Coal beds were prehistoric swamps Can be considered to be stored solar energy Photosynthesis CO 2 H 2 0 solar energy carbohydrates O 2 We can also run the process backwards and burn carbs to get energy water and carbon dioxide ID: 659930
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Slide1
FOSSIL FUELS III
Coal Slide2
Formed from ancient plants.
Coal beds were prehistoric swamps.Can be considered to be “stored”
solar energy.
Photosynthesis:
CO
2
+ H
2
0 + solar energy
carbohydrates + O
2
We can also run the process backwards and burn carbs to get energy, water, and carbon dioxide.Slide3
Normally when a plant dies it decomposes.
If there is not enough oxygen, it can’t completely decompose, thus we get a slow accumulation of energy.In a swamp, the bacteria that decompose the plants also use up the Oxygen.Coal found today formed between 1 and 440 million years ago.Slide4
Major Coal Forming Periods
Carboniferous and Permian 360 to 250 MYAHigh quality bituminous and anthraciteUpper Cretaceous to Miocene 100 to 5 MYA
Low quality subbituminous and lignite coals
Quaternary 2.6 MYA to present
peatSlide5
Major Geologic DivisionsSlide6
Steps to becoming coal:
PeatLignite (brown coal)SubbituminousBituminous
Anthracite
The major difference is the percentage of the coal that is carbon. Higher carbon concentration means better quality coal.
Formation of coalSlide7Slide8
Coal progresses through the stages with increasing pressure and temperature.
Type
% Carbon
Energy Content (MJ/kg)
Lignite
30
11.6 – 16.3
Subbituminous
40
18.6 – 23.3
Bituminous
50 - 70
25.6 - 34.8
Anthracite
90
32.5
Oil
85
46Slide9
Coal ClassificationSlide10
Which type of coal provides the most energy/kg?
Lignite
Bituminous
AnthraciteSlide11
The largest amount of US coal is Bituminous.
Approximately 1% is Anthracite. (Found in Pennsylvania.)Many coal veins have a high sulfur content.Significant contributor to acid rain.S+O2
SO
2
SO
2
combines with water in atmosphere to form sulfuric acid.
Limits the use of those coals
Coal has uranium & thorium: radioactive
Concentrated when coal is burnedSlide12
Other contributions.
MercuryArsenicSeleniumSlide13
Union Pacific Big BoySlide14
Coal Mining
Coal veins can be 1 in to 400 ft thick.Must be at least 2
ft
thick to make mining profitable.
U
nderground mining is a dangerous occupation in America.Slide15
Coal Mining
Tunneling – 40%Surface mining – 60%Removing overburden to get to coal
Strip mining
Mountaintop removalSlide16
Types of Coal MiningSlide17
Tunnel MiningSlide18
Strip MiningSlide19
Mountain Top Removal
Mountain top removal miningSlide20
Should Mountain Top Removable be allowed in the U.S.?
Yes
NoSlide21
US Coal Reserves by TypeSlide22
Coal Reserves Sulfur ContentSlide23Slide24
Proven Coal ReservesSlide25
Proven Coal ReservesSlide26Slide27
Who has the largest reserves of coal?
Germany, France, Poland
South Africa, India, Australia
US, Russia, China
Germany, India, PolandSlide28
Coal Production by StateSlide29
Coal Production by State Slide30
Coal Production by State Slide31
Who are the biggest coal producing states?
Wyoming and West Virginia
Pennsylvania and Kentucky
West Virginia and Kentucky
Texas and IllinoisSlide32
Proven Coal ReservesSlide33
Coal Production by Country Slide34
Coal Production by Country Slide35Slide36
Who are the largest producers of coal?
Germany, France, Poland
Indonesia
,
India, Australia
US, China, India
Germany, Russia, PolandSlide37
Chinese SY Mikado 2-8-2Slide38
A thick shroud of haze lingers over China, turning the sky an opaque grey. Beijing, China's capital, is situated under the densest portion of the smog layer. The aerosol pollution can be seen blowing eastward across the Bo Hai Bay and Yellow Sea reaching as far as North and South Korea and the islands of Japan. (NASA)Slide39
Donora 1948Slide40
Coal ConsumptionSlide41
Mix of Fuels in USSlide42
US Coal ProductionSlide43Slide44Slide45
Estimated that we have enough reserves for 200-300 years at current production rates.
Use may be expandedReplace aging oil/natural gas/nuclear electric plantsMore demand for electrical energyAlternative uses such as coal gasification.Slide46
Should the use of coal in America be expanded?
Yes
No