danielle vaguine fariha zaman harrison smith. what is coal? coal is a fossil fuel formed from the...
TRANSCRIPT
Danielle VaguineFariha ZamanHarrison Smith
What is Coal?
Coal is a fossil fuel formed from the decomposition of organic materials that have been subjected to heat and pressure over millions of years.
Coal is considered a nonrenewable resource because it takes millions of years to make it from fossilized organic material. The rate that it is made is far too slow to consider it to have more being made. Since we are using it at a rate much faster than it can be made it is nonrenewable.
How Coal Is Created
Lignite
• the youngest type of coal- formed at shallow depths
and relatively low temperatures
• contains about 25-35 percent carbon
• High moisture content making it inferior to other
coals
• Transportation issues- spontaneously combustible
• Used mainly for power generation
Subbituminous
• 42 to 52 percent carbon
• Contains less water than lignite coals
• Easy transportation
• Low sulfur content (>1% sometimes)
• widely used for generating steam power and industrial
purposes
• 30% of coal reserve
Bituminous
• Most abundant form
• Ranked from low-volatile to high-volatile
based on carbon content
• High sulfur content- pollution
• Used in steel and iron making and generating
electricity
Anthracite
• 80-95% carbon
• Relatively clean
• Very scarce- deep underground
• Used to heat homes
SHORT HISTORY OF COAL
Coal mining developed during the Industrial Revolution
The earliest known use of coal in the Americas was by
the Aztecs who used coal for fuel
Britain developed the main techniques of underground
coal mining from the late 18th century
By 2010, coal produces over one fourth of the worlds
energy and by 2050 it is expected to produce about
one third.
Coal is mined in the Appalachian mountain region, and the Midwest. Most coal now produced in the United States is mined in western surface mines, especially in Wyoming's Powder River Basin.
The largest reserves in the United States are found in Wyoming, West Virginia, Illinois, and Montana.
The largest single mine in the United States is the North Antolope Rachelle near Gillette, Wyoming; it produces more coal annually than many states. In 2009, it alone produced over 100 million tons of coal.
Coal regions in the United States
China is the largest producer of coal in the worldChina and the United States are also among the largest coal consumers.
Coal reserves in BTUs (traditional unit of energy)
Regional coal supply (TWh), share 2010 (%) and share of change 2000–2010[24][25]
2000 2008 2009* 2010* %*Change2000–2009*
North America 6,654 6,740 6,375 6,470 16% -1.2%
Asia excl. 5,013 7,485 7,370 7,806 19% 18.9%
China 7,318 16,437 18,449 19,928 48% 85.5%EU 3,700 3,499 3,135 3,137 8% -3.8%Africa 1,049 1,213 1,288 1,109 3% 0.4%Russia 1,387 1,359 994 1,091 3% -2.0%Others 1,485 1,763 1,727 1,812 4% 2.2%Total 26,607 38,497 39,340 41,354 100% 100%
China, USA, India, Russia, and Japan use 76% of the global coal use.
World Usage/Largest reserves
• 6.6 billion tons of hard coal were used worldwide last year (1 billion tons of brown coal)
• Biggest market of coal is Asia which currently accounts for over 67% of global coal consumption. China is responsible for a significant portion
• thousands of products have coal or coal byproducts like soap, aspirin, dyes, plastics, and fibers
Cost of Coal
The average U.S total cost is $33.15 per short ton, but prices are beginning to rise.
1,842 kWh per ton of coal or .9 kWh per pound of coal.
Primary uses
• electricity generation• steel production• cement manufacturing• liquid fuel
How coal is turned into electricity
Pollutants
• Number one source of CO2 in the US
• Causes Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) which
creates acid rain
• Causes Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) which
damages the troposphere and creates
smog
Pollutants cont.
• Particulates- soot
• Mercury- responsible <50% of human-caused
mercury emissions in the US (neurotoxin)
Solutions
• Activated carbon injection (ACI) can reduce emissions
up to 90% but only 8% of coal heats have
• Scrubbers
Human Health Effects
Coal can affect the
respiratory system,
cardiovascular system,
and the nervous system.
Can cause asthma, lung
disease, lung cancer,
artery blockages, heart
attacks, and more
Coal Cons
Nonrenewable source
Large contributor of CO2
into the atmosphere
mining (causes
human/environmental
hazards)
pollution
Human health risks
Abundant supply
Relatively inexpensive
Reliable
Continuous power. Good
utilization. High load factor.
Can be made low carbon and
clean with CCS and various
scrubbers.
Can be converted to a liquid
or a gas.
Coal Pros
Availability
• There is enough coal to last us around 112
years at current rates of production
• proven oil and gas reserves are equivalent to
around 46 and 54 years at current production
levels.
• over 861 billion tons of proven coal reserves
worldwide
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