...Coal Types of coal Based on the carbon content, we differentiate between three main types, or ranks, of coal: lignite, bituminous and anthracite. It is largely the age of the coal and its depth in the earth’s crust that determines the carbon content. Coal with a high carbon content has a higher energy content and is “cleaner” in use, because the content of water and other substances is lower. Lignite Lignite, or brown coal as it is often called, is a young type of coal with a lower carbon content. Lignite is soft with a matt surface, and the coal deposits are usually near the surface. The energy content in lignite is lowest of the three types. Since lignite also contains more sulphur than older coal, it emits more pollution when burned. Bituminous Bituminous coal has a higher carbon content than lignite. It therefore contains less moisture than lignite, is harder and has a lustrous surface. Bituminous coal is divided into two categories, subbituminous and bituminous, with bituminous the most high-energy value category. Anthracite Anthracite is the “oldest” type of coal. It is hard, dark grey and with a high lustre. It has the highest carbon content of all the coal types. Anthracite requires a high temperature to ignite, and because of this people struggled to make use of it right up until the industrial age. Environmental Impacts Air Emissions When coal is burned, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury compounds are released. For that reason...
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...Reproduced with permission from Energy for Sustainable Development Articles Synthetic fuel production by indirect coal liquefaction Eric D. Larson Princeton Environmental Institute, Princeton University Guyot Hall, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544-1003, USA E-mail: elarson@princeton.edu Ren Tingjin Department of Thermal Engineering, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China This paper reports detailed process designs and cost assessments for production of clean liquid fuels (methanol and dimethyl ether) by indirect coal liquefaction (ICL). Gasification of coal produces a synthesis gas that can be converted to liquid fuel by synthesis over appropriate catalysts. Recycling of unconverted synthesis gas back to the synthesis reactor enables a larger fraction of the coal energy to be converted to liquid fuel. Passing synthesis gas once over the synthesis catalyst, with unconverted synthesis gas used to generate electricity in a gas turbine combined cycle, leads to less liquid fuel production, but provides for a significant second revenue stream from sale of electricity. Recently-developed liquid-phase synthesis reactors are especially attractive for ‘‘oncethrough’’ processing. Both ‘‘recycle’’ and ‘‘once-through’’ plant configurations are evaluated in this paper. Because synthesis catalysts are poisoned by sulfur, essentially all sulfur must be removed upstream. Upstream removal of CO2 from the synthesis gas is also desirable to maximize synthesis productivity, and it provides...
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...Coal Coal, a product of decay from plants older than 350 million years, is an integral part of energy production in the United States. Coal provides 56.9% of electricity generation in the United States.[1] With many different types of coal found in different states, the U.S. remains second to Russia in the number of estimated worldwide coal reserves.[2] Between the years of 1885-1950, coal was the most important fuel. One half ton of coal produced as much energy as two tons of wood and at half the cost.[3] Even today, there is, on a Btu basis, about one hundred times as much energy in the coal reserves of the United States as there is in either the oil or natural gas reserves.[4] But coal is also a rather variable energy substance as the different ranks, or measure of degree of change from the peat stage, affects the heating value and sulfur content of the coal. From low rank to high rank, the different types of coal are ordered as follows: lignite, subbituminous, bituminous, and anthracite. Low rank coal tends to have a smoky flame and easy ignition whereas high rank coal is known for its clean flame and difficult ignition.[5] All of these types of coals can be found in three major United States regions known as The Appalachian Basin, The Illinois Basin, and the northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountain region.[6] To recover coal from these significantly large coal reserves, workers use a process called strip mining. By using this process, strip miners can recover...
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...Definition of coal: • caustobiolitică a sedimentary rock that comes from vegetal incarbonizarea. • the transformation is slow in the absence of atmospheric oxygen at elevated pressures and temperatures that depend on the depth at which the plant is accumulation. Classification of coal: Coal (7000-9000 kcal / kg): anthracite, coal Quality coal (2600-5000 kcal / kg) brown coal, lignite, peat Historically the use of coal Late nineteenth century - coal had a role in the development of industry (coal century). Widely used as fuel for steam engine - James Watt (creator of the first motor efficiency). The widespread use of coal: Getting coke resulting from the high temperature carbonization process, the distillation of coal in the absence of oxygen. The coke used as fuel in the steel (for obtaining one ton of steel requires 600 kg coke). The material or by-product in the manufacture of iron, calcium carbide and other industrial thereof. Fuel for power generation and chemicals. construction materials fuel for power stations and cement factories (3/4 of the demand for coal) Chemical Industry Getting paints, plastics, synthetic fibers, fertilizers, etc.. Pharmaceutical industry. Domestic heating fuel Synthetic Fuel Coal Liquefaction Evaluation of coal resources: 1913 - International Geological Congress in Turin (7100 billion tons) - North America 68% -...
