Coal fired power plant - Revision history

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported

2021-12-20T19:47:17Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 19:47, 20 December 2021
(No difference)

energy>Jmdonev at 21:34, 9 December 2021

2021-12-09T21:34:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:34, 9 December 2021
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[category:371 topics]]		[[category:371 topics]]
	[[Category:Done ~~2020~~-05-30]]		[[Category:Done 2021-10-29]]
	[[Category:Translated to French]]		[[Category:Translated to French]]
			[[Category:Translated to Spanish]]
	[[fr:Centrale au charbon]]		[[fr:Centrale au charbon]]
			[[es:Central eléctrica de carbón]]
	[[File:ferrybridge.jpg\|320px\|thumb\|Figure 1. A coal fired power plant in England.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Ferrybridge_%27C%27_Power_Station_-_geograph.org.uk_-_35089.jpg</ref> Note the two tall [[smoke]] stacks where the [[coal combustion residuals\|combustion products]] go into the [[atmosphere]] and the shorter, wider [[cooling tower]]s.]]		[[File:ferrybridge.jpg\|320px\|thumb\|Figure 1. A coal fired power plant in England.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Ferrybridge_%27C%27_Power_Station_-_geograph.org.uk_-_35089.jpg</ref> Note the two tall [[smoke]] stacks where the [[coal combustion residuals\|combustion products]] go into the [[atmosphere]] and the shorter, wider [[cooling tower]]s.]]

Line 26:		Line 28:

	==Environmental Impacts==		==Environmental Impacts==
	~~:''[[environmental impact of coal\|main article]]''~~

	Coal power plants have many associated [[environmental impact]]s on the local [[ecosystem]].		Coal power plants have many associated [[environmental impact]]s on the local [[ecosystem]].

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported

2021-09-27T00:03:13Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 00:03, 27 September 2021
(No difference)

energy>Ethan.boechler at 21:20, 10 September 2021

2021-09-10T21:20:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:20, 10 September 2021
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[category:371 topics]]		[[category:371 topics]]
	[[Category:Done ~~2017~~-07-01]]		[[Category:Done 2020-05-30]]
	[[File:ferrybridge.jpg\|320px\|thumb\|Figure 1. A coal fired power plant in England.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Ferrybridge_%27C%27_Power_Station_-_geograph.org.uk_-_35089.jpg</ref> Note the two tall smoke stacks where the combustion products go into the atmosphere and the shorter, wider cooling ~~towers~~.]]		[[Category:Translated to French]]
			[[fr:Centrale au charbon]]
			[[File:ferrybridge.jpg\|320px\|thumb\|Figure 1. A coal fired power plant in England.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Ferrybridge_%27C%27_Power_Station_-_geograph.org.uk_-_35089.jpg</ref> Note the two tall [[smoke]] stacks where the [[coal combustion residuals\|combustion products]] go into the [[atmosphere]] and the shorter, wider [[cooling tower]]s.]]

	<onlyinclude>'''Coal fired power plants''' are ~~a type of [[power plant]]~~ that ~~make use of the~~ [[combustion]] of [[coal]] in order to [[generate electricity]]. ~~Their use provides around~~ 40% of the world's [[electricity~~]] and they are primarily used in [[developing countries~~]].</onlyinclude><ref>World ~~Coal Association~~. ~~(June 10 2015). ''Coal and Electricity''~~ [Online]. Available: ~~http~~://~~www.worldcoal~~.org/~~coal/uses~~-of-~~coal/coal~~-~~electricity/~~</ref> Countries such as South Africa use coal for 94% of their electricity and China and India use coal for 70-75% of their electricity needs, however the ''amount'' of coal China uses dwarfs most other countries (see the [[Coal fired power plant#World Electricity Generation: Coal\|data visualization below]]).<ref>Data Source:		<onlyinclude>'''Coal fired power plants''' also known as '''coal fired power stations''' are facilities that [[combustion\|burn]] [[coal]] to make steam in order to [[generate electricity]]. These stations, seen in Figure 1, provide ~40% of the world's [[electricity]].</onlyinclude><ref>H. Ritchie and M. Roser, "Fossil Fuels", Our World in Data, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://ourworldindata.org/fossil-fuels. [Accessed: 11- May- 2020].</ref> Countries such as South Africa use coal for 94% of their electricity and China and India use coal for 70-75% of their electricity needs, however the ''amount'' of coal China uses dwarfs most other countries (see the [[Coal fired power plant#World Electricity Generation: Coal\|data visualization below]]).<ref>Data Source:
	IEA (2014), "World energy balances", IEA World Energy Statistics and Balances (database). DOI: http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/10.1787/data-00512-en		IEA (2014), "World energy balances", IEA World Energy Statistics and Balances (database). DOI: http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/10.1787/data-00512-en
	(Accessed February 2015)</ref> The use of coal provides [[access to electricity]] to those who previously didn't have it, which helps to increase [[quality of life]] and reduce [[poverty]] in those regions, however it produces large quantities of different [[pollutant]]s which reduces [[air quality]] and contributes to [[climate change]].		(Accessed February 2015)</ref> The use of coal provides [[access to electricity]] to those who previously didn't have it, which helps to increase [[quality of life]] and reduce [[poverty]] in those regions, however it produces large quantities of different [[pollutant]]s which reduces [[air quality]] and contributes to [[climate change]].

