Lignite Notes

Lignite Fueling the world’s need for energy

Carbon/energy content of coal High

High Moisture content of coal

Low Rank Coals47%

Lignite17%

Sub-‐bituminuos30%

Hard Coal 53%

Bituminous 52%

Anthracite <1%

ThermalSteam coal

MetallurgicalCooking coal

%

WORLD

RESERVES

Largely power generation

Power generation, cement manufacturing

Power generation, cement manufacturing

Manufacture of Iron & steel Domestic/ industrial

including smokeless fuel

Rank, Grade & Usage of coal

Coal Classification

Coal type (organic

composition)

A classification of coal distinguished on the basis of the constituent plant materials; megascopic classification is a “ l i t h o t y p e ” . M i c r o s c o p i c classifications use “microlithotypes” and “macerals”.

Coal Grade (Mineral matter)

A classification of coal based on degree of purity i.e. quantity of ash left after burning; dependent upon amount of mineral matter

Coal Rank (Coal

maturity)

The classification of coals according to their degree of metamorphism or coalification (maturation) in the natura l ser ies f rom l ign i te to anthracite.

Releases : volatile fractions (methane,

water, CO2 )

Eliminates: Oxygen containing functional

group

Increases : aromatic unit & carbon

Coalification Process

Peatification → Peat

Dehydration → Lignite to Sub-‐bituminous

Bituminization → Upper sub-‐bituminous (high vola6le)

Debituminization → Low vola6le bituminous

Graphitization → Semi-‐anthracite to anthracite to meta-‐anthracite

Major Stages in Coalification

LIGNITE

WHAT IS LIGNITE? Brown coal, or Rosebud coal by Northern Pacific Railroad.

Soft brown fuel. Lowest classification of coal.

HOW IT IS FORMED?

Lignite Formation

Dehydration Compaction

Expulsion of COOH, H2O and CO2

DEHYDRATION

Type of lignite

Xyloid lignite Fossil wood Have a tenacity and

appearance of an ordinary wood.

Provide considerable quantity of ulmic acid

Perfect ligniteCompacted ligniteCharacterised by its

complete solubility in hypochlorites and nitric acid.

Lignite Formation

PEATIFICATION

Humification Maceration

Gelification

Properties and Classification of Lignite

Physical properties

Yellow to dark brown Soft, the original wood texture may still present.

It crumbles easily after dried.

German classification of coal grade

Sub-‐bituminous to bitum

inous coal

German classification of coal grade

Chemical composition

Coal is composed primarily of carbon along with other elements, chiefly sulfur, oxygen and hydrogen.

Some scientists say…..







Chemical properties

Another group of scientists say…..

Chemical properties

• Heat content is also known as calorific value.• It indicates the amount of heat that is released when the coal is burned in kJ/kg.


Chemical properties

• Heat content is also known as calorific value.• It indicates the amount of heat that is released when the coal is burned in kJ/kg.

Low cost, inefficient transportation, storage and ash disposal.


IDENTIFYING LIGNITE AND COAL BEDS

Geophysical Logs (revisited)

Log Func(on

Gammamesures aount of radioac6vity emi@ed iby various stra6graphic lithotypes

Bulk Densitymeasure the interac6on between inducec-‐gamma ray and electron in material

Neutron measures the hydrogen present in water atoms in a forma6on

Sonic (Acous6c)measure the velocity of compressional wave component of acous6c signal

Resis6vity determine the current flow between electrodes

Lateralog measures electrical conduc6vity of beds through horizontal signals

Summary of Drill Hole Characteristics

Typical Responses of Geological Logs in Rock Type Commonly Encountered in Coal Drilling

Geological Logs Showing Lithologic Responses in Drillholes

USAGE OF LIGNITE

1. Electricity generation2. Synthetic natural gas generation3. Fertilizer products production

USAGE OF LIGNITE

1. Electricity generation2. Synthetic natural gas generation3. Fertilizer products production

USAGE OF LIGNITE (in percentage, %)

Electricity generation

Power plant in Rhenish, Germany. Current production level is about 100 million tonnes per year.

