and they are being used for automotive transport as well. But once again, there is a debate regarding how carbon efficient the bio-fuel too really are!

The bottom-line remains the fact that consumption of fuel should be done keeping in mind the harmful impact on the environment.

Essay on Fuel – Essay 4 (400 Words)

Fuel is a substance that produces heat and/or light on burning. There are many types of fuels for performing different tasks. Just as every other thing on earth, fuels offer both advantages and disadvantages.

Use of Fuels:

Fuels are required for carrying out day to day tasks such as lighting, cooking, heating, running vehicle, generating electricity etc. Fuel is an integral part of our life and we cannot imagine our life without fuel. For example, vehicles – car to aeroplanes – run on petrol, diesel or CNG and wood, coal, gas etc., are used for cooking.

Types of Fuels:

Fuels can be in solid, liquid or gaseous forms. One fuel can be used for multiple tasks and for same task more than one fuel may be used. There are two broad categories of fuels – Bio Fuels and Fossil Fuels.

Bio Fuels:

Bio fuels are fuels generated from plants, animal waste, municipal waste and waste from the food and agro industries. Some bio fuels are available in nature such as wood and cow dung cakes. The vegetable seeds and wastes are processed for the production of bio fuels for example, bio diesel is generated from algae or certain plant seeds; bio gas is produced from kitchen waste, animal waste or other organic waste. These are also called renewable fuels.

Fossil Fuels:

Fossil fuels are fuels generated by the changes that took place over millions of years on the remains of animals and plants. Fossil fuels are found on earth’s surface or underneath and have limited stock. These are also referred as non-renewable fuels. Due to increasing demand and limited supply, their cost is ever increasing.

Pollution:

Burning or using any type of fuel produces carbon dioxide and other harmful products that cause pollution. Some fuels create less pollution like CNG, while other cause more pollution like coal. The increasing pollution due to burning of fossil fuels is a major cause of global warming and climate change.

Conservation:

Changing lifestyle, supported by technology, has increased the fuel consumption manifolds. If we continue to use fossil fuels at this pace, these may last for few decades only. Therefore, we must reduce the use of fossil fuels and save such fuels to last longer for future generations. Fuels should not be wasted and more efficient machinery and appliances shall be built. Use of alternate sources of energy like wind, hydraulic, solar, tidal, geothermal and nuclear shall be increased.

Essay on Fuel – Essay 5 (500 Words)

Introduction:

Fuel is a substance that reacts with another substance for energy generation and doing work. In the contemporary period, these fuels govern our day to day activities. Fuels are juxtaposed with devices that store energy like battery, capacitors, spring etc. Fuel functions as a vital part to quench our energy requirement. Petroleum is the most commonly used fuel by humans on a daily basis from cooking to traveling to manufacturing.

Types of Fuels:

There are various types of fuel classification. Based on their state of matter, fuels are classified as Solid fuels like wood and peat, liquid fuels like petroleum and gasoline and gaseous fuels like natural gases. Based on their source, the fuels are classified as physical fuels like solid propellant and electricity, chemical fuels like CNG and blast furnace gas, biofuels like biodiesel derived from biomass and nuclear fuels like radioactive uranium rods, etc.

The biofuels are further categorized into primary biofuels and secondary biofuels. The primary fuels are those which are used in an unprocessed form while the secondary biofuels need to be used after certain processing. Examples of biofuels are the green-diesel generated from green algae, biogas generated from animal waste and fat, etc.

Based on their availability, fuels are classified as renewable fuels and non-renewable fuels. This is a very important classification to know as this type has entered into the vicious cycle of environmental degradation, availability of fuel, depletion of fuel, and so on. Those fuels which can be replenished to the rate of usage are called the renewable source of fuels. This includes tidal energy, wind energy, etc. However, some fuels keep on depleting upon the exhaustive usage and nature can’t replenish those fuels. Examples include oil and petroleum, fossil fuels etc.

Conservation of Fuels:

The conservation of renewable and the non-renewable fuels are the need of the hour and this activity makes sense at various walks of life. For example, when we are standing at a traffic signal, it is advised to turn off your vehicle to avoid wastage of fuels. We can also decrease the speed to increase the fuel economy. We can minimize the brake usage in a vehicle. We can encourage vehicle pooling or use public transport whenever possible.