	==Burning huge amounts of coal==		==Burning huge amounts of coal==
	Coal plants require enormous amounts of coal. Shockingly: a 1000 [[megawatts electric\|MWe]] coal plant uses 9000 [[tonne]]s of coal per day, equivalent to an entire train load (90 cars with 100 tonnes in each!).<ref>R. A. Hinrichs and M. Kleinbach, "Electricity: Circuits + Superconductors," in ''Energy: Its Use and the Environment'', 4th ed. Toronto, Ont. Canada: Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2006, ch.10, sec.A, pp.320</ref> The amount of coal used during a full year would then require 365 trains, and if each is 3 km long then a single train carrying all of this coal would need to be about 1100 km long; about the same distance as driving from Calgary AB to Victoria BC. If this train were to pass by your house at 40 [[kilometers per hour]], it would take more than ''a day'' to pass!		Coal plants require enormous amounts of coal. Shockingly: a 1000 [[megawatts electric\|MWe]] coal plant uses 9000 [[tonne]]s of coal per day, equivalent to an entire train load (90 cars with 100 tonnes in each!).<ref>R. A. Hinrichs and M. Kleinbach, "Electricity: Circuits + Superconductors," in ''Energy: Its Use and the Environment'', 4th ed. Toronto, Ont. Canada: Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2006, ch.10, sec.A, pp.320</ref> The amount of coal used during a full [[year]] would then require 365 trains, and if each is 3 [[Kilometer\|km]] long then a single train carrying all of this coal would need to be about 1100 km long; about the same distance as driving from Calgary AB to Victoria BC. If this train were to pass by your house at 40 [[kilometers per hour]], it would take more than ''a day'' to pass!

	[[File:Coaltrain_and_map.png\|800px\|thumb\|center\|Figure 2. A coal train the length of 1100 kilometers, the distance from Calgary to Victoria, is needed per year for a 1000 MWe coal fired [[power]] plant.<ref>Callum Black on Geograph. (June 23 2015). ''Coal train'' [Online], Available: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/450234</ref>]]		[[File:Coaltrain_and_map.png\|800px\|thumb\|center\|Figure 2. A coal train the length of 1100 kilometers, the distance from Calgary to Victoria, is needed per year for a 1000 MWe coal fired [[power]] plant.<ref>Callum Black on Geograph. (June 23 2015). ''Coal train'' [Online], Available: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/450234</ref>]]
Line 26:		Line 28:
	:''[[environmental impact of coal\|main article]]''		:''[[environmental impact of coal\|main article]]''

	Coal power plants have many associated [[~~environment~~]]~~al impacts~~ on the local [[ecosystem]].		Coal power plants have many associated [[environmental impact]]s on the local [[ecosystem]].