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...MBA-IB, Sec: A 1226112109 The World's Greatest Coal Arbitrage: China's Coal Import Behavior and Implications for the Global Coal Market Summary China is home to the world’s second largest proven coal reserves after the United States. In addition, prior to 2009, China was a net coal exporter. Coal is a cornerstone of the Chinese economy, representing 77 percent of China’s primary energy production and fueling almost 80 percent of its electricity. Moreover, China is the world’s top coal consumer, accounting for nearly half of global consumption in 2010. Over the past decade, China’s domestic coal output has more than doubled while its coal imports have increased by a factor of 60—the country’s dependence on other nations’ coal exports is growing. In 2009, the global coal market witnessed a dramatic realignment as China burst onto the scene, importing coal from as far away as Colombia and the United States. With 182 million tons (Mt) of coal sourced from overseas suppliers in 2011, China has overtaken Japan as the world’s top coal importer. Moreover, as the world’s top coal consumer, China’s imports could rise significantly again by 2015. China’s recent move from being a net coal exporter to a net coal importer portends significant changes on the global stage, especially in terms of climate change. Understanding China’s rising coal imports is crucial for managing their global impact. Introduction In 2009 the global coal market witnessed one of the most dramatic realignments...
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...here and do nothing. The use and mining of coal is one of the largest environmental factors in the world. According to the World Health Organization, “coal particulates pollution are estimated to shorten approximately 1,000,000 lives annually worldwide, including nearly 24,000 lives a year in the United States”. You may think, why are we still using and mining this stuff if it is killing us? We really shouldn’t be, but the only problem is that harming the environment can be an offset of making a lot money. As it will be looked into...
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...Advanced Clean Coal Technology DeVry University Technology Society and Culture Professor Paul Team D Table of Contents Renee M King I A brief description of the why the technology is needed …………….page 3 II The historical development and context of the technology …………..page 5 III The technology in its cultural context, media influence……………....page 9 IV Psychological considerations and sociological effects…………..….page 10 V Economic questions and considerations VI Implications for the Environment VI Political and legal influences IX Moral and Ethical Implications References Advanced Clean Coal Technology I A brief description of the why the technology is needed The most plentiful fuel in the fossil fuel family, coal has been used since the caveman days to heat their homes. In the 1700s, people found that it would heat cleaner and hotter than wood charcoal. The Industrial Revolutions overwhelming need for energy to run the new technologies providing the real opportunity for coal to dominant as a worldwide supplier of energy. (A brief history of coal use). As other sources of energy was discovered the use of coal diminished. However, 4 decades ago it became popular again as an energy source. The 1970’s brought about an oil crisis that showed industrialized countries that any disruption in the petroleum supply line would send a shockwave through energy production. (Morse, 2012). Even though coal is considered...
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...a look at Coal in India: current status and outlook The world cannot do without coal. This energy source covers more than one-quarter (28.4% in 2006) of all primary energy consumption and is used to generate nearly 40% of all electricity consumed worldwide. All scenarios and forecasts agree that coal consumption will be growing substantially, driven mostly by China and India. According to the IEA reference scenario (World Energy Outlook 2007), these two countries are expected to account for 82% of the increase in global coal demand by 2030. The outlook for India gives cause for concern: despite a strong domestic coal industry, it could eventually become a major importer. If so, what will the economic, industrial and environmental consequences be? India ranks Number Six in the world for the consumption of primary energy (432 Mtoe in 2006). Its appetite for energy is growing extremely rapidly: it averaged 6.7% a year between 2003 and 20061. Given the demographics, consumption per capita is one of the lowest in the world (512 kgep per capita in 2003), but this figure is steadily increasing. Fig. 1 - Trends in the consumption of commercial primary energy and coal in India 450 400 350 Millions of toe Consumption of primary energy Consumption of coal 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 Consumption rising fast Coal continues to dominate India's energy portfolio Reporting a figure of 238 Mtoe for 2006, India was the Number Three coal consuming country...
