Coal Waste Could Become Valuable Fuel Source

The Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority recently obtained a grant for research on converting coal waste impoundments in Pennsylvania into “green” energy.  See http://www.coalnews.net/images/pdf/CoalNews_0209.pdf, at p. 24.  The goal of the project is to build a facility capable of burning coal waste while providing the necessary combustion and emission data needed to design and build commercial Pressurized Fluidized Bed Combined Cycle generating units.  The technology integrates a gas turbine combined cycle for high efficiency and low CO2, a low velocity fluidized bed for low emissions, high carbon utilization and low filters for high particulate and mercury capture, and a pressurized cycle for ash neutralization, reduction of fuel bound nitrogen derived NOx, unhinging the NOx formation, and substantial reduction in boiler tube surface and overall size.  The environmental benefits of this technology include reduction of emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide resulting from coal combustion.  PFBC technology can utilize very low heat-value, wet fuels, such as waste coal, which could assist in the cleanup of coal waste impoundments around West Virginia.  In addition, the waste by-product is benign and can be easily backfilled or used in commercial applications, such as cement, road aggregate and a variety of building materials.  A CONSOL research facility in Pennsylvania has been utilizing this technology to burn coal refuse for power since 2006.

 

In 2007, West Virginia was second in the nation in terms of coal production, producting over 161 million tons of coal.  Such a massive production of coal has resulted in several coal waste impoundments around the State.  Should PFBC technology prove to be efficient on a large scale, it could be the solution to the State's potential coal waste problems.  It would allow the state to dispose of coal waste while also squeezing more energy out of each ton of coal.  This will reduce dependence on foreign energy, create jobs, and reduce the environmental impacts of coal and coal-related waste. 

 

This article was authored by Chris M. Hunter, Jackson Kelly PLLC. For more information on the author see here.