	===Air pollution===		===Air pollution===
	The burning of coal releases many pollutants - oxides of [[nitrogen]] ([[NOx]]) and [[sulfur]] ([[SOx]]) - and [[particulate matter]]. They also emit [[greenhouse gases]], such as [[carbon dioxide]] (CO<sub>2</sub>) and [[methane]] (CH<sub>4</sub>), which are known to contribute to [[global warming]] and [[climate change]]. To help stunt the emission of these, power plants require [[air pollution control devices\|technology]] to reduce the output of these harmful [[molecule]]s.<ref name=pollution>~~World~~ Coal ~~Association. (June 10 2015). ''Coal Use & the Environment'' [Online]~~. ~~Available: http://www.worldcoal.org/coal-the-environment/coal-use-the-environment/~~</ref>		The burning of coal releases many pollutants - oxides of [[nitrogen]] ([[NOx]]) and [[sulfur]] ([[SOx]]) - and [[particulate matter]]. They also emit [[greenhouse gases]], such as [[carbon dioxide]] (CO<sub>2</sub>) and [[methane]] (CH<sub>4</sub>), which are known to contribute to [[global warming]] and [[climate change]]. To help stunt the emission of these, power plants require [[air pollution control devices\|technology]] to reduce the output of these harmful [[molecule]]s.<ref name=pollution>BCC Research, "Air Pollution Control for Coal-Fired Power Plants", BCC Publishing, 2013.</ref>

	===Water Use/Pollution===		===Water Use/Pollution===

	Large quantities of [[water]] are often needed to remove impurities from coal,<ref name=epa>EPA Clean Energy. (June 10 2015). ''Coal'' [Online]. Available: http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/coal.html</ref> ~~in the~~ process is known as [[coal washing]]. For instance, in China, around one-fifth of the water used in the coal industry is used for this process.<ref>IEA. (June 22 2015). ''Why most coal avoids a bath'' [Online], Available: http://www.iea.org/ieaenergy/issue6/why-most-coal-avoids-a-bath.html</ref> This process helps reduce [[air]] ~~pollution~~, as it eliminates around 50% of the ash content in the coal. This results in less sulfur dioxide (SOx) being produced, along with less carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) due to higher [[thermal efficiency\|thermal efficiencies]].<ref ~~name=pollution~~/>		Large quantities of [[water]] are often needed to remove impurities from coal,<ref name=epa>EPA Clean Energy. (June 10 2015). ''Coal'' [Online]. Available: http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/coal.html</ref> this process is known as [[coal washing]]. For instance, in China, around one-fifth of the water used in the coal industry is used for this process.<ref>IEA. (June 22 2015). ''Why most coal avoids a bath'' [Online], Available: http://www.iea.org/ieaenergy/issue6/why-most-coal-avoids-a-bath.html</ref> This process helps reduce [[air pollution]], as it eliminates around 50[[Percent\|%]] of the [[Coal ash\|ash]] content in the coal. This results in less sulfur dioxide (SOx) being produced, along with less carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) due to higher [[thermal efficiency\|thermal efficiencies]].<ref>AP 42: Compilation of Air Pollutant Emissions Factors, Volume 1: Stationary Point and Area Sources, 5th ed. US Environmental Protection Agency, 2010, pp. 11.10-1.</ref>

	When power plants remove water from the environment, fish and other aquatic life can be affected, along with animals relying on these sources.<ref name=epa/> Pollutants also build up in the water that power plants use, so if this water is discharged back into the environment it can potentially harm wildlife there.<ref name=epa/>		When power plants remove water from the [[environment]], fish and other aquatic life can be affected, along with animals relying on these sources.<ref name=epa/> Pollutants also [[Water pollution\|build up in the water]] that power plants use, so if this water is discharged back into the environment it can potentially harm wildlife there.<ref name=epa/>

	The discharge of water from the power plants and coal washing requires monitoring and regulation. Visit the [http://water.epa.gov/ US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)] for more information on this.		The discharge of water from the power plants and coal washing requires monitoring and regulation. Visit the [http://water.epa.gov/ US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)] for more information on this.
Line 41:		Line 43:
	==World Electricity Generation: Coal==		==World Electricity Generation: Coal==

	The map below shows which [[primary energy]] different countries get the energy to generate their electricity from. Coal is seen in grey. Click on the region to zoom into a group of countries, then click on the country to see where its electricity comes from. Some notable countries include China, India, USA, Russia, Canada, and France.		The map below shows which [[primary energy]] different countries get the [[energy]] to generate their electricity from. Coal is seen in grey. Click on the region to zoom into a group of countries, then click on the country to see where its electricity comes from. Some notable countries include China, India, USA, Russia, Canada, and France.

