Low-rank-coal study national needs for resource development. Volume 1. Executive summary
Low-rank coals - lignite and subbituminous - are those which have been subjected to the least amount of metamorphic change during the coal-forming process. As such, they retain greater fractions of moisture and volatile matter from the original peat material, and contain less fixed carbon, than the high-rank coals - bituminous and anthracite. The primary measure used to classify the lower ranks of coal is heating value. Other important characteristics which distinguish the low-rank coals from high-rank coals are discussed in this report. Low-rank coals represent a major, and largely untapped, energy resource for this country. Very extensive deposits of lignite and subbituminous coal exist in the western states, the Gulf coast, and Alaska. Major deposits of low-rank coal are also found in many other countries, most notably the USSR, Australia, Canada, and the central and eastern European nations. Worldwide coal statistics indicate that low-rank coals account for roughly one-third of the total resource and current production tonnages. This report recommends a comprehensive national research, development, and demonstration (RD and D) program to enhance the development of low-rank coals. The major conclusion of this study is that the unique properties of these coals affect the technologies for their extraction, preparation, direct use, and conversion and justify a separate focus on low-rank coals in the national RD and D efforts.
- Research Organization:
- Energy Resources Co., Inc., Walnut Creek, CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC18-79FC10066
- OSTI ID:
- 6348454
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/FC/10066-T1(Vol.1)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL RESERVES
ENERGY POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS
USA
CALORIFIC VALUE
COAL RANK
GLOBAL ASPECTS
LIGNITE
MAPS
SUBBITUMINOUS COAL
BROWN COAL
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COMBUSTION PROPERTIES
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
MATERIALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
RESERVES
RESOURCES
011000* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
294001 - Energy Planning & Policy- Coal
293000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation