Coal Mine Ventilation Air Methane (VAM)Coal Mine Ventilation Air Methane (VAM)

Project Development Project Development and Mitigation Optionsand Mitigation Options

Jayne Somers, Ph.D., P.E.US Environmental Protection Agency

13th North American Mine Ventilation Symposium

Sudbury, CanadaJune 14, 2010

Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview

Background on VAM Emissions

U.S.VAM Data Summary

Mitigation TechnologiesOxidation: Catalytic and ThermalGas TurbinesHybrid Waste Coal/VAM Rotary Kiln

Global Recovery & Utilization of CMM

• Degasification systems

CMM drainage at active underground coal mines: 14 countries

• CMM recovery and utilization projects

At active and/or abandoned (closed) coal mines: 13 countries

• 227 total CMM projects worldwide, 36 proposed or in development

Avoided methane emissions: > 3.8 billion cubic meters annually (> 54 MMTCO2E / yr)

Background on VAMBackground on VAM

Mine safety regulations require gassy underground coal mines to assure that methane concentrations in the mine workings are maintained at safe levels

- Well below the lower explosive limit (5% in air)

Mines employ large scale ventilation systems to vent methane to the atmosphere

- Pre-mine drainage can supplement ventilation

Background on VAMBackground on VAM

Ventilation air methane (VAM) is largest source of coal mine methane (CMM) emissions

- 54% of all U.S. CMM emissions in 2005

Capturing and using VAM is challenging

- Large airflows: 100,000 to 1 million cfm (47 - 470

m3/s)

- Low concentrations: range 0.1 to 1.0%, often 0.3 to

0.5%

Variable, both flow and concentration

Harnessing U.S. Ventilation Air Methane (VAM)Harnessing U.S. Ventilation Air Methane (VAM)

Largest source of coal mine methane Low methane concentrations (<1%) Technologies emerging to harness ventilation air methane

- As primary fuel- As secondary fuel

Ventilation air emissions (vented

to atmosphere)

CMM Drainage (vented to

atmosphere)CMM Recovered

and Used (Avoided

emissions-

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

Co

al M

ine

Met

han

e (m

illio

n c

ub

ic m

eter

s)

Summary of U.S. MSHA VAM Data Summary of U.S. MSHA VAM Data

Mines >0.3% methane

Quarterly sampling 2008-2009

39 mines with 78 exhausts

0.3 – 1.26% CH4

Global VAM emissions (2002)Global VAM emissions (2002)

Emissions Country (Bm3) % world

• China 6.7 38.7

• United States 2.6 15.0

• Ukraine 2.2 12.7

• Russia 0.7 4.0

• Australia 0.7 4.0

• Total World 17.3

Harnessing Ventilation Air Methane (VAM) (cont’d)Harnessing Ventilation Air Methane (VAM) (cont’d)

As Supplemental Fuel at Appin-Tower Collieries (Australia)

Installed in 1995

54 x 1 MW IC engines produce power from gob gas

VAM used as feed air:

- supplied 7% of energy

VAM Oxidation TechnologiesVAM Oxidation Technologies

Thermal Flow Reversal Reactors (TFRR)

Commercial project: MEGTEC Systemshttp://www.megtec.com

Pilot project : Biothermica http://www.biothermica.com

VAM Oxidation TechnologiesVAM Oxidation Technologies

Durr Systems (Wisconsin, USA)

Gulf Coast Environmental (Texas, USA)

Sheng Dong Group (China)

Catalytic Oxidizer: CH4Min Prototype

CANMET Energy Centre (Canada) http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/se/etb/cetc/cetc01/htmldocs/home_e.htm

• licensed by Sindicatum Carbon Capitol (SCC Americas)

Flow-reversal Oxidation Technology

Schematic of an OxidizerSchematic of an Oxidizer

Valve #1 open =Valve #2 open =*Heat recovery piping not shown

Heat Heat ExchangerExchanger

Valve 2Valve 2

Valve 1Valve 1

Valve 1Valve 1

Valve 2Valve 2

Air & CHAir & CH44Air & C0Air & C022,,

HH220 & Heat*0 & Heat*

Heat Exchange MediumHeat Exchange Medium

Heat Exchange MediumHeat Exchange Medium

MEGTEC Systems - VOCSIDIZERMEGTEC Systems - VOCSIDIZER

MEGTEC VOCSIDIZER 2007: Oxidation & electricity generation, West Cliff

Colliery, Australia

2007: Oxidation only – Abandoned Windsor Mine (CONSOL Energy, West Liberty, West Virginia)

2008: Oxidation & hot water, Zhengzhou, Henan, China

2010: Oxidation & hot water, Datong, Chongqing, China

WestVAMPWestVAMP

West Cliff Ventilation Air Methane Project•Startup: April 2007

•Capacity: 250,000 m3/hour (150,000 scfm) of mine exhaust air

•VAM concentration: 0.9 percent

•Generation unit: steam turbine

•Electricity output: 6 MW

•Four (4) VOCSIDIZER units (capturing 20% of VAM output)

