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

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