Chapter 11 – Fossil Fuels

Energy InformationAssociation

Cost KWH

Coal Creation 360-290MYA Carboniferous Period

Coal Types1. Lignite (Lowest Quality)• Carbon content low • Low Sulfur

2. Subbituminous Coal• Carbon content medium • Lowest sulfur content - power plants

3. Bituminous Coal• Carbon content high • High sulfur content• Most plentiful form of coal in the United

States

4. Anthracite (Highest Quality)• Carbon content highest• Low sulfur content• Limited Supply

Coal Reserves

CoalTwo basic types of Coal Mining:

1) Subsurface (underground)2) Surface

Two Strategies

Long Wall& Pillar Mining

Underground

Black Lung Disease

China

Size Matters

Powder River Strip Mining

Strip or Highwall Mining

Extraction1. Soil Removed2. Overburden Removed3. Coal Removed4. Recontouring - reclamation5. Soil Replaced - reclamation6. Revegetation - ongoing

Overburden becomes Spoil Bank

OverburdenVS

Tailings

Mountain Top Removal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHzDkgJVZa8

A Ton of Coal

Coal PollutionIn order of QuantityCO2

SO2

PM10

Nox

COHydrocarbons VOC’sHg – MercuryAs - ArsenicPb - Lead

Contributes to:1.Acid Rain2.Smog3.Global Climate Change

Greatest producer of CO2 of any fossil fuel

Clean Coal = Healthy CigaretteClean Coal• Scrubbers• Fluidized-bed combustion• Liquid Coal• Carbon Sequestering

SOx and NOx reduced

Clean Coal = Carbon Sequestering

Coals Future