•Ongoing project with two revenue sources

- Electricity (over 80GWh generated)

- Carbon credits from New South Wales trading scheme (over 500,000 traded)

WestVAMPWestVAMP

Zhengzhou, Henan, China Zhengzhou, Henan, China

First VAM project approved by UNFCCC under the CDM Mechanism

Single VOCSIDIZER unit

0.3% - 0.7% CH4 concentration range

CONSOL Windsor Mine DemonstrationCONSOL Windsor Mine Demonstration

Using diluted, drained CMM to simulate VAMSingle MEGTEC VOCSIDIZER unitOperated unattended with a VAM concentration of 0.6 percentProject partly funded by USEPA & USDOEGoals were to verify:

- Ability to maintain VAM oxidation- System safety- Operability and maintenance with field

conditions - Capacity: 30,000 scfm of simulated VAM

CONSOL Windsor Mine DemonstrationCONSOL Windsor Mine Demonstration

Biothermica – VAMOX™Biothermica – VAMOX™

Jim Walter Resources

Brookwood, Alabama, USA

Active Mine No. 7

2008: MSHA approval received

27,000 carbon credits in first year of operation

Listed with the Climate Action Reserve (CAR)

•

Typical VAMOX™ System

Jim Walters Resources VAM Demonstration Jim Walters Resources VAM Demonstration

Single Biothermica VAMOX unitCapacity: 30,000 cfmVAM concentration: 0.9 percentGreenhouse gas emission mitigation: >35,000 tonnes of CO2e per year Revenues: Carbon emission reductionsProjected lifetime: > 4 years

CONSOL McElroy Mine VAM Project CONSOL McElroy Mine VAM Project

Marshall County, West Virginia Verdeo Group is financingRegistered with Climate Action Reserve Planned operation: mid-2011

Gas Turbines Gas Turbines

Lean fuel gas turbine http://www.em.csiro.au/sust_mining/sustainable_projects.htm#vamcat

Microturbines: - Ingersol Rand Energy Systems http://energy.ingersollrand.com/index_en.aspx

- FlexEnergy http://www.flexenergy.com/contactus.html

CONSOL CMM-Fired MicroturbineCONSOL CMM-Fired Microturbine

In early 2007, CONSOL Energy – in partnership with Ingersoll Rand Energy Systems – successfully demonstrated electricity generation by a microturbine fueled by unprocessed CMM at Bailey mine in Pennsylvania.The unit underwent a one-year operational phase.The 70 kW microturbine expected to generate approximately 500 MWh of electricity while consuming approximately 8 MMCF of methane that would have otherwise been emitted to the

atmosphere.

Hybrid Coal Mine Gas Technology Hybrid Coal Mine Gas Technology (HCGT)(HCGT)

Combusts waste coal and VAM in a rotary kiln Generates thermal energy for electricity or steamThree 10 MW power plants were planned in India over the next five years EESTECH and Aryan Clean Coal Technologies joint venture

http://www.eestechinc.com/index.php?page=16

Technology Deployment BenefitsTechnology Deployment Benefits

•Ability to mitigate the largest source of coal mine emissions worldwide•Capability to capture and beneficially use VAM’s dilute energy content•Adds to energy security by beneficially using a currently wasted energy source•Multiple vendors should lead to cost competition that will drive down project capital costs• Attractive payback times (3 - 6 years) can be achieved at VAM concentrations > 0.6 percent and carbon emission reduction sale prices ≥ $10.00 per tonne CO2e

Technology Deployment ChallengesTechnology Deployment Challenges

• Newer technology; field experience limited to a few countries

• Most VAM concentrations exiting the mine are below 1 percent

• May need supplemental methane (drained gas) to raise VAM inlet concentrations to near 1 percent

ConclusionsConclusions

Flow-reversal oxidation of VAM with power generation is a proven technology Field installations of various technologies are multiplying Potential global market for VAM-to-power applications is large Emerging cost competitiveness should enhance project economics

USEPA Coalbed Methane Outreach Program (CMOP)USEPA Coalbed Methane Outreach Program (CMOP)

Voluntary climate change program since 1994

Promote the profitable recovery and use of coal mine methane (CMM)

Support CMM project development

International Methane to Markets Partnership

Methane to Markets Partnership• Encourages development of cost-effective methane recovery and use

opportunities in– coal mines– landfills– oil and gas systems and – agriculture (manure waste management)

• Private companies, multilateral development banks and other relevant organizations participate by joining the Project Network – over 900 organizations now participating

• 34 Partner GovernmentsJapanKazakhstanKoreaMexicoMongoliaNigeriaPakistanPeruPhilippinesPolandRussiaThailandUkraineUnited KingdomUnited StatesVietnam

ArgentinaAustraliaBrazil Bulgaria*CanadaChileChina ColombiaDominican RepublicEuropean Comm.Ecuador FinlandGeorgiaGermany IndiaItaly

For more information, please contact us!For more information, please contact us!

Jayne SomersUSEPA Climate Change Division

somers.jayne@epa.gov202-343-9896

www.epa.gov/coalbed