	<html><iframe class='charts-iframe' id='world-energy'></iframe></html>		<html><iframe class='charts-iframe' id='world-energy'></iframe></html>

			==For Further Reading==
			*[[Supercritical coal plant]]
			*[[Coal formation]]
			*[[Coal liquefaction]]
			*[[Coal gas]]
			*[[Coal seam]]
			*Or explore a [[Special:Random\|random page]]

	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}
	[[Category:Uploaded]]		[[Category:Uploaded]]

Jmdonev at 21:09, 24 February 2019

2019-02-24T21:09:23Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:09, 24 February 2019
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[category:371 topics]]		[[category:371 topics]]
	[[Category:Done 2017-07-01]]		[[Category:Done 2017-07-01]]
	[[File:ferrybridge.jpg\|320px\|thumb\|Figure 1. A coal fired power plant in England.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Ferrybridge_%27C%27_Power_Station_-_geograph.org.uk_-_35089.jpg</ref>]]		[[File:ferrybridge.jpg\|320px\|thumb\|Figure 1. A coal fired power plant in England.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Ferrybridge_%27C%27_Power_Station_-_geograph.org.uk_-_35089.jpg</ref> Note the two tall smoke stacks where the combustion products go into the atmosphere and the shorter, wider cooling towers.]]

	<onlyinclude>'''Coal fired power plants''' are a type of [[power plant]] that make use of the [[combustion]] of [[coal]] in order to [[generate electricity]]. Their use provides around 40% of the world's [[electricity]] and they are primarily used in [[developing countries]].</onlyinclude><ref>World Coal Association. (June 10 2015). ''Coal and Electricity'' [Online]. Available: http://www.worldcoal.org/coal/uses-of-coal/coal-electricity/</ref> Countries such as South Africa use coal for 94% of their electricity and China and India use coal for 70-75% of their electricity needs, however the ''amount'' of coal China uses dwarfs most other countries (see the [[Coal fired power plant#World Electricity Generation: Coal\|data visualization below]]).<ref>Data Source:		<onlyinclude>'''Coal fired power plants''' are a type of [[power plant]] that make use of the [[combustion]] of [[coal]] in order to [[generate electricity]]. Their use provides around 40% of the world's [[electricity]] and they are primarily used in [[developing countries]].</onlyinclude><ref>World Coal Association. (June 10 2015). ''Coal and Electricity'' [Online]. Available: http://www.worldcoal.org/coal/uses-of-coal/coal-electricity/</ref> Countries such as South Africa use coal for 94% of their electricity and China and India use coal for 70-75% of their electricity needs, however the ''amount'' of coal China uses dwarfs most other countries (see the [[Coal fired power plant#World Electricity Generation: Coal\|data visualization below]]).<ref>Data Source:

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported

2017-08-29T01:46:52Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 01:46, 29 August 2017
(No difference)

Jmdonev at 17:36, 28 July 2017

2017-07-28T17:36:01Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:36, 28 July 2017
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[category:371 topics]][[Category:Done ~~2016~~-04-30]]		[[category:371 topics]]
			[[Category:Done 2017-07-01]]
	[[File:ferrybridge.jpg\|320px\|thumb\|Figure 1. A coal fired power plant in England.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Ferrybridge_%27C%27_Power_Station_-_geograph.org.uk_-_35089.jpg</ref>]]		[[File:ferrybridge.jpg\|320px\|thumb\|Figure 1. A coal fired power plant in England.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Ferrybridge_%27C%27_Power_Station_-_geograph.org.uk_-_35089.jpg</ref>]]

Line 6:		Line 7:
	(Accessed February 2015)</ref> The use of coal provides [[access to electricity]] to those who previously didn't have it, which helps to increase [[quality of life]] and reduce [[poverty]] in those regions, however it produces large quantities of different [[pollutant]]s which reduces [[air quality]] and contributes to [[climate change]].		(Accessed February 2015)</ref> The use of coal provides [[access to electricity]] to those who previously didn't have it, which helps to increase [[quality of life]] and reduce [[poverty]] in those regions, however it produces large quantities of different [[pollutant]]s which reduces [[air quality]] and contributes to [[climate change]].

