Coal PowerCoal Power

What is Coal?What is Coal?

A fossil fuel made from A fossil fuel made from prehistoric organisms that prehistoric organisms that died and decayeddied and decayed

A readily combustible black A readily combustible black rock.rock.

Composed mostly of carbon Composed mostly of carbon and hydrocarbons.and hydrocarbons.

It is the most abundant fossil It is the most abundant fossil fuel found in the US.fuel found in the US.

Nonrenewable resource, as Nonrenewable resource, as are all fossil fuelsare all fossil fuels

The Formation of CoalThe Formation of Coal Coal is found underground Coal is found underground

in layers called in layers called seamsseams.. It is formed from tree and It is formed from tree and

plant remains from millions plant remains from millions of years ago.of years ago.

They decayed and sank They decayed and sank into the ground, and were into the ground, and were pressed under layers of pressed under layers of rock and other minerals.rock and other minerals.

Under heat and pressure, it Under heat and pressure, it turned into coal.turned into coal.

History of CoalHistory of Coal

No one is sure when No one is sure when coal was discovered but coal was discovered but there are some records there are some records saying that the Chinese saying that the Chinese found and burned black found and burned black rocks for warmthrocks for warmth

When wood was short When wood was short they dug the earth and they dug the earth and found the rocks to burnfound the rocks to burn

History of CoalHistory of Coal

Coal has been used Coal has been used worldwide as a worldwide as a fuel for centuries.for centuries.

Around 1842, coal Around 1842, coal became the main became the main energy source for the energy source for the Industrial Revolution, Industrial Revolution, the expanding railway the expanding railway system of countries system of countries being a prime user to being a prime user to power steam engines. power steam engines.

History of CoalHistory of Coal Oil and its associated Oil and its associated

fuels began to be used as fuels began to be used as alternative from the late alternative from the late 1800s onward. 1800s onward.

By the late 20th century By the late 20th century coal was for the most part coal was for the most part replaced in domestic as replaced in domestic as well as industrial and well as industrial and transportation usage by transportation usage by oil, natural gas or oil, natural gas or electricity produced from electricity produced from oil, gas, nuclear or oil, gas, nuclear or renewable energy renewable energy sources.sources.

History of CoalHistory of Coal Britain developed the main Britain developed the main

techniques of underground techniques of underground coal mining from the late 18coal mining from the late 18thth century onward.century onward.

Since 1890, coal mining has Since 1890, coal mining has also been a political and social also been a political and social issue. Coal miners' labor and issue. Coal miners' labor and trade unions became powerful trade unions became powerful in many countries in the 20th in many countries in the 20th century, and often the miners century, and often the miners were leaders of the Left or were leaders of the Left or Socialist movements (as in Socialist movements (as in Britain, Poland, Germany, Britain, Poland, Germany, Canada and the US).Canada and the US).

History of Coal in the USHistory of Coal in the US First mining of coal in the US First mining of coal in the US

was 50 tons dug in 1748. was 50 tons dug in 1748. Today we produce over one Today we produce over one

billion tons per year.billion tons per year. At one time or another, coal At one time or another, coal

has been produced in nearly has been produced in nearly all of the 38 States with coal all of the 38 States with coal deposits. deposits.

Historically, this production Historically, this production played an important role in the played an important role in the development of these States development of these States as well as in the Nation's as well as in the Nation's growth and westward growth and westward expansion. expansion.

History of Coal in the USHistory of Coal in the US

In the past, coal had a variety In the past, coal had a variety of uses. Gas for gas lights was of uses. Gas for gas lights was originally made from coal in originally made from coal in most cities. In fact in Britain most cities. In fact in Britain this so-called illuminating gas this so-called illuminating gas was made from coal until the was made from coal until the 1950's. 1950's.

Large amounts of coal were Large amounts of coal were once consumed for domestic once consumed for domestic heating, railroad fuel and for heating, railroad fuel and for stationery steam engines. stationery steam engines.

Coal was once a very Coal was once a very important source of heat for important source of heat for smelting iron ore for the iron smelting iron ore for the iron and steel industry, and still is and steel industry, and still is to some degree. to some degree.

History of Coal in the USHistory of Coal in the US Today, due to competition from Today, due to competition from

other fuels and other sources other fuels and other sources of energy, coal is used mostly of energy, coal is used mostly to generate electricity. to generate electricity.

Concern over environmental Concern over environmental quality has led to greater use quality has led to greater use of low sulfur coal in power of low sulfur coal in power plants. This adversely affected plants. This adversely affected production in states with production in states with mostly high sulfur coal, but mostly high sulfur coal, but rejuvenated the industry in rejuvenated the industry in some states with low sulfur some states with low sulfur coal.coal.