We must create campaigns and awareness about fuel conservation to people. Not only the non-renewable resources are depleted, but the renewable resources are also depleting because nature cannot replenish the resources at the speed they are dug out and utilized. Despite the renewability, if we continue to use the fuels at this rate, we will end up facing the depletion of fuels.

Conclusion:

Fuels are depleting at a faster rate from the earth’s surface. Most of the things that we rely upon on a daily basis to run our daily chores use up fuels. Fuel economy is a growing economy and gives a lucrative business, to begin with. However, owing to the earth’s carrying capacity, humans must reduce the exhaustive usage and extensive wastage of fuels so that our future generations to come can also use fuels.

Essay on Fuel – Essay 6 (750 Words)

Introduction:

Fuel can be said to be any form of material that reacts with another substance or material to ensure the release of energy in the form of heat energy and can used to perform work. Fuel used to be solely referred to as the materials that can release chemical energy, it has now started to be applied to different other sources that produce heat energy like nuclear energy through nuclear fusion and nuclear fission.

The fuel reactions led to a release of heat energy which is then converted through heat engines to mechanical energy. Sometimes, the heat can be used for industrial processes, cooking or warmth and also serves as a source of illumination through the combustion. The organisms also use fuels in their cells through a process commonly called cellular respiration; there is the oxidation of the organic molecules so that usable energy can be released.

The fuel source that is most commonly employed by human beings is hydrocarbons and other related molecules that contain oxygen even though some other materials and substances like metals that are radioactive are also employed. Fuels are quite different from the other devices and substances that store potential energy like the ones that release directly mechanical energy like reservoir water, air that is compressed, springs and flywheels or electrical energy such as capacitors and batteries.

History:

The very first use and employment of fuel that is known, was the stick or wood combustion by the Homo erectus about two or three million years before now. Humans have derived fuel from animal fat or plants through most of our history as humans. A derivative of wood that is known as charcoal has been in use for more than 8,000 years now when it was used to melt metals. When the forests in Europe started to face serious depletion, charcoal was substituted with coke during the 1700s. We now use charcoal briquettes as fuel when we cook through barbecue.

The first time coal was used as a source of fuel in China about 3000 years ago. Chemical energy is usually released by combustion. The introduction and inception of the famed steam engine in the year 1769 in the region of the United Kingdom led to the use of coal as a very popular source of power. Locomotives and ships were also driven with the use of coal. London began using the gas that is gotten from coal as lighting on the streets around the 1800s. By the 1900s and 2000s, the major area where the coal was employed is the generation of electricity and by 2005, coal provided over 40% of the electrical supply of power all over the world.

During the period of industrial revolution, there was the rapid adoption of fossil fuels, mainly due to fossil fuels being more flexible and concentrated than other energy sources that are traditional like water power. Fossil fuels have become very important and vital component of our society today. A large majority of the countries we have today, generate power through the burning of fossil fuels. Now, we are beginning to look towards energy and fuel sources that are renewable. A good example of such renewable fuel is biofuels such as alcohols.

Types of Fuel:

We have primary two types of fuel in the world we live in today. They are chemical fuels and nuclear fuels.

1. Chemical Fuels:

These are the material or substances that react with substances and materials around them and then release energy majorly through the process known as combustion. The chemical bond of the particular fuels does not store the released chemical energy during combustion. The released chemical energy is actually stored in the double bonded molecule of oxygen which is very weak.

We can classify chemical fuels into two broad ways: first on the basis of the physical properties like a gas, liquid or solid. We can also classify fuels on the basis of the occurrence like natural fuel (primary) and artificial (secondary).

2. Nuclear Fuels:

This is any substance or material that can be consumed in order to produce nuclear energy. It is important to note that any form of matter can produce nuclear energy and act as nuclear fuel if put under conditions that are right and favourable. Almost every nuclear fuel is made up of heavy and rare fissile elements which can undergo nuclear fission. The striking of these fuels by neutrons causes them to emit neutrons when these matters are broken apart. Therefore, the process of nuclear energy production is a chain reaction that is self-sustaining.