	==~~Operation~~==		==Burning huge amounts of coal==
	Coal plants require enormous amounts of coal. ~~'''Think about this'''~~: a 1000 [[megawatts electric\|MWe]] coal plant uses 9000 [[tonne]]s of coal per day, equivalent to an entire train load (90 cars with 100 tonnes in each!).<ref>R. A. Hinrichs and M. Kleinbach, "Electricity: Circuits + Superconductors," in ''Energy: Its Use and the Environment'', 4th ed. Toronto, Ont. Canada: Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2006, ch.10, sec.A, pp.320</ref> The amount of coal used during a full year would then require 365 trains, and if each is 3 km long then a single train carrying all of this coal would need to be about 1100 km long; about the same distance as driving from Calgary AB to Victoria BC. If this train were to pass by your house at 40 [[kilometers per hour]], it would take more than ''a day'' to pass!		Coal plants require enormous amounts of coal. Shockingly: a 1000 [[megawatts electric\|MWe]] coal plant uses 9000 [[tonne]]s of coal per day, equivalent to an entire train load (90 cars with 100 tonnes in each!).<ref>R. A. Hinrichs and M. Kleinbach, "Electricity: Circuits + Superconductors," in ''Energy: Its Use and the Environment'', 4th ed. Toronto, Ont. Canada: Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2006, ch.10, sec.A, pp.320</ref> The amount of coal used during a full year would then require 365 trains, and if each is 3 km long then a single train carrying all of this coal would need to be about 1100 km long; about the same distance as driving from Calgary AB to Victoria BC. If this train were to pass by your house at 40 [[kilometers per hour]], it would take more than ''a day'' to pass!

	[[File:Coaltrain_and_map.png\|800px\|thumb\|center\|Figure 2. A coal train the length of 1100 kilometers, the distance from Calgary to Victoria, is needed per year for a 1000 MWe coal fired [[power]] plant.<ref>Callum Black on Geograph. (June 23 2015). ''Coal train'' [Online], Available: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/450234</ref>]]		[[File:Coaltrain_and_map.png\|800px\|thumb\|center\|Figure 2. A coal train the length of 1100 kilometers, the distance from Calgary to Victoria, is needed per year for a 1000 MWe coal fired [[power]] plant.<ref>Callum Black on Geograph. (June 23 2015). ''Coal train'' [Online], Available: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/450234</ref>]]
Line 13:		Line 14:
	The conversion of this coal to the end goal of electricity is a multi-faceted process:<ref>R. A. Hinrichs and M. Kleinbach, "Electromagnetism and the Generation of Electricity," in ''Energy: Its Use and the Environment'', 4th ed. Toronto, Ont. Canada: Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2006, ch.11, sec.D, pp.376-377</ref>		The conversion of this coal to the end goal of electricity is a multi-faceted process:<ref>R. A. Hinrichs and M. Kleinbach, "Electromagnetism and the Generation of Electricity," in ''Energy: Its Use and the Environment'', 4th ed. Toronto, Ont. Canada: Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2006, ch.11, sec.D, pp.376-377</ref>

	#The coal must be '''unloaded''' from the train. Traditional ways of doing this require the use of cranes picking up the coal from the cars, however newer plants have the floor underneath the train tracks drop away, allowing the coal to be dropped into underground containment. Doing so doesn't even require the train to stop moving!<ref>Discovery via user: Largest Dams, ''Coal Fired Power Plant - England'' [Online Video], Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEJKiUYjW1E</ref> For a video of this please see [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEJKiUYjW1E here]. Many coal plants are [[mine mouth]] which means the plant was put where the [[coal mine]] is, so the coal doesn't need to be transported by train.		#The coal must be '''unloaded''' from the train. Traditional ways of doing this require the use of cranes picking up the coal from the cars, however newer plants have the floor underneath the train tracks drop away, allowing the coal to be dropped into underground containment. Doing so doesn't even require the train to stop moving!<ref>Discovery via user: Largest Dams, ''Coal Fired Power Plant - England'' [Online Video], Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEJKiUYjW1E</ref> For a video of this please see [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEJKiUYjW1E here]. Many coal plants are [[mine mouth]] which means the plant was put where the [[coal mining\|coal mine]] is, so the coal doesn't need to be transported by train.
	#Once unloaded, the coal is then '''pulverized into a fine powder''' by a large grinder. This ensures nearly complete burning of the coal in order to maximize the [[heat]] given off and to minimize pollutants.		#Once unloaded, the coal is then '''pulverized into a fine powder''' by a large grinder. This ensures nearly complete burning of the coal in order to maximize the [[heat]] given off and to minimize pollutants.
	#The pulverized coal is then '''input to a [[boiler]]''', where combustion occurs and the coal provides heat to the power plant. This heat is transferred to pipes containing high [[pressure]]d [[water]], which boils to [[steam]].		#The pulverized coal is then '''input to a [[boiler]]''', where combustion occurs and the coal provides heat to the power plant. This heat is transferred to pipes containing high [[pressure]]d [[water]], which boils to [[steam]].
Line 25:		Line 26:
	:''[[environmental impact of coal\|main article]]''		:''[[environmental impact of coal\|main article]]''

