Clean-burning fuels produced from low-grade coal

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Air Pollution Consultant

OSTI ID:159662

Under the acid rain program, operators of large combustion units are required to reduce their emissions of sulfur oxides (SO{sub x}) and nitrogen oxides (NO{sub x}). Although the program provides significant flexibility through its system of marketable emission allowances, regulated sources needing to reduce SO{sub x} emissions typically choose one of the following two options: (1) switch to a low-sulfur fuel, or (2) add end-of-pipe controls. Because it is naturally low in sulfur, one good candidate for fuel switching is coal mined from the Powder River basin in northeast Wyoming. The Encoal Corporation (Gillette, Wyoming) has attempted to improve the economics of using Powder River coal by installing a coal liquification plant at an existing mine near Gillette. The plant, cofunded by the Department of Energy (DOE) and Zeigler Coal Holding Company (the parent company to Encoal), has demonstrated commercial-scale application of a liquids-from-coal (LFC) process developed by SGI International. The LFC process represents a middle-of-the-road approach to coal treatment. As described, here, the process converts high-moisture, low-grade coal into process-derived fuel (PDF-an upgraded solid coal product) and coal-derived liquids (CDL-fuel-oil type liquids). The LFC process also produces an organic gas stream, which is burned internally as an energy source. Finally, the LFC process can be adapted, if necessary, to remove sulfur from high-sulfur coal. 1 ref., 1 fig.

• OSTI ID: 159662
• Journal Information: Air Pollution Consultant, Journal Name: Air Pollution Consultant Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 5; ISSN 1058-6628; ISSN APOCEH
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
CFFC PROCESS
COAL
COAL LIQUEFACTION
COAL LIQUIDS
FUELS
PROCESSING
SYNTHESIS
USES