Wood was one of the first fuels used by humans and is still the primary energy source in much of the world.

Fuel is any material that is burnt or altered in order to obtain energy. ^[1] Fuel releases its energy either through a chemical reaction means, such as combustion, or nuclear means, such as nuclear fission or nuclear fusion. Combustion or burning is a complex sequence of Exothermic chemical reactions between a Fuel and an Oxidant accompanied by the production of Nuclear fission is the splitting of the nucleus of an atom into parts (lighter nuclei) often producing Free neutrons and other smaller nuclei which may In Physics and Nuclear chemistry, nuclear fusion is the process by which multiple- like charged atomic nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus An important property of a useful fuel is that its energy can be stored to be released only when needed, and that the release is controlled in such a way that the energy can be harnessed to produce work. In Physics, mechanical work is the amount of Energy transferred by a Force.

All carbon-based life forms—from microorganisms to animals and humans—depend on and use fuels as their source of energy. Carbon forms the backbone of Biology for all Life on Earth. Complex Molecules are made up of carbon bonded with other elements A microorganism (also spelled micro organism or micro-organism and also called a microbe) is an Organism that is Microscopic (usually Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus Their cells engage in an enzyme-mediated chemical process called metabolism that converts energy from food or solar power into a form that can be used to sustain life. The cell is the structural and functional unit of all known living Organisms It is the smallest unit of an organism that is classified as living and is often called Enzymes are Biomolecules that catalyze ( ie increase the rates of Chemical reactions Almost all enzymes are Proteins Metabolism is the set of Chemical reactions that occur in living Organisms in order to maintain Life. Food is any substance usually composed primarily of Carbohydrates Fats water and/or Proteins that can be eaten or drunk by an ^[2] Additionally, humans employ a variety of techniques to convert one form of energy into another, producing usable energy for purposes that go far beyond the energy needs of a human body. The human body is the entire physical and mental structure of a Human Organism. The application of energy released from fuels ranges from heat to cooking and from powering weapons to combustion and generation of electricity. In Physics, heat, symbolized by Q, is Energy transferred from one body or system to another due to a difference in Temperature Cooking is the process of preparing Food by applying Heat, selecting measuring and combining of ingredients in an ordered procedure for producing safe and edible A weapon is a Tool used either in Hunting, or attack or defence in Combat for the purpose of subduing enemy personnel or to destroy enemy weapons Combustion or burning is a complex sequence of Exothermic chemical reactions between a Fuel and an Oxidant accompanied by the production of Electric power is defined as the rate at which Electrical energy is transferred by an Electric circuit.

Energy sources

All currently-known fuels ultimately derive their energy from a small number of sources. Much of the chemical energy produced by life forms, such as fossil fuels, is derived from the utilization of solar energy through photosynthesis. Fossil fuels or mineral fuels are fossil source Fuels that is Hydrocarbons found within the top layer of the Earth’s crust. Photosynthesis is a Metabolic pathway that converts Light Energy into Chemical energy. Solar energy in turn is generated by the thermonuclear fusion process at the core of the Sun. In Physics and Nuclear chemistry, nuclear fusion is the process by which multiple- like charged atomic nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus The Sun (Sol is the Star at the center of the Solar System. The radioactive isotopes used as fuel to power nuclear plants were formed in supernova explosions. Radioactive decay is the process in which an unstable Atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting ionizing particles and Radiation. Isotopes (Greek isos = "equal" tópos = "site place" are any of the different types of atoms ( Nuclides A supernova (plural supernovae or supernovas) is a stellar Explosion.

Chemical

Chemical fuels are substances that generate energy by reacting with substances around them, most notably by the process of oxidization. These substances were the first fuels to be known and used by humans and are still the primary type of fuel used today. Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus

Biofuels

Main article: Biofuel

Biofuel can be broadly defined as solid, liquid, or gas fuel consisting of, or derived from biomass. Biomass refers to living and recently dead Biological material that can be used as fuel or for industrial production Biomass can also be used directly for heating or power—known as biomass fuel. Biofuel can be produced from any carbon source that can be replenished rapidly e. g. plants. Many different plants and plant-derived materials are used for biofuel manufacture.

Perhaps the earliest fuel that was employed by humans is wood. Wood is hard fibrous lignified structural tissue produced as secondary Xylem in the stems of Woody plants notably trees but also shrubs Evidence shows controlled fire was used up to 1. 5 million years ago at Swartkrans, South Africa. Swartkrans is a location in South Africa, around 20 miles from Johannesburg. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa It is unknown which hominid species first used fire, as both Australopithecus and an early species of Homo were present at the sites. The Genus Australopithecus ( Latin australis "of the south" Greek πίθηκος pithekos "ape" Homo is the Genus that includes modern humans and their close relatives ^[3] As a fuel, wood has remained in use up until the present day, although it has been superseded for many purposes by other sources. Wood has an energy density of 10–20 MJ/kg. The joule (written in lower case ˈdʒuːl or /ˈdʒaʊl/ (symbol J) is the SI unit of Energy measuring heat, Electricity ^[4]

Recently biofuels have been developed for use in automotive transport (for example E10 fuel), but there is widespread public debate about how carbon efficient these fuels are. Ethanol (ethyl Alcohol) and Methanol (methyl alcohol are two types of Alcohol fuels.

