Coal fines utilization technologies - emerging low cost: Low polluting fuels

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:171618

Ashworth, R A; Morrison, D K; Melick, T A ^[1]

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1. and others

Electric utilities are being faced with significant challenges for meeting environmental regulations for its coal fired generation units, and at the same time must stay cost competitive in an industry that appears to be heading for deregulation. In tomorrows power generation arena, to be competitive, utilities must find ways to reduce the cost of electrical power generation. When a station manager starts looking at what operating cost reductions might be made to lower the cost of power, it is quickly seen that the most significant impact occurs with a reduction in the cost of purchased fuel, which is typically 60 to 70% of the cost of power generation. Systems required to meet nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions limits are not as onerous on a utility; therefore, these potential pollutants usually do not impact the fuel selection process. Each power station; however, will have its own specific set of parameters for the selection of fuels and the following considerations will generally impact such selections: (1) Fuel Switching: Switch from the use of non-compliance high sulfur local coals to more distant sulfur compliance coals. Selecting this option obviates the need for installing an SO{sub 2} scrubber; (2) Flue Gas Desulfurization/Fluid Bed Boilers: Use non-compliance high sulfur local coals and install stack gas scrubbers to meet the SO{sub 2} emission limits, or retire old smaller units and replace them with a larger new fluid bed boiler; (3) Sulfur Credits If a station is incrementally over its regulated sulfur dioxide emission limit, the option of purchasing sulfur credits to put it into compliance, may a low cost choice; and, (4) Low Cost Fuels Power generation units that have stack gas scrubbers or stations with fluid bed boilers have the option of using potentially lower cost fuels such as slack coal coal pond fines, petroleum coke, Orimulsion{trademark}, etc.

• Research Organization: Coal and Slurry Technology Association, Washington, DC (United States); USDOE Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center, PA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 171618
• Report Number(s): CONF-950313--; ON: TI96120250
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
COAL FINES
COAL PREPARATION
COMBUSTION
FUEL SLURRIES
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
NITROGEN OXIDES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
USES
WATER