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...Coal Kills Different things can lead to global warming and most obvious issue would be vehicles causing smog. It's true, smog can kill and is very harmful to the environment. What about coal burning power plants? Coal fired power plants produce hazardous air pollution more than any other pollution source. With over 600 coal burning power plants remain, why are more being built when it is proven that it harmful to our environment as well as people. Perhaps, people should pay more attention to this threat, otherwise, someone close may be a victim. What exactly is coal mining? What makes it so valuable that it risk lives to obtain it. Reality is, coal produces a much higher amount of energy versus wood. In areas where wood in not obtainable, coal would be the best source to use as fuel. Many types of sources to obtain fuel, but compared to those alternatives, coal still remains an important energy source due to its low cost. The rich are getting richer, while the poor is getting sicker. In areas like Chicago, coal fire power plants causes about 40 deaths a year. People are dying from cancer and mothers are victims of miscarriages. Residents of a town called Inez, forces them to buy water. One resident mentions that they buy water for their coffee, soup, and even use purchased water to brush their teeth. People of Inez, cannot drink their water due to the contaminants from coal ponds. According to the CDC, the Appalachian region of Kentucky has the Highest Rate of cancer deathersin...
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...HOW IS COAL FORMED Fossil fuel formed from the remains of vegetation that grew about 300 - 400 million years ago when the earth was covered by steamy swamps Often referred to as “buried sunshine” Plants which formed coal captured energy from the sun through photosynthesis to create the compounds that make up plant tissue Most important element in plant material is carbon - gives coal most of its energy When the plantation and animals died, their remains sank to the bottom of these swamps, and over time, accumulated layer upon layer and eventually forming a dense material called peat When the makeup of the earth’s surface changed, the swamps and seas caused deposits of sand and other mineral materials to accumulate and buried the peat After the formation of sandstone and other sedimentary rocks, the pressure caused drained the water from the peat The accumulation of pressure and burial layers gradually changed the peat material to coal http://www.ket.org/trips/coal/agsmm/agsmmhow.html Energy Australia said Yallourn had sufficient coal reserves to meet its projected needs until 2032 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-24/power-generators-confirm-enough-coal-to-operate/6417738 As the Climate Institute said the government should implement a plan to phase out coal-fired generators, starting no later than 2020, and “ideally before”, the electricity industry said it would be a multi-billion-dollar challenge to meet Australia’s share of the international deal EnergyAustralia...
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...Staring at the steady stream of traffic on Raj Path from the office window, Mr. Om Prakash was ruminating over the Coal Linkages Committee meeting that concluded a few minutes ago. “There has to be a more scientific approach that leaves no room for maneuvering, bickering and hurt feelings which follow every such meeting” wondered Mr. Om Prakash. India has a total installed generating capacity of 167 thousand megawatts, comprising 109 thousand megawatts in the Thermal sector, 37 thousand in the Hydro Sector, 17 thousand in the Renewable Sources Sector and the remaining in the Nuclear Power Sector. In the Thermal sector, 90 thousand megawatts are coal-fired power plants. The region-wise distribution of the coal fired power plants in terms of installed capacity is 4% in Delhi-Haryana, 5% in Punjab, 5% in Rajasthan, 10% in Uttar Pradesh, 10% in Gujarat, 26% in Maharashtra, 8% in Andhra Pradesh, 4% m Karnataka, 7% in Tamil Nadu, 1% in Bihar, 1% in Orissa, 11% in Jharkhand and 8% in West Bengal. Typical annual coal requirement is 5000 tons per MW of installed capacity. Coal India Ltd. is the country's major supplier of coal. Coal India's major subsidiaries are: • Eastern Coalfields (ECL): These comprise the Raniganj and Barakar Coalfields spread over Burdwan, Birbhum, Bankura and Purulia districts in West Bengal and Dhanbad District in Jharkhand, Saherjuri Coalfield in Deoghar District of Jharkhand and Hura Coalfields in Godda. • Central Coalfields (CCL): These comprise the Barka...
