MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF MINING AND MINERAL

PROCESSING ENGINEERING

Mining Engineering Department

FUELS AND ENERGY
HMINE 511
SPECIAL/SUPPLEMENTARY EXAMINATIONS

NOV 2021

DURATION: 3 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Answer at least 1 Question from sections (A)

2. Answer at least 2 Question from section (B)
3. Answer all Questions from section (C)
4. Each question carries 25 marks
5. State all assumptions, and comment as much as possible on the implication of
the answers obtained.
6. Draw neat graphs and sketches where necessary.
7. A basic scientific (non-programmable) calculator is recommended but not
provided.

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SECTION A (FOSSIL FUELS)

Question 1
(a) Define the term fossil fuel and list the 3 main types of fossil fuels [5]
(b) Describe in detail the following stages of the formation of fossil fuels:
i. Diagenesis [10]
ii. Catagenesis [10]

Question 2
(a) List and explain the three (3) main components that characterizes a petroleum system
[6]
(b) Describe the regional evaluation phase of the Exploration and Production of
Hydrocarbons.
[5]
(c) From your knowledge of the petroleum system chart and the Cabora Bassa Basin
Stratigraphy given on Figs 2.1 and 2.2 respectively

Fig 2.1 Petroleum system chart

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Fig 2.2 Cabora basa basin stratigraphy

Can you tell during which period in years were these formations formed?
i. Kondo pools [2]
ii. Forest sandstone [2]
iii. Angwa sandstone [2]

(d) Distinguish between solution gas drive, gas cap drive and active water drive [8]

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SECTION B: CLEAN COAL TECHNOLOGIES

Question 3
(a) Name and briefly explain the two main groups for clean coal technologies [4]
(b) Discuss coal emissions pollution [7]
(c) Given that MSU’s Zvishavane campus is to be powered by a coal fired power plant with a
thermodynamic efficiency of 30 % for the whole year, energy content being 30MJ/Kg, and
given the following load

50*100 W bulbs
30 * 50 W computers
Determine
i. Annual energy requirement for the whole year [4]
ii. Amount of coal required to power the plant for the whole year [3]
iii. Given that the efficiency of the plant has been increased to 50 %, what amount of
coal would be required to power the same load? [3]
a)
b)
c)
a)
b)
c)
d) Given that the coal used for the plant in (c) has a carbon content of 80 %, determine the
amount of CO2 that can be released for scenario ii and iii in a above? [4]
Question 4
a) List and briefly explain the two main methods of coal mining? [4]
b) List and explain any 3 advantages of cleaning coals [6]
c) With the aid of chemical equations, discuss coal gasification process [8]
d) Discuss the applications of coal gasification [7]

Question 4

(a) List the factors that influence the efficiency of a coal powered plant [6]
(b) List and explain the 3 approaches one can use to improve the efficiency of the Rankine
cycle [7]
(c) Explain in detail the steam phase diagram below [12]

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Fig 5.1 Steam phase diagram.

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SECTION C: FUEL CELLS

Question 5
(a) With the aid of an equation, define the term Gibbs free energy [2]
(b) With the aid of operating conditions and half-cell equations, compare and contrast an acid
electrolyte fuel cell and an alkaline electrolyte fuel cell [7]
(c) List and explain any four advantages of fuel cells [8]
(d) Calculate the following for a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell;

i. The voltage output of the fuel cell [4]

ii. The cell efficiency if the fuel utilization coefficient is given as 0.90 and also; [4]
Given;
3
( ∆ H o ) 25 ℃=−286 x 10 J −mol H 2
g

3 J
(∆G¿¿ o)25 ℃=−237.3 x 10 −mol of H 2 ¿
g

End of Paper

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