Coal has many uses…Coal has many uses…

Coal is used to make Coal is used to make insecticides, fungicides, insecticides, fungicides, mothballs, batteries, and mothballs, batteries, and medicines.medicines.

It is also used in baking It is also used in baking powder, charcoal powder, charcoal briquettes, perfumes, briquettes, perfumes, TNT explosives, and TNT explosives, and some sugar substitutessome sugar substitutes

Classification of CoalClassification of CoalAs geological processes apply pressure to dead matter over time, under suitable As geological processes apply pressure to dead matter over time, under suitable

conditions, it is transformed successively into:conditions, it is transformed successively into:

Peat, considered to be a precursor of coal. It has industrial importance as a fuel in Peat, considered to be a precursor of coal. It has industrial importance as a fuel in some countries, for example, Ireland and Finland. some countries, for example, Ireland and Finland.

Lignite, also referred to as brown coal, is the lowest rank of coal and used almost Lignite, also referred to as brown coal, is the lowest rank of coal and used almost exclusively as fuel for steam-electric power generation. exclusively as fuel for steam-electric power generation.

Sub-bituminous coal, whose properties range from those of lignite to those of Sub-bituminous coal, whose properties range from those of lignite to those of bituminous coal and are used primarily as fuel for steam-electric power generation. bituminous coal and are used primarily as fuel for steam-electric power generation.

Bituminous coal, a dense coal, usually black, sometimes dark brown, often with well-Bituminous coal, a dense coal, usually black, sometimes dark brown, often with well-defined bands of bright and dull material, used primarily as fuel in steam-electric defined bands of bright and dull material, used primarily as fuel in steam-electric power generation, also used for heat and power applications in manufacturing and to power generation, also used for heat and power applications in manufacturing and to make coke for smelting iron ore.make coke for smelting iron ore.

Anthracite, the highest rank; a harder, glossy, black coal used primarily for Anthracite, the highest rank; a harder, glossy, black coal used primarily for

residential and commercial space heating. residential and commercial space heating.

Graphite, technically the highest rank, but difficult to ignite and is not so commonly Graphite, technically the highest rank, but difficult to ignite and is not so commonly used as fuel: it is mostly used in pencils and, when powdered, as a lubricant. used as fuel: it is mostly used in pencils and, when powdered, as a lubricant.

Coal miningCoal mining In order to get coal, In order to get coal,

miners have to mine miners have to mine coal from certain coal from certain locationslocations

The first coal mine The first coal mine opened in 1830 by opened in 1830 by Pinkerton and CompanyPinkerton and Company

It was a dangerous job It was a dangerous job because there was because there was always the danger of always the danger of cave-ins, suffocation, cave-ins, suffocation, and lung cancerand lung cancer

Since 1970, environmental issues have Since 1970, environmental issues have been increasingly important:been increasingly important:

Particulate emissionsParticulate emissions

COCO22 emissions emissions

Trace element emissions Trace element emissions (mercury, arsenic)(mercury, arsenic)

Acid rain from sulfur and nitrogen Acid rain from sulfur and nitrogen emissionsemissions

Solid waste from coal productionSolid waste from coal production

Destruction of landDestruction of land

Health of the minersHealth of the miners

The Future for CoalThe Future for Coal Global reserves are Global reserves are

expected to last centuries.expected to last centuries.

The US has a supply of The US has a supply of coal that will last about coal that will last about 250 years.250 years.

It will last 65 years if usage It will last 65 years if usage increases 2% every yearincreases 2% every year

New technologies have New technologies have made many improvements made many improvements in the air quality around in the air quality around coal fired generation coal fired generation plants.plants.

Future of Coal Fired GenerationFuture of Coal Fired Generation Coal is the cheapest, most Coal is the cheapest, most

abundant source of energy for abundant source of energy for electricity in the world, generating electricity in the world, generating more than 40 percent of all more than 40 percent of all electricity globally.electricity globally.

In the United States, that number In the United States, that number is almost 50 percent.is almost 50 percent.

By 2030, the US Energy By 2030, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) Information Administration (EIA) estimates that coal will increase to estimates that coal will increase to 55 percent of the U.S. electricity 55 percent of the U.S. electricity generation, 45 percent globallygeneration, 45 percent globally

Coal Fired Electricity GenerationCoal Fired Electricity Generation

HydroelectricityHydroelectricity

Nuclear Fission ReactorNuclear Fission Reactor

Wind GenerationWind Generation

Renewable-useful in windy areas-cheap and reliable

Noisy-interferes with migrating birds-”ugly”

Photovoltaic GenerationPhotovoltaic Generation

Renewable-useful in sunny areas – minimal cost after initial set up – lasts for years“Ugly”- expensive to set up

Solar Energy for Space Solar Energy for Space and Water Heatingand Water Heating