Fossil fuels

Main article: Fossil fuel

Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons, primarily coal and petroleum (liquid petroleum or natural gas), formed from the fossilized remains of dead plants and animals^[5] by exposure to heat and pressure in the Earth's crust over hundreds of millions of years^[6]. Fossil fuels or mineral fuels are fossil source Fuels that is Hydrocarbons found within the top layer of the Earth’s crust. In Organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an Organic compound consisting entirely of Hydrogen and Carbon. Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit Natural gas is a Gaseous Fossil fuel consisting primarily of Methane but including significant quantities of Ethane, Propane, FOSSIL is a standard protocol for allowing serial communication for Telecommunications programs under the DOS Operating system. EARTH was a short-lived Japanese vocal trio which released 6 singles and 1 album between 2000 and 2001 In Geology, a crust is the outermost solid shell of a planet or moon In common parlance, the term fossil fuel also includes hydrocarbon-containing natural resources that are not derived entirely from biological sources, such as tar sands. In Organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an Organic compound consisting entirely of Hydrogen and Carbon. Natural resources are naturally occurring substances that are considered valuable in their relatively unmodified ( natural) form These latter sources are properly known as mineral fuels.

Modern large-scale industrial development is based on fossil fuel use, which has largely supplanted water-driven mills, as well as the combustion of wood or peat for heat. Wood is hard fibrous lignified structural tissue produced as secondary Xylem in the stems of Woody plants notably trees but also shrubs Peat is an accumulation of partially Decayed Vegetation matter. With global modernization in the 20th and 21st centuries, the growth in energy production from fossil fuels, especially gasoline derived from oil, is one of the causes of major regional and global conflicts and environmental issues. A global movement toward the generation of renewable energy is therefore under way to help meet the increased global energy needs. Renewable energy is Energy generated from Natural resources mdashsuch as Sunlight, Wind, Rain, tides and geothermal

The burning of fossil fuels by humans is the largest source of emissions of carbon dioxide, which is one of the greenhouse gases that enhances radiative forcing and contributes to global warming. Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single Greenhouse gases are gaseous constituents of the atmosphere bothnatural and anthropogenic that absorb and emit radiation at specific wavelengths within the spectrum of thermal infrared In Climate science radiative forcing is (loosely defined as the change in net Irradiance at the Tropopause. Global warming is the increase in the average measured temperature of the The atmospheric concentration of CO₂, a greenhouse gas, is increasing, raising concerns that solar heat will be trapped and the average surface temperature of the Earth will rise in response. See also Temperature record. The instrumental temperature record shows the fluctuations of the Temperature of the atmosphere and the oceans as

Nuclear

Main article: Nuclear fuel

Nuclear fuel is any material that is consumed to derive nuclear energy. Nuclear fuel is any material that can be consumed to derive Nuclear energy, by analogy to chemical Fuel that is burned to derive energy Nuclear Energy is released by the splitting (fission or merging together (fusion of the nuclei of Atom (s Technically speaking this definition includes all matter because any element will under the right conditions release nuclear energy, the only materials that are commonly referred to as nuclear fuels though are those that will produce energy without being placed under extreme duress.

Fission

Nuclear fuel pellets are used to create nuclear energy.

The most common type of nuclear fuel used by humans is heavy fissile elements that can be made to undergo nuclear fission chain reactions in a nuclear fission reactor; nuclear fuel can refer to the material or to physical objects (for example fuel bundles composed of fuel rods) composed of the fuel material, perhaps mixed with structural, neutron moderating, or neutron reflecting materials. In Nuclear engineering, a fissile material is one that is capable of sustaining a Chain reaction of Nuclear fission. Nuclear fission is the splitting of the nucleus of an atom into parts (lighter nuclei) often producing Free neutrons and other smaller nuclei which may A chain reaction is a sequence of Reactions where a reactive product or by-product causes additional reactions to take place This article is a subarticle of Nuclear power. A nuclear reactor is a device in which Nuclear chain reactions are initiated controlled Nuclear fuel is any material that can be consumed to derive Nuclear energy, by analogy to chemical Fuel that is burned to derive energy In Nuclear engineering, a neutron moderator is a medium which reduces the velocity of Fast neutrons thereby turning them into Thermal neutrons capable The most common fissile nuclear fuels are ²³⁵U and ²³⁹Pu, and the actions of mining, refining, purifying, using, and ultimately disposing of these elements together make up the nuclear fuel cycle, which is important for its relevance to nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons. Uranium-235 is an isotope of uranium that differs from the element's other common isotope Uranium-238, by its ability to cause a rapidly expanding fission Plutonium-239 is an Isotope of Plutonium. Plutonium-239 is the primary Fissile isotope used for the production of Nuclear weapons although The nuclear fuel cycle, also called nuclear fuel chain, is the progression of Nuclear fuel through a series of differing stages Nuclear power is any Nuclear technology designed to extract usable Energy from atomic nuclei via controlled Nuclear reactions A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from Nuclear reactions either fission or a combination of fission and fusion.

