Engineering/economic analyses of coal preparation with SO/sub 2/ cleanup processes for keeping higher sulfur coals in the energy market

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6041323· OSTI ID:6041323

The economic analyses covering physical desulfurization of coal followed by flue gas desulfurization and flue gas desulfuriztion used alone for selected coal source-user combinations indicate that economic generalizations must be approached with caution. The range of variability is such that each case must be individually assessed. In general, available data indicate that many coals can be beneficiated to remove ash and sulfur at an attractive net cost. These coals with reduced ash and sulfur content levels are often not too far removed from the sulfur content levels required to meet environmental standards in some areas traditionally served by these coals. When coal can be physically cleaned to a level not too far removed from that required to meet emission standards, flue gas desulfuriztion treating only a portion of the flue gas would satisfy environmental constraints. In many cases the net cost of physical desulfurization followed by flue gas desulfurization is substantially less than that of flue gas desulfurization alone. This is due to the net economics associated with physically cleaning coal combined with the substantially lower flue gas desulfurization costs. In essence, the net cost (i.e., costs less benefits) associated with physical desulfurization would be less than the additional cost if flue gas desulfurization was used alone. For existing powerplants, the real costs for flue gas desulfurization systems are especially expensive owning both to higher capital costs and to the shorter economic lives of the systems. In many such cases, the use of physical desulfurization followed by flue gas desulfuriztion can be particularly attractive.

• Research Organization: Hoffman-Muntner Corp., Silver Spring, MD (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6041323
• Report Number(s): EPA-600/7-78-002
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010402 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Purification & Upgrading
010800* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Waste Management
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLEANING
COAL
COAL PREPARATION
COMMINUTION
DEASHING
DESULFURIZATION
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUE GAS
FOSSIL FUELS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
POWER PLANTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
WASTES