Possibilities of Practical Use of Historical Distributions of Ash, Sulfur and Mercury Contents in Commercial Steam Coal of the USCB.

Ireneusz Pyka,Wojciech Kempa,Krzysztof Wierzchowski

doi:10.3390/e23070900

Ireneusz Pyka, Wojciech Kempa + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/e23070900

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Abstract

In the process of extracting hard coal, extensive databases are created on its quality parameters. A statistical assessment was made of the ash, sulfur, and mercury content of commercial coals produced in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB). The statistical methods applied: non-parametric tests of compatibility for two populations, parametric significance tests, and non-parametric tests of compatibility for the three populations, showed that the distributions of ash and sulfur content in 2014 and 2015 are comparable and the average values are similar. Statistical tests indicated significant differences in the mercury content distributions and their variances. This demonstrates the need for ongoing monitoring of mercury content in commercial coals, as a prediction of mercury content from historical data is hardly possible.

Highlights

The production of mineral raw materials involves the collection of different types of data on the quality characteristics of the raw materials
ReDsaetaarcdhesMcraitbeirnigalthree quality characteristics of hard steam coal for energy purposes produced in the mines of Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB) in two consecutive years were analysed
Statistical analysis of the distributions of ash, sulfur, and mercury contents of commercial thermal coal in USCB was carried out using the STATISTICA PL software package for statistical calculations and analyses

Summary

Introduction

The production of mineral raw materials involves the collection of different types of data on the quality characteristics of the raw materials. The qualitative characteristics of commercial coal, derived from the elemental composition of carbon matter and rocks surrounding the coal seams in the deposit, as well as the methods of coal mining and processing used are the basis for assessing the environmental impact of coal utilisation and processing They determine the scale of the necessary preventive measures, for example, the emission of pollutants into the atmosphere [4]. Data on the basic price-forming parameters of coal, and those conditioning its behaviour during use, form extensive data sets These figures include such parameters as ash, calorific value, and sulfur content. 3. ReDsaetaarcdhesMcraitbeirnigalthree quality characteristics of hard steam coal for energy purposes produced in the mines of USCB in two consecutive years were analysed. As a result of the activities described above, two groups of data were collected, for ash, total sulfur, and mercury content, with a count of 174 elements, each with a grouping variable denoting the consecutive year of production

Statistical Research Methodology

Parametric Tests for Equality of Means and Variances in Successive Years

Compatibility Tests for the Distributions of all Parameters Tested

Findings

Conclusions