Fusion

Fuels that produce energy by the process of nuclear fusion are currently not utilized by man but are the main source of fuel for stars, the most powerful energy sources in nature. In Physics and Nuclear chemistry, nuclear fusion is the process by which multiple- like charged atomic nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus Fusion fuels tend to be light elements such as hydrogen which will combine easily. Hydrogen (ˈhaɪdrədʒən is the Chemical element with Atomic number 1

In stars that undergo nuclear fusion, fuel consists of atomic nuclei that can release energy by the absorption of a proton or neutron. A star is a massive luminous ball of plasma. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the Energy on Earth In Physics and Nuclear chemistry, nuclear fusion is the process by which multiple- like charged atomic nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus The nucleus of an Atom is the very dense region consisting of Nucleons ( Protons and Neutrons, at the center of an atom The proton ( Greek πρῶτον / proton "first" is a Subatomic particle with an Electric charge of one positive This article is a discussion of neutrons in general For the specific case of a neutron found outside the nucleus see Free neutron. In most stars the fuel is provided by hydrogen, which can combine together to form helium through the proton-proton chain reaction or by the CNO cycle. Hydrogen (ˈhaɪdrədʒən is the Chemical element with Atomic number 1 Helium ( He) is a colorless odorless tasteless non-toxic Inert Monatomic Chemical The proton-proton chain reaction is one of several fusion reactions by which Stars convert Hydrogen to Helium, the primary alternative being the The CNO cycle (for Carbon - Nitrogen - Oxygen) or sometimes Bethe-Weizsäcker-cycle, is one of two sets of fusion reactions When the hydrogen fuel is exhausted, nuclear fusion can continue with progressively heavier elements, although the net energy released is lower because of the smaller difference in nuclear binding energy. Once iron-56 or nickel-56 nuclei are produced, no further energy can be obtained by nuclear fusion as these have the highest nuclear binding energies. ^[7]

World trade

Fuel imports in 2005

World Bank reported that the USA was the top fuel importer in 2005 followed by the EU and Japan. The World Bank is an internationally supported Bank that provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries for development programs (e

Use over time

The first use of fuel was the combustion of wood or sticks by Homo erectus near 2 million years ago. Homo erectus ( Latin: "upright man" is an extinct species of the genus Homo, believed to have been the first hominin ^[8] Throughout the majority of human history fuels derived from plants or animal fat were the only ones available for human use. Charcoal, a wood derivative, has been used since at least 6,000 BCE for smelting metals. Charcoal' is the blackish residue consisting of impure Carbon obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from Animal and Vegetation It was only supplanted by coke, derived from coal, as the forests started to became depleted around the 18th century. Coke may refer to Coke (fuel, a solid carbonaceous residue derived from destructive distillation of coal Petroleum coke, a solid carbon Charcoal briquettes are now commonly used as a fuel for barbecue cooking. barbeque block party Kansas cityjpg|thumb|right|275px|A barbecue on a trailer at a Block party in Kansas City. ^[9]

Coal was first used as a fuel around 1000 BCE in China. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National With the development of the steam engine in 1769, coal came into more common use as a power source. A steam engine is a Heat engine that performs Mechanical work using Steam as its Working fluid. Coal was later used to drive ships and locomotives. By the 19th century, gas extracted from coal was being used for street lighting in London. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. In the 20th century, the primary use of coal is for the generation of electricity, providing 40% of the world's electrical power supply in 2005. ^[10]

See also

• List of energy topics

• Alcohol fuel
• Ammonia
• Alternative fuels
• Battery
• Biomass
• Biofuel
• Bitumen-based fuel
• Combustion
• Energy density
• Fuel cell
• Fossil fuel
• Fuel oil
• Fuel poverty
• Hydrocarbon
• Hydrogen fuel
• Liquid fuels
• Methane
• Oxidation
• Propellant
• Solid fuel
• World energy resources and consumption

Footnotes

References

• Ratcliff, Brian et al. (2000). Chemistry 1. Cambridge University press. ISBN 0-521-78778-5.  

Further reading

• DIRECTIVE 1999/94/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 13 December 1999, relating to the availability of consumer information on fuel economy and CO2 emissions in respect of the marketing of new passenger carsPDF (140 KiB). A kibibyte (a contraction of ki lo bi nary byte) is a unit of Information or Computer storage, established by the International
• Council Directive 80/1268/EEC Fuel consumption of motor vehicles.