Lignite is crushed, pulverized into a powder and then burned in a conventional super critical boiler to create high pressure steam

That steam is then used to power steam turbines linked to electric generators

Electricity generation

Synthetic natural gas generation

Lurgi gasification process; Synfuels Plant gasifies lignite to produce valuable gases and liquids.

Lignite consumption is more than 6 million tons annually.

Synthetic natural gas generation

Lurgi Mark IV gasifiers (Lignite)

Lurgi moving bed gasifiers (steam and oxygen; produces a

Waste heat boiler (raw gas stream that exists each

Fertilizer products production

1150 tons per day of anhydrous ammonia (approximately 150 MMSCFD of CO2, and a variety of other byproducts)

Fertilizer products production

Process flow diagram1. Removes 93% of the Sulfur Dioxide.2. Flue Gas Desulfurization3. Dewatering and Compaction

Assessing Impact of Lignite Economic Prospects and Hazards

What is good about it?

Supplies are available throughout the world

Coal Mining is expanding very fast in Asia and starting to decline in the Europe

Where in Sarawak?Mukah-‐Balingan ProvinceMerit Pila, Kapit Division Estimated Resource of 400 million Tonnes! Will be mined to power SCORE project

Lignite Econs

Germany largest producer

India -‐ controlled lignite production

China -‐ increased production

Lignite Economy

Poland's Lignite

Poland was the world's fourth largest lignite producer in 1999.

Poland is the largest electricity producer in Central and Eastern Europe.

Source? = Coal & Lignite Lignite supplies 25% -‐ Poland's Electricity

Hard Coal Power Station

Lignite Power Station

Gas Power Stations

HydroelectricityAutoproducers

Poland's Lignite

Late 1990s Lignite price -‐ NOT profitable for mining companies

Lignite miners – loss of interest

2003 – New Pricing System Lignite – with agreement – miners & power plants

Poland's Lignite

Adamów” - until 2029 Bełchatów” - until 2050 Konin” - until 2037 Turów” - until 2035

1 Polish zloty / milligram (PLN/Mg) = 313 578 U.S. Dollars / kg

THIS SECTION MAY

CONTAIN

DISTURBING IMAGES

PROCEED WITH

CAUTION

Health hazard

Affect those directly involved with mining and those who are not.

Severe Pneumonic and Respiratory Problem (CWP, Bronchitis)

Occupational Hazards to miners (slippage, collapse of shafts, explosion)

Toxic exposure-‐Polluted water sources

1968 Virginia mine explosion

METHANE GAS EXPLOSION IN SIBERIAOn 13 May 2010, a mine in Raspadskaya killing 66 people and injuring 99 including rescuers.

Death Episode of China Coal Mining

China Labour Bulletin News Flash No. 60, Hong Kong

Death Episode of China Coal Mining

China Labour Bulletin News Flash No. 60, Hong Kong

Never Below

5000

Fatalities!

Environmental Impact

Air Pollution : Green house gas emission (CO2,SO2,NO,CO)

Pollution of noise Pollution to water sources -‐ AMD-‐ Coal mine slurry (contains arsenic, mercury, chromium

and lead)-‐ Release of volatile substance-‐ River pollutions by the likes of salts and solids

materials

Land disturbance (subsidence, wildlife & vegetation)

Open Pit causes land destructionsToxic Mine Slurry of Appalachian Coal Fields

Release of GHG and hazardous emissionsWater source pollution

Open Pit causes land destructionsToxic Mine Slurry of Appalachian Coal Fields

Release of GHG and hazardous emissionsWater source pollution

Land

AirWater

Before we end…

Press statement

“ The mining of coal is one of the most environmentally-‐damaging and polluting projects on Earth. The burning of coal in power-‐generating plants produces huge volume of green-‐house gas and have caused tremendous climatic changes all over the world. The extraction of coal from the ground and from underground mines have caused irreparable environmental damages. These woes have been seen all over the world, especially in coal-‐producing countries.

Borneo Resources Institute on lignite extraction for the SCORE project

Lignite Notes

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