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ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICAL COAL CLEANING PRACTICES FOR SULFUR REMOVAL
Citation:
Herhal, A. AND C. Minnucci. ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICAL COAL CLEANING PRACTICES FOR SULFUR REMOVAL. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/7-90/013 (NTIS PB90-250143), 1990.
Impact/Purpose:
information
Description:
The report gives results of a study of the current level of coal cleaning activity in the U.S. n 1983, the U.S. DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) expanded coal data collection activities to include information on the extent and type of coal preparation conducted in each coal-producing region. The additional information included data on raw coal input to coal cleaning plants, clean coal output, quality characteristics of the prepared coal, and end-use markets of both raw and prepared coal. These data, combined with other EIA data, provide information on the extent and type of coal cleaning activity in each major coal-producing state or region. The impact on coal preparation of differences in mining methods and requirements of the various end-use markets also is discussed. Estimates were developed of SO2 emission reduction by current mechanical cleaning plants based on clean coal quality characteristics reported to EIA and bed/county raw coal quality estimated from the EIA/USBM analytical file. Estimates also were developed of the potential for improving current SO2 reduction levels through additional cleaning and the costs associated with each level of SO2 reduction. The current level of SO2 reduction by mechanical cleaning is estimated at 5 million metric tons/year. Additional coal cleaning is estimated to add an additional 2 to 3 million metric tons.