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...Clean Coal Daniel Robinson DeVry University Understanding what clean coal means can be confusing and the potential impact on the environment can be confusing. Hearing the words clean coal makes most of us think we have finally found a way to actually make coal a clean sustainable resource to generate our electricity. After reading “The Environmental Injustice of ‘‘Clean Coal’’: Expanding the National Conversation on Carbon Capture and Storage Technology to Include an Analysis of Potential Environmental Justice Impacts” I have come to agree with the article that coal will never be clean in a way that is feasible to anyone that has to live near these coal plants. First let’s define clean coal, clean coal as Liebert says is “The term ‘‘clean coal’’ is used to refer to burning coal in a way that reduces emissions or otherwise lessens coal’s environmental impact. ‘‘Clean coal’’ technology includes ‘‘washing’’ coal of minerals and other polluting components, gasification, and the treating of flue gases to lessen sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and mercury emissions. In the context of climate change, the term ‘‘clean coal’’ is used most frequently as shorthand for technology that burns coal more efficiently and or decreases its CO2 emissions. While some might read that and think that we could find a way to get coal without having any CO2 emissions which is not the case. While carbon capture and storage sounds like fantastic technology that has three stages of capture...
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...Coal India IPO - The Mother of All IPOs Abstract:Coal India Limited (CIL), a Navratna PSU and the largest coal producing company in the world, came up with an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in October 2010, the biggest in the history of the Indian stock market. The IPO sought to raise funds close to INR 1,500,000 million by selling 631.63 million equity shares. Prior to this, the Reliance IPO had been the biggest IPO ever. The price band of the IPO was fixed at INR 225-245. Though the response from various stakeholders to this price band was divided, the issue was highly successful in terms of the response from investors and was oversubscribed by 15.28 times. The highest oversubscription, at 25.4 times, came from non-institutional investors. CIL was listed on November 4, 2010. In keeping with expectations, it was listed at a price of INR 287.75 and closed at a price of 342.35 on the BSE with the huge turnover of INR 63,241 million proving its tremendous success. Introduction:In October 2010, Coal India Limited (CIL), the largest coal producing company in the world, came up with the biggest ever Initial Public Offering (IPO) in the history of the Indian stock market to raise funds close to INR 1,500,000 million. CIL, given an IPO grading of 5/5 , offered 631.63 million equity shares through the IPO. Prior to this, Reliance Power Limited had been the mega IPO in the Indian stock markets, raising INR 115,000 million in 2008 by selling 260 million shares. In June 2007, real...
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...(Reuters) - Indian coal imports are expected to rise in the financial year through March 2013 as more end-users turn overseas, prompted by a narrowing gap between the domestic and international prices of thermal coal. Excess supply has hammered international thermal coal prices in recent months, with top exporter Indonesia cutting its output forecast to around 360 million tonnes from 390 million to 400 million for 2012. Based on the current global supply and demand picture, end-users expect thermal coal prices to remain well below $100 a tonne for the next 10 to 12 months. "International thermal coal prices have almost hit the bottom," said Vinod K. Singh, adviser to global chemical and textile company GHCL (GHCH.NS), which is also a leading producer of soda ash. Coal of the grade 6,000 kcal/kg on a Net As Received basis now costs $88 to $89 a tonne free-on-board (FOB), for example, Singh said. "We do not expect it to go down any further." India's coal supply is expected to fall short of demand by 192 million tonnes in the fiscal year to March 2013, a coal ministry official said. Coal demand in India, which has the world's fifth-largest coal reserves and produces the most after China and the United States, is seen at around 772 million tonnes against an expected supply of about 580 million in the financial year to March 2013. "More and more consumers are looking at imports from mainly Indonesia and Mozambique to fulfil at least 50 to 60 percent of their thermal coal demand," said...
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...being associated with the coal industry. Coal is one of the West Virginia’s primary economic resources. Coal is found in fifty-three of the states fifty-five counties, except for Jefferson and Hardy counties. It was once reported that forty-three counties in West Virginia have coal deposits of great economic importance with many of them being mined or have been mined. All of this has brought prosperity to this region at one time. However for a while now the southern part of West Virginia and northern part of Kentucky has been suffering from deep economic distress. One-third of the 100 poorest counties in the United States, as measured by median household income, are concentrated in the coalfields. This “pocket of poverty,” as economists sometimes refer to it, has, for decades, recorded extremely high levels of deprivation, unemployment and all the social problems that accompany them. This has been worsened by the lack of government spending on the region and scarcity of basic infrastructure such as: freeways, commuter rail, airports, Internet connectivity, and public universities. Yet in an immediate and direct way, the region is globally integrated. It continues to be one of the largest producers of coal in the country as well as a major lumber exporter. So why does this region continue to live poverty filled lives? This is a barefaced portrait of the extreme inequality that exists throughout the United States, with a handful of ultra-wealthy coal barons dominating every...
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