Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
ion:
An atomic particle that has
a charge.
mass:
The amount of physical
matter in an object.
methane:
A gas used as a fuel that
is the main ingredient in natural
gas. It is a compound of hydrogen
and carbon.
nonrenewable:
A resource of
which there is only a certain
amount. Sources such as
coal, natural gas, and oil are
nonrenewable.
photosynthesis:
The process
by which plants use energy from
the Sun to turn water and carbon
dioxide into food; they then give
off oxygen.
propane:
A type of gas that may be
used as a fuel.
prototype:
The i rst version of
an invention, used to test out the
invention.
rei ned:
Made more pure through a
chemical process.
renewable:
A resource that never
gets used up. Energy sources such
as sunlight, wind, and biofuels
are renewable; sources such
as coal, natural gas, and oil are
nonrenewable.
steam-methane reforming:
The most common method to
get hydrogen out of methane
gas, in which the methane reacts
chemically with extremely hot
steam.
synthesis gas:
Also called syngas,
a mixture of hydrogen and carbon
monoxide produced during the
middle of the coal gasii cation
process. When this gas reacts with
steam, it produces even more
hydrogen.
pipeline:
A series of pipes that are
used to transport water, gas, or oil
from one location to another over
long distances.
power plant:
A place for the
production of electric power, also
sometimes called a “power station.”