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Steam coal, also known as thermal coal, is used in power stations to generate electricity.
Coal is first milled to a fine powder, which increases the surface area and allows it to burn more quickly. In these pulverised coal combustion (PCC) systems, the powdered coal is blown into the combustion chamber of a boiler where it is burnt at high temperature (see diagram below). The hot gases and heat energy produced converts water - in tubes lining the boiler - into steam.
The high pressure steam is passed into a turbine containing thousands of propeller-like blades. The steam pushes these blades causing the turbine shaft to rotate at high speed. A generator is mounted at one end of the turbine shaft and consists of carefully wound wire coils. Electricity is generated when these are rapidly rotated in a strong magnetic field. After passing through the turbine, the steam is condensed and returned to the boiler to be heated once again.
The electricity generated is transformed into the higher voltages (up to 400,000 volts) used for economic, efficient transmission via power line grids. When it nears the point of consumption, such as our homes, the electricity is transformed down to the safer 100-250 voltage systems used in the domestic market.
Efficiency ImprovementsImprovements continue to be made in conventional PCC power station design and new combustion technologies are being developed. These allow more electricity to be produced from less coal - known as improving the thermal efficiency of the power station. Efficiency gains in electricity generation from coal-fired power stations will play a crucial part in reducing CO2 emissions at a global level.
Efficiency improvements include the most cost-effective and shortest lead time actions for reducing emissions from coal-fired power generation. This is particularly the case in developing countries where existing power plant efficiencies are generally lower and coal use in electricity generation is increasing. Not only do higher efficiency coal-fired power plants emit less carbon dioxide per megawatt (MW), they are also more suited to retrofitting with CO2 capture systems.
Improving the efficiency of pulverised coal-fired power plants has been the focus of considerable efforts by the coal industry. There is huge scope for achieving significant efficiency improvements as the existing fleet of power plants are replaced over the next 10-20 years with new, higher efficiency supercritical and ultra-supercritical plants and through the wider use of Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) systems for power generation.
A one percentage point improvement in the efficiency of a conventional pulverised coal combustion plant results in a 2-3% reduction in CO2 emissions.
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How much of our energy is coal?
22.9%
Uses of coal?
Some of the uses of coal are it can be burnt to make energy and electricity! Coal also is used to make steel !
How much energy is generated from coal?
A lot
What form of energy does coal make?
Energy cannot be 'made' or 'destroyed'. It can simply be transformed to a different type of energy. Coal contains chemical energy, which will for example, be converted to heat energy in say a coal fired industrial boiler.
Will these coal energy last forever?
no it will not we will run out of the plant material used to make coal
How much of our energy is coal?
22.9%
Uses of coal?
Some of the uses of coal are it can be burnt to make energy and electricity! Coal also is used to make steel !
How much of the energy in burning coal reaches the consumer as electricity?
One third of coal's energy reaches the consumer.
How much of your energy is supplied by coal?
10%
How much energy is generated from coal?
A lot
What percent of nuclear powerplants make energy in the US by coal?
Zero percent of nuclear power plants make energy by coal, US or otherwise.
What energy resource is most commonly used to make energy?
coal
What form of energy does coal make?
Energy cannot be 'made' or 'destroyed'. It can simply be transformed to a different type of energy. Coal contains chemical energy, which will for example, be converted to heat energy in say a coal fired industrial boiler.
Will these coal energy last forever?
no it will not we will run out of the plant material used to make coal
How can you make energy?
You can't make energy, but you can release it from fuels such as coal, oil, gas, and uranium.
Does coal energy make a fossil fuel?
yes
How much energy does coal provide in the US?
15