Essay on Fuel – Essay 7 (1000 Words)

Introduction:

Fuel is a substance that can be used to generate power or heat through combustion. Fuel use has been in existence since the evolution of mankind. Fuel was historically discovered though the use of wood and coal. Energy is the hallmark of industrialization. Fuels form the major source of energy and its production is dependent on the energy demands. Industrialization has been developed as it utilizes the different forms of energy. Fuel has remained a constant source of energy as it is easily accessible and it is vastly used. Both developing and developed countries use fuel in almost all their day to day activities. The rates at which fuel is being consumed continues to rise over the years. The rise in fuel consumption has been attributed to globalization, the increasing population and the advancements that are being made through technology. Common sources of fuel are conventional fuels, such as reserves of coal, oil and other fossil fuels. These conventional fuels are limited and non-renewable. Though fuels have been of great importance in industrialization world, there have been hazards associated to its combustion. Some of these hazards being deleterious to both humans and other living things in the environment.

Classification of Fuels:

Fuels can be classified into different types depending on their characteristics. There are two groups of fuels; one group is classifies based on occurrence which can be either natural e.g., wood and coal or prepared fuels e.g., charcoal whereas the second group is based on the physical state of the fuel which can be liquid e.g., petroleum, solid e.g., coal or gas e.g., natural gas.

Sources of Fuels:

Based on the classification of fuels, the sources differ with the type of fuel. There are natural sources and artificial sources. Natural sources of fuel occur freely in the environment and are discovered by humans so that they can be put it into use. An example of natural gas that is found naturally existing in air. Its main constituent is methane. Artificial sources of fuels are usually prepared by humans before use. An example is charcoal. Charcoal is fuel that is prepared from wood. The preparation process is specific but it involved combustion, which results in environmental pollution.

Uses of Fuel:

The uses of fuel rang from domestic to industrial based on the energy requirements. Fuel can be used in more ways than one. Domestic uses include heating and cooking. Natural gas is used in heating systems for both dryers and water. Cooking stoves are powered by natural gas in most of the homes. Natural gas is the most utilized source of fuel because of its efficiency and the minimal harm it causes on both the environment and humans.

Another use of fuel is transportation whereby fuels such as petroleum are used in vehicles to facilitate movement of goods and people. Fuels are also used in industries. Industries require the largest amount of energy compared to domestic uses because of the heavy activities like manufacturing, which consumes a sumptuous amount of energy.

Fuels are used to generate electricity and this results in an alternative source of fuel. There is commercial use of fuels like in restaurants and warehouses. All these sectors that require fuels are important in the development of a nation because they enable the expansion of fuel sector and generate income for the country.

Advantages and Disadvantages of using Fuel:

Fuel use has its own advantages and disadvantages depending on the types of fuels. Liquid fuels are easy to transport and store. However, liquid fuels produce bad odor, they are expensive, and they require special storage containers and are highly flammable and can be dangerous. The special storage are costly to acquire and maintain them.

Solid fuels have a low production cost since the processes are not complex, they are convenient to store without the risk for flammability among the dangers, and they are easy to transport. Although the production cost of solid fuels is low, the handling costs are high. Solid fuels produce ash content that is high especially after use of wood. The ash content is a pollutant to the environment. Ash causes soil pollution because its pH is disruptive to the normal pH in soil. The use of solid fuels in combustion is hard to control unlike liquid fuel whereby the control is simple. Solid fuel also consumesa a lot of space compared to other fuel forms.

Gaseous fuels are the most preferred type of fuel because they are clean to use. Gaseous fuels are easy to store and transport using pipelines without need of manual transportation. Gaseous fuels are environment friendly as they do not produce soot, smoke or ashes upon combustion. Impurities are minimal in gaseous fuels compared to thee other forms of fuel. Disadvantages of gaseous fuels is the requirement of large storage tanks. They are also highly flammable and pose a great danger to both the producer and the use.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, fuel is widely used both domestically and in industries. Fuel can be useful in generating other sources of fuel which enables the running of the fuel industry. The uses of fuel differ based on the energy requirements and the types of fuel that are available. Forms of fuel are preferred based on affordability and convenience. Both natural sources and prepared sources of fuels are important in energy production. Environmental pollution has however become a major disadvantage of fuel use across the globe. The nature of fuels is combustion so that energy can be produced and utilized but in the process, pollutants end up in the environment and cause the disruption of the ecosystems. The uses of fuels have to be controllable so as to minimize environmental pollution. Solid fuel have been proven to be the major cause of environmental pollution because there is production of soot and ashes. All these products of combustion pollute the environment and are hazardous to human health and other living things in the environment. Fuels use is essential but so is the environment.