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Coal energy

Coal energy. Coal is big!. 42% of electricity comes from coal in the USA 70% of electricity in China comes from coal 580 coal fueled power plants in the US 550,000 jobs Mined in 25 states $49 natural gas per mega watt hour, coal $33 per megawatt hour

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Coal energy

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  1. Coal energy

  2. Coal is big! • 42% of electricity comes from coal in the USA • 70% of electricity in China comes from coal • 580 coal fueled power plants in the US • 550,000 jobs • Mined in 25 states • $49 natural gas per mega watt hour, coal $33 per megawatt hour • http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=4390

  3. We have a lot • USA has ¼ of the world’s supply • 272 billion tons in reserves • only use about 1.1 billion tons per year • Oil and Coal reserves have equal energy potential

  4. History • Evidence of Coal in extinct civilizations • Romans (2nd,3rdcentuary) • Hopi Indians (1300) • 1736 • A few coal mines appear on the border of WV and MD • 1748 • First commercial coal mine in Richmond, Virginia • Used to manufacture shot, shell, and other war material during the Revolutionary War.

  5. History Cont. • Pre 1830 uses- • Heat homes • Heat salt brines • To light streets such as in Baltimore • To make glass • 1830 • Tom Thumb is created • First locomotive increases demand for coal

  6. History cont. • 1875 • Coke replaces wood and charcoal in fueling furnaces • Early 1900’s • Coke is supplying 100,000 coke ovens • Mostly WV and PA

  7. History cont. • 1882 • Edison builds the first coal-fired electric generating station • 1901 • General Electric Company builds the first alternating current power plant • 1961 • Coal is the major source of electricity for utilities • 1970 • Coal production is 520 million tons • 1990 • Coal production is One billion tons

  8. Mining Techniques • If the coal is close to the surface • Surface Mining • If the coal is too far underground • Underground Mining

  9. Surface Mining

  10. Underground Mining

  11. Underground mines • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylkdUuNOJzw

  12. Why wouldn’t we use it?

  13. Bad for the environment • Contains the most CO2 per BTU • Environment suffers around a coal mine • Coal ash is hazardous • 2nd highest emitter of methane • Burning coal releases NOx and SOx • Burning releases Mercury

  14. Impractical • Non-renewable • High cost of transporting coal to centralized power plants • Dangerous to mine

  15. Clean coal • 1980’s-Now • USA has invested 3 billion dollars • Washing • Washes chunks of coal to remove impurities • Organic sulfur stays • Scrubbing • flue gas desulfurization units • Limestone absorbs sulfur

  16. Clean Coal cont. • Process of burning “Clean Coal” • http://www.americaspower.org/our-commitment-clean-energy-future • 1970 to 2011 • major pollutants have been reduced about 90% per unit of electricity created

  17. Safety in the mines • BenxihuColliery • April 26, 1942 • 1,549 dead • Coal-dust explosion

  18. Dangers • Coal dust explosion • Burns victims • Traps victims • Blasting Related Accidents • Too close to a blast site • Diseases • Black lung

  19. Preventing • Training • Need a license to blast • Simulations • Learn about health and safety • Technology Standard • Radio communication devices, safety lamps • Exploitation Infrastructure • Fire alarm, gas management, miners rescue, ventilation, etc.

  20. conclusion • Not considered enough • Domestic • Abundant • Cheap

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