Peat: second largest U. S. fossil fuel resource

Journal Article · · IGT Gascope; (United States)

OSTI ID:6944024

Peat contains about 60 percent more volatile matter and has 25 percent less heating value than lignite. Peat is also low in sulfur and high in oxygen and nitrogen. While direct combustion of peat might yield objectionable quantities of nitrogen oxides, hydrogasification of peat would convert most of the nitrogen to ammonia. Because peat generally occurs at the surface with an average thickness of 7 feet and a maximum thickness of 20 feet, it is assumed that all the reserves are recoverable. Peat, as harvested, may contain as much as nine times its own weight in water. The bulk of this moisture must be removed mechanically or with solar energy; drying with fossil energy would mean the loss of a large fraction of the energy in peat. The environmental problems related to peat mining are expected to be much less severe than those related to strip mining of coal. Because peat occurs on the surface, harvesting should have very little effect on the contour of the land. In fact, productive land would be created for crops, trees, wildlife habitats, and lakes and ponds. It is estimated that U.S. reserves would yield about 120 billion tons of peat (on the basis of 35 weight percent moisture content). The energy available from these reserves is estimated to be about 1440 quads (10/sup 15/ Btu), which is equivalent to 240 billion barrels of oil. Among fossil fuels, this is exceeded only by the energy potential of U.S. coal resources. About 90 percent of the reserves are located in Alaska (61.7 billion tons), Minnesota (16.5 billion tons), Michigan (10.3 billion tons), Florida (6.9 billion tons), Wisconsin (6.4 billion tons), Louisiana (4.1 billion tons), and North Carolina (2.7 billion tons).

• OSTI ID: 6944024
• Journal Information: IGT Gascope; (United States), Journal Name: IGT Gascope; (United States) Vol. 41; ISSN GASCD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
011000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
ALASKA
CALORIFIC VALUE
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
COMBUSTION PROPERTIES
DRYING
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FLORIDA
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASIFICATION
GREAT LAKES REGION
LOUISIANA
MICHIGAN
MINING
MINNESOTA
NORTH AMERICA
NORTH CAROLINA
OXIDATION
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION
PEAT
RESERVES
RESOURCES
SOUTHEAST REGION
SOUTHWEST REGION
SURFACE MINING
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
USA
VOLATILE MATTER
WISCONSIN