Coal Combustion Flashcards
Ultimate source of energy for coal
Sun
Coal consists of
compressed altered remains of vegetation
Coal formation (as it is compressed/lowered)
- peat
- lignite
- bituminous coal
- anthracite coal
Subjected to highest temperatures/pressures and therefore burns more cleanly
Anthracite coal
Coal is considered a ___________ rock
Biochemical
Coal is mostly made of
Carbon
Combustion reaction
Hydrocarbon reacts with O2 and releases a large amount of energy in the form of light and heat and produces CO2 and H20
CH4 + 2O2 –> CO2 + 2H2O
Combustion of methane
C3H8 + 5O2 –> 3CO2 + 4H2O
Combustion of propane
Combustion reaction is exo or endothermic…why
exo - because it releases energy in the form of light and heat
Insufficient oxygen supply during combustion causes
Production of carbon monoxide
Colourless, odourless, very poisonous gas
Carbon monoxide
Why is carbon monoxide poisiounous
Takes the place of O2 in hemoglobin molecule in blood supply of lungs - causing asphyxiation (suffocation)
Main by-product of coal combustion
CO2
How many grams of CO2 is produced for every 12g of Carbon burnt
44
Contributes to the formation of acid rain
sulfur oxide released by coal burning
Datong Coal Mining Group location
China
Proportion of CO2 emissions from China
1/5 of world
Concerns in China about environment overshadowed by
Income created by coal mining industry
Coal-fired power plants produce __________ of China’s electricity
2/3
Percentage of China’s electricity made my solar
2%
Percentage of China’s electricity made my wind
3%
Domestic use of coal in rural China
Primary fuel for cooking due to lack of wood
Cause for arsenic poisoning from domestic coal burning in China
Drying chilli peppers over coal-burning stoves
Casualties from arsenic poisoning caused by domestic coal burning in China
3000 people in Guizhou Province
Symptoms of arsenic poisoning
Hyperpigmentation, black skin lesions, cancers
Coal, as ppm, in China vs USA
35,000 ppm China
22 ppm USA
More than 10 million people in the Guizhou Province (China) affected by
Fluorine poisoning from domestic coal burning
Symptoms of fluorine poisoning from domestic coal burning
mottling of tooth enamel, limited joint movement, osteosclerosis, bow legs, spinal curvature
Cause of fluorine poisoning in China
Food consumption - eating corn dried over fluorine-rich coal fires
Where are the Appalachains
East of USA
Historically one of the poorest regions in the USA
Appalachia
Why was the Appalachian region perfect for creating a single-industry coal economy to exert control over the people
Due to its poverty
All areas of Appalachia share what problems
Rural poverty, inadequate jobs, services, transportation, and infrastructure
What did many Appalachians give up to coal mining companies
Rights to land
What percentage of residents controls less than half of the land
99
Mountaintop removal
Form of surface coal mining: deforestation, then blasting
- removes top of mountain to expose coal seams
What type of coal mining occurs in the Appalachia
Mountaintop removal
Valley fill
Excess soil from MTR dumped into nearby streams or valleys
MTR and valley filling can lead to
- fragmentation of forests
- conversion of habitats
- loss of large tracts and forested areas
Health effects of MTR
Cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, COPD, birth defects
Heart defects go up by what percentage in MTR areas
181
MTR increases what in watersheds
Salinity, metals, magnesium, and sulfates
There are strong correlations between heavy coal mining countries and a greater risk of
Depression and severe psychological distress
Is MTR used in Alberta
No