	Coal power plants have many associated [[~~environmental~~]] impacts.		Coal power plants have many associated [[environment]]al impacts on the local [[ecosystem]].

	===Air pollution===		===Air pollution===

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported: From the summer

2016-09-17T22:29:48Z

1 revision imported: From the summer

← Older revision	Revision as of 22:29, 17 September 2016
(No difference)

Jmdonev at 03:48, 4 September 2016

2016-09-04T03:48:55Z

New page

[[category:371 topics]][[Category:Done 2016-04-30]]
[[File:ferrybridge.jpg|320px|thumb|Figure 1. A coal fired power plant in England.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Ferrybridge_%27C%27_Power_Station_-_geograph.org.uk_-_35089.jpg</ref>]]

<onlyinclude>'''Coal fired power plants''' are a type of [[power plant]] that make use of the [[combustion]] of [[coal]] in order to [[generate electricity]]. Their use provides around 40% of the world's [[electricity]] and they are primarily used in [[developing countries]].</onlyinclude><ref>World Coal Association. (June 10 2015). ''Coal and Electricity'' [Online]. Available: http://www.worldcoal.org/coal/uses-of-coal/coal-electricity/</ref> Countries such as South Africa use coal for 94% of their electricity and China and India use coal for 70-75% of their electricity needs, however the ''amount'' of coal China uses dwarfs most other countries (see the [[Coal fired power plant#World Electricity Generation: Coal|data visualization below]]).<ref>Data Source:
IEA (2014), "World energy balances", IEA World Energy Statistics and Balances (database). DOI: http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/10.1787/data-00512-en
(Accessed February 2015)</ref> The use of coal provides [[access to electricity]] to those who previously didn't have it, which helps to increase [[quality of life]] and reduce [[poverty]] in those regions, however it produces large quantities of different [[pollutant]]s which reduces [[air quality]] and contributes to [[climate change]].

==Operation==
Coal plants require enormous amounts of coal. '''Think about this''': a 1000 [[megawatts electric|MWe]] coal plant uses 9000 [[tonne]]s of coal per day, equivalent to an entire train load (90 cars with 100 tonnes in each!).<ref>R. A. Hinrichs and M. Kleinbach, "Electricity: Circuits + Superconductors," in ''Energy: Its Use and the Environment'', 4th ed. Toronto, Ont. Canada: Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2006, ch.10, sec.A, pp.320</ref> The amount of coal used during a full year would then require 365 trains, and if each is 3 km long then a single train carrying all of this coal would need to be about 1100 km long; about the same distance as driving from Calgary AB to Victoria BC. If this train were to pass by your house at 40 [[kilometers per hour]], it would take more than ''a day'' to pass!

