Clean Coal Handling Practices in the Midwest
Clean Coal Handling Practices in the Midwest
-- Steven Rich, MBA --
There are several products offering solutions for Midwest coal companies to keep fugitive dust down. Here are some proper coal handling practices in the Midwest.
Soil-Sement
Manufactured by Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc., Soil-Sement uses nanotechnology formulation to provide surface control coal sealant on a molecular level. Effective soil stabilization and dust control is accomplished with its polymer emulsion controlling PM2.5 and PM10 emissions. Two formulations of Soil-Sement have been awarded certifications from the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) for meeting dust control environmental standards.
Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. also manufactures its EK35® product which reduces PM2.5 and PM10 emissions increasing the health of its workers and the nearby communities with its dust control solutions.
Clean Coal Technology
New clean coal technologies (CCT’s) limit coal industry emissions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires companies to improve cleaner coal technology. Compared to the 1970’s, current power plants emit 90% fewer pollutants in spite that 93% of coal consumed in the U.S. produces power. Three new technologies help produce power in more efficient and greener ways:
1. Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC)
IGCC increases the efficiency rating for coal by 50%. Pressure and heat combine to create a reaction in coal separating carbon molecules. Resulting in syngas, the process combines hydrogen with carbon monoxide which are further cleaned and refined prior to burning in a gas turbine. The heat powers a steam turbine essentially creating two types of energy without having to burn coal.
The billowing white smoke clouds emerging from coal powered plants are called flue gas. Sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and other emissions exist in the clouds where flue gas desulfurization highly reduces the sulfur dioxide output by as much as 97%. Also called wet scrubbers, the flue gas are sprayed by desulfurization systems with water and limestone causing a chemical reaction yielding synthetic gypsum. This gypsum can be used in drywall and other products.
When used in conjunction with coal washing scrubbers becomes more effective where unwanted minerals are removed after a liquid is mixed with crushed coal allowing the impurities to separate.
3. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
CCS captures and holds carbon dioxide emitted from power plants before reaching the atmosphere. One method involves using a solvent to remove CO2 from the steam, called Flue gas separation. Then it is condensed in concentrated steam resulting in a commercial usable CO2. Another method burns coal in pure oxygen creating a flue gas consisting of water and CO2 called the Oxy-Coal combustion system.
Finally, IGCC is used to isolate and remove carbon dioxide before burning called the pre-combustion capture method. The captured CO2 is then stored either in geologic formations like saline aquifers, or depleted gas and oil fields, or in the ocean depths where it dissolves due to the pressures.
Conclusion
Soil-Sement and three other "clean" coal technologies provide clean coal handling practices in the Midwest.
Copyright © 2016 – Steven Rich, MBA
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