Environmental Science

Environmental Science

Purpose/Question

This lab report aimed at determining the most efficient type of fuel, the paraffin or the diethylene glycol.

Which is the most efficient energy between paraffin and diethylene glycol?

Hypothesis

Paraffin is the most efficient fuel compared to diethylene because besides being 100% fuel, paraffin also lack oxygen.

Data Tables

Data Table 1

Data Table 2

(Xu, 2018)

Data Table 3

(Xu, 2018)

Graph:

(Xu, 2018)

Graphs:

Graph 1:

(Xu, 2018)

Graph 2:

(Xu, 2018)

Graph 3:

(Xu, 2018)

Analysis Questions:

Lab report indicate that paraffin is the most efficient fuel compared to the diethylene glycol. The paraffin fuel produced 3840 cal/grams while the diethylene glycol produced 1475.3 cal/grams only.

The diethylene glycol is majorly a hydrocarbon compound, which composes carbon and hydrogen only. On the other hand, paraffin composes saturated hydrocarbon, which are purely single bonds between the various carbon atoms. Diethylene glycol composes hydrocarbon so there are double and triple bond between various carbon atoms (Xu, 2018). Being more saturated compared to diethylene glycol, paraffin have more energy compared to the diethylene glycol regardless of the number of atoms present in the distinct component of fuel.

Diethylene glycol is an ethylene oxide product. Its synthetization occur through the hydrolysis process. The hydrolysis process produces various amounts of DEG and other forms of glycols (Ha et al., 2020). The products of the synthetization process are two ethylene glycol molecules, joined together by the ether bond (Ji et al., 2018).  Distinctively, paraffin produced from petroleum. Key elements forming the paraffin are hydrocarbons made up of hydrogen and carbon (Xu, 2018). Paraffin wax if formed through the defamation of stocks of the light lubrication oil.

Human error is a primary factor in this experiment. An example of possible error from human would be failing to calculate the numbers correctly thereby presenting inaccurate results. Omitting the unclear or complex steps could also cause error by providing false information.

The United States Information Administration approximate that 19 pounds of carbon dioxide is generated in every gallon of non-ethanol gasoline fuel. A gallon of diesel fuel generates about 22 pounds of carbon dioxide during combustion.

Powering 10, 65 watts incandescent the bulbs

(10 bulbs*65 watts) = 650 watts/hour

1 hour = 650 watts while the combustion goes for 4 hours everyday

Hence, 1 day=

(650*4)

=

= 2.6 kilowatts-hour/pay

Annual generation:

= (2.6*365 days)

=949 Kilowatts-hour/pay

2.1 pounds *949 kilowatts

= 1992.9 pounds of carbon oxide annually.

Hence, using 10, 65 watts incandescent bulbs daily for four hours, annually (365), produce1992.9 pounds of carbon dioxide.

Powering 10, 13 watts CFL bulbs;

13 (watts) *10 (bulbs) = 130 watts/hour

In the four-hour daily duration= (130*4)

=520 watts-hour/1000

= 0.52 kilowatts-hour/day

Annual generation:

= (0.52 * 365)

= 189.9 kilowatts hours

Annual electricity production:

= (2.1*189.9)

= 398.79 pounds of carbon dioxide

Hence, it is deducible that 10,13 watts of CFL bulbs produces 398.79  pounds of carbon dioxide annually when the operation goes for four hours every day consistently for the 365 days that forms a complete year.

The above calculations reveal that using the CFL bulbs produces the least carbon dioxide compared to the use of incandescent bulbs.

Conclusion

This lab report has presented efficient data to affirm that paraffin is the most efficient energy compared to diethylene. The claim is supported by vehemently by the lab report. Paraffin has a higher molecular formula compared to diethylene glycol. Besides, it generates more energy compared to the diethylene. The lab report indicate that the tea candle, which presents the paraffin, produces more calories compared to the diethylene glycol. Precisely, about 3840 grams of calories per gram, which is considerably higher than the 1478.3 calories per gram produced by the diethylene glycol.

Reflection

The lab experiment was not only interesting and challenging but was also educative. Learning more about the various types of fuels and their structure was the most interesting segment of the study. I was sincerely enlightened to note that tea candle is more efficient compared to the diethylene glycol. It was even more surprising to note that a significant amount of carbon oxide is produced when each type of fuel is burned per hour, and also during the combustion if various types of light bulbs. These were knew experiences because I had minimal knowledge about light bulbs and types of gases before. Just as the paraffin, the CFL bulb also appeared to be the most efficient light bulb because it is energy efficient based on the above calculations. This lab relate to what I have been learning through the module because it captures two crucial concepts namely energy and fuels. It also captures and reveals a lot about light bulbs, which I have covered in the chapter readings. Hence, the lab report was deep within the context of my course.

References

Ha, E. S., Lee, S. K., Choi, D. H., Jeong, S. H., Hwang, S. J., & Kim, M. S. (2020). Application of diethylene glycol monoethyl ether in solubilization of poorly water-soluble drugs. Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation, 50(3), 231-250.

Ji, J., Huang, Y., Yin, J., Zhao, X., Cheng, X., He, J., … & Liu, J. (2018). Electromagnetic wave absorption performance on Fe3O4 polycrystalline synthesized by the synergy reduction of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 122(6), 3628-3637.

Xu, B. (2018). Influencing factors governing paraffin wax deposition of heavy oil and research on wellbore paraffin remover. Petroleum Science and Technology, 36(20), 1635-1641.