Coal Research and Development to Support National Energy Policy (2007) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
6 Coal Utilization
6 Coal Utilization
Pages 91-107
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 91... ...
furthermore, the uncertainty about future requirements to control these environmental impacts can itself act as a constraint on future coal utilization. Therefore, this chapter focuses primarily on these environmentally related issues, noting current R&D programs and describing priority R&D needs to minimize these impacts.
|
From page 92... ...
. Accordingly, this chapter presents only a brief overview of the major coal utilization technologies that influence the projections for future coal use in Chapter 2.
|
From page 93... ...
CoAL UtILIZAtIoN efficiency of pC plants in the United States has remained in the range of 33 to 34 percent (higher heating value [HHV]
|
From page 94... ...
CoAL RESEARCh ANd dEvELoPmENt gasifier type, coal type, oxidant type, and level of plant integration. The range of efficiencies for current IGCC systems is comparable to that for current pC plants, with significant future improvements expected as gas turbine technology develops (NRC, 2000)
|
From page 95... ...
CoAL UtILIZAtIoN Industrial Sector Technologies Coal utilization technologies in the U.S. industrial sector today fall into two main categories -- coke plants that produce high-purity carbon for use in steel making, and combustion technologies that use coal to provide heat and power for industrial process operations (Table 6.1)
|
From page 96... ...
CoAL RESEARCh ANd dEvELoPmENt Box 6.1 The Great Plains Synfuels Plant The Great Plains Synfuels Plant near Beulah, North Dakota, operated by the Dakota Gasification Company, may provide a hint of an important future use for coal in the United States -- the production of synthetic liquid and gaseous fuels. The plant was built with government support over two decades ago during a time of high oil prices and natural gas shortages.
|
From page 97... ...
. The present availability and continuing evolution of technology to respond to emissions of these pollutants make it unlikely within the 25-year time horizon of this study that current or future governmental requirements to control such emissions will materially affect future coal usage overall, although air quality considerations will continue to affect the siting of new coal-based facilities.
|
From page 98... ...
CoAL RESEARCh ANd dEvELoPmENt Box 6.2 Cap-and-Trade Regulation of Coal-Fired Power Plant Emissions A cap-and-trade program requires each regulated unit to hold and use an emission credit, called an "allowance," for each ton of the regulated pollutant that the unit emits. The total number of allowances created for each year (or other compliance period)
|
From page 99... ...
However, technologies and practices to manage the associated environmental issues currently exist and are continually being improved. Consequently, these issues are unlikely to pose a significant obstacle to increased coal use, although site-specific factors could be important in the viability and design of coal-based energy plants.
|
From page 100... ...
. Such technologies are widely used in a variety of industrial processes, mainly in the petroleum and petrochemical industries, but are not yet deployed commercially in the electric power sector.
|
From page 101... ...
DOE Coal utilization R&D Programs The DOE Office of fossil Energy (DOE-fE) is responsible for pursuing research, development, and demonstration (RD&D)
|
From page 102... ...
The plant is expected to begin operating in the 2012 time frame. • One of DOE's fastest-growing programs in recent years has been the Carbon Sequestration program, which focuses on CO2 capture and storage technologies with high potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
|
From page 103... ...
. To a large degree, these important research areas can and are being addressed by participants in the current DOE Carbon Sequestration program, including the seven regional partnerships in different parts of the country.
|
From page 104... ...
• The EpA has undertaken a range of research related to mercury emissions, including the development of protocols for verifying continuous air emission monitors used to measure total and chemically speciated mercury in source emissions, and the compilation of speciated (elemental, oxidized, and particulate) mercury emissions data from coal-fired utility units to estimate mercury emissions nationwide.
|
From page 105... ...
EpA also has regulatory responsibility for waste disposal that involves underground injection of hazardous and nonhazardous wastes. Injection of CO 2 for geological sequestration currently falls within the purview of the EpA Underground Injection Control (UIC)
|
From page 106... ...
Emissions of CO2 from coal-based power plants are not currently subject to regulation or controls. However, low-emission coal-based power plants equipped with technologies for the capture and geological sequestration of CO2 are projected to be developed to the point of commercial readiness by 2015 as part of DOE's Carbon Sequestration program.
|
From page 107... ...
The committee estimates that approximately $10 million per year for five years will be required for this activity.4 There should be close cooperation and coordination among the USGS, the Carbon Sequestration program managed by DOE-fE, and the states involved in the Carbon Sequestration Regional partnerships. 4 In March, 2007, a bill was introduced to the U.S.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.