Independent steam-electric power plants in the Anthracite region, NE Pennsylvania: Site geology, coal-refuse bank utilization, and environmental benefits
- Geological Survey, Harrisburg, PA (United States)
The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 created economic incentives that resulted in the proliferation of small independent, coal-refuse burning, steam-electric stations in Pennsylvania during the 1980`s and 1990`s. Eight such plants, ranging from 18 to 83 MW in net power output, have been operating for several years within the Anthracite region of northeastern Pennsylvania, and a ninth (having a net output of 108 MW) has recently come on line in the Lehigh Valley just to the south. All of these plants utilize circulating fluidized-bed combustion boilers in which finely crushed limestone is burned along with pulverized coal-refuse fuel. Seven are cogeneration plants that sell process steam commercially. Heat value of the pulverized coal-refuse used in the boilers ranges from 2,810 to 7,000 BTU/lb; higher values indicate washing of the fuel to remove some non-combustible material. Past episodes of bank-processing for fine coal, in addition to historic changes in coal-preparation and mining methods, give the refuse banks a complex stratigraphy in which beds vary greatly in thickness and quality. Detailed sampling and study of historic air photos are necessary to evaluate the economic potential of each individual bank. Environmental benefits of the Anthracite region`s independent power plants include: (1) removal of many black, barren piles of colliery refuse which contribute to acid-pollution and siltation of streams and (2) reclamation of strip-mined lands through disposal, compaction and grading of the alkaline ash generated by the fluidized-bed boilers.
- OSTI ID:
- 549491
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960954-; TRN: IM9751%%174
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 13. annual international Pittsburgh coal conference, Pittsburgh, PA (United States), 3-7 Sep 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of Thirteenth annual international Pittsburgh coal conference: Proceedings. Volume 2; Chiang, S.H. [ed.]; PB: 819 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Prototype anthracite culm combustion boiler/heater unit. Quarterly technical report No. 4, July 1-September 30, 1979
Prototype anthracite culm combustion boiler/heater unit: City of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Quarterly technical report No. 3, April 1-June 30, 1979