Description of Coal Energy
Coal is a black or brownish-black solid combustible substance. It is widely used as a natural fuel. It took millions of years to form coal by the partial decomposition of vegetable matter without free access of air and under the influence of moisture and often increased pressure and temperature. Coal is found in layers within the earth's crust. Coal energy accounts for at least 28 percent of the world's total primary energy supply.
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Benefits and Energy Value
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Large-scale use of coal is used in steel production, cement manufacturing and other energy-intensive industries. Energy value of coal refers to the amount of potential energy that can be converted into heat energy. Generally speaking, the energy value of coal is 24MJ/KG. Electricity and heat are the two energy entities that rely heavily on coal energy. Coke is the solid carbonaceous residue of coal left after destructive distillation, i.e. decomposition of coal by heat in a closed container. Syngas is a combustible mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas that is also called coal gasification.
Upgrading
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The Fischer-Tropsch process has attracted renewed interest as a way to produce synthetic fuels from coal for driving motor vehicles. Upgrading of coal is possible through technology that eliminates certain pollutants and moisture from lower-rank coals such as bituminous.
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Coal as a Fossil Fuel
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Coal was formed from plants and animals that lived up to 300 millions years ago. It is made of decomposed plant matter in conditions of high temperature and pressure. Today, coal is the most abundant fossil fuel produced in the U.S. It is far more plentiful than oil or gas. About 85 percent of world's energy consumption involves coal.
Uses
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Coal is the largest source of energy for the production of electricity, heat and steel. It is cheap and plentiful. Moreover, coal is the top fuel for U.S. power plants. From household to industry, coal caters to the heat requirement of every aspect of life. Before the advent of the steam engine, coal was the main driving force in railway transportation.
Facts
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Coal is a nonrenewable energy source, so its supply will be exhausted at some point. At the present rate of consumption, it would be depleted in next 1,000 years, so we need to tap alternative energy sources. For example, nuclear energy is being looked to as an effective alternative to conventional sources of energy like coal.
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References
- Photo Credit charbon 2 image by thierry planche from Fotolia.com
