Coal. Coal Facts Most abundant fossil fuel –400 year supply 66% of known coal is located in the...
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Transcript of Coal. Coal Facts Most abundant fossil fuel –400 year supply 66% of known coal is located in the...
Coal Facts• Most abundant fossil fuel
– 400 year supply
• 66% of known coal is located in the U.S.
• U.S. is 2nd largest consumer of coal
– China is 1st!
• Most environmentally damaging fossil fuel.
Coal Formation
– Decomposition of ancient swamp plants• Quick burial • Partially decayed due to anaerobic conditions (some
carbon remains)
– Intense heat & pressure “cooked” remains
– Time – millions of years to form
Grades of CoalGrades of Coal• Lignite (brown coal)
– Low quality– 4,000 BTU/lb
• Bituminous (soft coal)– Most common– 8,300 – 10,500 BTU/lb
• Anthracite (hard coal)– Highest carbon content – 98%
• (hottest burning)
– Lowest sulfur content– 14,000 BTU/lb
www.uvawise.edu/philosophy/Hist%20295/ Powerpoint%5CCoal.ppt
• The longer it’s been forming, the higher the grade
– Carbon content increases
– Burns hotter & cleaner!
• Mountaintop mining
Pictures: http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2009/03/removing_mountains.html
• NPR clip – January 2009
What is it used for?
• Burned to generate electricity– ½ of electricity in US is from coal
• Making steel– used to smelt iron ore into iron
Environmental Concerns
• Surface mining – removes the top of an entire mountain
• Toxic chemicals – (mercury) leach from waste rock into nearby streams
• Pollution, Acid Rain, & Global Warming – depends on the grade of the coal
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk-jrbCi7Sc&feature=related
• Tour through a coal mine• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkHfnp2czZQ
• Centralia, PA
Converting Solid Converting Solid CoalCoal
Changing form is slightly better for pollution, but lessens net E
• Coal gasification Synthetic natural gas (SNG)
• Coal liquefaction Synthetic liquid fuels
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_K8jXrtPZQ• Sequestration and climate change applications
© Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP
www.bio.miami.edu/beck/esc101/Chapter14&15.ppt
CoalCoal
Cons• Dirtiest fuel, highest carbon dioxide
• Major environmental degradation
• Major threat to health
Pros• Most abundant fossil fuel
• Major U.S. reserves• 300 yrs. at current consumption rates
• High net energy yield