[Trteamer]

“At heating value of 3 kWh/lb, 1.3 pounds of coal is needed to generate 1 kWh. As coal is 80% carbon 3 pounds of carbon dioxide is emitted in generating 1 kWh of electric energy. “

Can someone please explain to me how 1.3 pounds of coal produces 3 pounds of carbon dioxide.......It just doesn’t sound right....

[ApplegateRanch]

Can someone please explain to me how 1.3 pounds of coal produces 3 pounds of carbon dioxide.......It just doesn’t sound right....

short, simplistic answer that ignores impurities, and other variables; ignores (most) dismal points in calculations; and and just keeps it simple:

coal = carbon

CO^2 = 1 carbon plus 2 atmospheric oxygen atoms

C= atomic wt 12; O= atomic wt 8; O^2= atomic wt 16

CO^2 atomic wt= 12 + 16 = 28, or 2 1/3 X Carbon alone

2.33 X 1.3 pounds coal = 3 pounds CO^2

[SeeSac]

Can someone please explain to me how 1.3 pounds of coal produces 3 pounds of carbon dioxide.......It just doesn’t sound right....

CO₂

Carbon is 14, Oxygen is 16. CO₂ is 46. 46/14 = 3.2

[editor-surveyor]

> “It just doesn’t sound right”

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Did you forget that CO2 also has two oxygen atoms, in addition to the carbon?
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