[[File:Coaltrain_and_map.png|800px|thumb|center|Figure 2. A coal train the length of 1100 kilometers, the distance from Calgary to Victoria, is needed per year for a 1000 MWe coal fired [[power]] plant.<ref>Callum Black on Geograph. (June 23 2015). ''Coal train'' [Online], Available: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/450234</ref>]]

The conversion of this coal to the end goal of electricity is a multi-faceted process:<ref>R. A. Hinrichs and M. Kleinbach, "Electromagnetism and the Generation of Electricity," in ''Energy: Its Use and the Environment'', 4th ed. Toronto, Ont. Canada: Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2006, ch.11, sec.D, pp.376-377</ref>

#The coal must be '''unloaded''' from the train. Traditional ways of doing this require the use of cranes picking up the coal from the cars, however newer plants have the floor underneath the train tracks drop away, allowing the coal to be dropped into underground containment. Doing so doesn't even require the train to stop moving!<ref>Discovery via user: Largest Dams, ''Coal Fired Power Plant - England'' [Online Video], Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEJKiUYjW1E</ref> For a video of this please see [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEJKiUYjW1E here]. Many coal plants are [[mine mouth]] which means the plant was put where the [[coal mine]] is, so the coal doesn't need to be transported by train.
#Once unloaded, the coal is then '''pulverized into a fine powder''' by a large grinder. This ensures nearly complete burning of the coal in order to maximize the [[heat]] given off and to minimize pollutants.
#The pulverized coal is then '''input to a [[boiler]]''', where combustion occurs and the coal provides heat to the power plant. This heat is transferred to pipes containing high [[pressure]]d [[water]], which boils to [[steam]].
#The steam then '''travels through a [[turbine]]''', causing it to rotate extremely fast which in turn spins a [[generator]], producing electricity. The electricity can then be input to the [[electrical grid]] for use by society.

Coal fired power plants follow the [[Rankine cycle]] in order to complete this process. Since they require plenty of water to be circulated in this cycle, coal power plants need to be located near a body of water. The process of coal fired plants can be seen below in Figure 3.

[[File:Coal_fired_power_plant_diagram.svg.png|800px|thumb|center|Figure 3. The process of a coal fired power plant to convert coal into electricity.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online]. Available: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Coal_fired_power_plant_diagram.svg/1280px-Coal_fired_power_plant_diagram.svg.png</ref>]]

==Environmental Impacts==
:''[[environmental impact of coal|main article]]''

Coal power plants have many associated [[environmental]] impacts.

===Air pollution===
The burning of coal releases many pollutants - oxides of [[nitrogen]] ([[NOx]]) and [[sulfur]] ([[SOx]]) - and [[particulate matter]]. They also emit [[greenhouse gases]], such as [[carbon dioxide]] (CO<sub>2</sub>) and [[methane]] (CH<sub>4</sub>), which are known to contribute to [[global warming]] and [[climate change]]. To help stunt the emission of these, power plants require [[air pollution control devices|technology]] to reduce the output of these harmful [[molecule]]s.<ref name=pollution>World Coal Association. (June 10 2015). ''Coal Use & the Environment'' [Online]. Available: http://www.worldcoal.org/coal-the-environment/coal-use-the-environment/</ref>

===Water Use/Pollution===

Large quantities of [[water]] are often needed to remove impurities from coal,<ref name=epa>EPA Clean Energy. (June 10 2015). ''Coal'' [Online]. Available: http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/coal.html</ref> in the process is known as [[coal washing]]. For instance, in China, around one-fifth of the water used in the coal industry is used for this process.<ref>IEA. (June 22 2015). ''Why most coal avoids a bath'' [Online], Available: http://www.iea.org/ieaenergy/issue6/why-most-coal-avoids-a-bath.html</ref> This process helps reduce [[air]] pollution, as it eliminates around 50% of the ash content in the coal. This results in less sulfur dioxide (SOx) being produced, along with less carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) due to higher [[thermal efficiency|thermal efficiencies]].<ref name=pollution/>

When power plants remove water from the environment, fish and other aquatic life can be affected, along with animals relying on these sources.<ref name=epa/> Pollutants also build up in the water that power plants use, so if this water is discharged back into the environment it can potentially harm wildlife there.<ref name=epa/>

The discharge of water from the power plants and coal washing requires monitoring and regulation. Visit the [http://water.epa.gov/ US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)] for more information on this.

==World Electricity Generation: Coal==

The map below shows which [[primary energy]] different countries get the energy to generate their electricity from. Coal is seen in grey. Click on the region to zoom into a group of countries, then click on the country to see where its electricity comes from. Some notable countries include China, India, USA, Russia, Canada, and France.

<html><iframe class='charts-iframe' id='world-energy'></iframe></html>

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Uploaded]]