Coal Notes. What is Coal? Formed from decomposed vegetation, which is turned into solid brittle...
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Transcript of Coal Notes. What is Coal? Formed from decomposed vegetation, which is turned into solid brittle...
Coal Notes
What is Coal? Formed from
decomposed vegetation, which is turned into solid brittle rock when it is compressed over a long period of time.
5-10 ft of decomposed material makes about 1 ft of coal
The most abundant fossil fuel
Less than half the price per million BTU than oil and natural gas.
Coal Fast Facts 1 lb. of coal can
power 10-100 watt light bulbs for an hour
Should last for about 250 years at the current rate of use
Use decreased during the 40’s and 50’s because oil and gas were easier to use
Use has been increasing since the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973
Oil Embargo- 1973-74
News Cast
Coal Fast Facts Con’t
It is now used mainly for the generation of electricity
In 1997 it was responsible for 31% of the nation’s energy consumption
Mostly transported by train or barge
China is the major producer and the U.S. is second
Take out your notes…
Try to draw a diagram of what a coal powerplant looks like…
Problems with Coal
Problems with Coal… Contains sulfur causing
air pollution when burned.
Makes acid rain!
High amounts of air pollution (CO2 and SO2) are given off by coal power plants.
Causes more air pollution when burned than any other fossil fuel
In your books (pg 436) describe each of the following…
PeatLignite
SubbituminousBituminousAnthracite
Coke (on back of notes sheet)
Coal Mining Underground mining:
dangerous, collapsed mines, fires, gas explosions, and black lung (lungs are coated in coal dust)
Strip Mining - the overlying layer of rock is stripped to get to the coal from the surface.
this is cheaper, safer, and yields 3x’s more coal than underground mining
Centrailia and an Explosion
Centralia Video
Mine Explosion Video
Problems with Strip Mining
Less than one-half of the mines have been reclaimed…
restored to their natural state Acid Mine Drainage is
when water reacts with mineral in the open mine forming highly acidic water pollution the environment killing aquatic organisms and waterfowl
Solutions to Coal Use Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 requires that mined land
be restored to its primary use (forest, field, etc.)
Clean Air Act of 1990 forces companies to reduce the emissions (release) of SO2 and NO2 when burning coal
More coal in this country is coming from the mid-west instead of the east because it contains less sulfur
New technologies are being invented to reduce air pollutants from coal (scrubber - sprays the gas with lime or calcium water binding the SO2, causing it to settle out – expensive process to install)
***Using natural gas is cleaner because it releases one-half the CO2 and SO2 of coal
Reclamation
Synthetic Fuels
Fuels produced by chemically changing fossil fuels like coal. They are cleaner burning
In your books, pg 446, find the notes for…
Liquid CoalCoal GasOil Shale
Fracking
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pCvdOg0Cec&feature=fvst
