Ohio Coal Research Articles

Richard L. Davis and the Color Line in Ohio Coal: A Hocking Valley Mine Labor Organizer, 1862–1900 by Frans H. Doppen

Richard L. Davis and the Color Line in Ohio Coal: A Hocking Valley Mine Labor Organizer, 1862–1900 by Frans H. Doppen

Effects of fuel composition and temperature on fireside corrosion resistance of materials for advanced ultrasupercritical coal fired power plants

AbstractThe fireside corrosion resistance of candidate materials for the waterwalls and superheater/reheater sections of ultrasupercritical coal fired boilers have been evaluated through field testing as part of a programme cosponsored by the US Department of Energy and the Ohio Coal Development Office. The materials tested include high strength ferritic steels (SAVE12, P92, HCM12A), austenitic stainless steels (Super304H, 347HFG, HR3C), and high nickel alloys (Haynes 230, CCA617, INCONEL 740, HR6W). Protective coatings (weld overlays, diffusion coatings, laser claddings) that may be required to mitigate corrosion were also evaluated. The trials were based on previous laboratory evaluations under synthesised coal ash and flue gas conditions typical of three North American coals at temperatures ranging from 455 to 595°C for waterwall materials, while superheat/reheat materials were tested at 650–870°C. Promising materials from the laboratory tests were assembled on air cooled, retractable corrosion probes ...

Steamside oxidation behaviour of candidate USC materials at temperatures between 650 and 800°C

The Boiler Materials for Ultrasupercritical Coal Power Plants Programme sponsored by the US Department of Energy and the Ohio Coal Development Office has the aim of identifying, evaluating and qualifying the materials needed for the construction of critical components for coal fired boilers capable of operating at much higher efficiencies than current supercritical plants. Operation at ultrasupercritical conditions (steam temperatures up to 760°C) will necessitate the use of new advanced ferritic materials, austenitic stainless steels and nickel based alloys. As well as possessing the required mechanical properties and fireside corrosion resistance, these materials must also exhibit acceptable steamside oxidation resistance. As part of the programme, steamside oxidation testing is being performed. More than 30 ferritic, austenitic and nickel based materials have been exposed for up to 4000 h in flowing steam at temperatures between 650 and 800°C. In addition to wrought materials, steamside oxidation tests have been conducted on weld metals, coated materials and materials given special surface treatments. Exposed specimens were evaluated to determine oxidation kinetics and oxide morphology. High chromium ferritic, austenitic and nickel based alloys displayed good oxidation behaviour over the entire temperature range due to the formation of a dense chromium oxide. With increasing steam temperature, low chromium ferritic materials experienced breakaway oxidation, and low chromium austenitic materials experienced significant oxide exfoliation. Surface treatments, particularly surface alloying and mechanical treatments, appear to have a beneficial effect on oxidation behaviour, but longer term studies are required to confirm their utility.

Boiler Materials for Ultra-Supercritical Coal Power Plants—Steamside Oxidation

The corrosion behavior of tubing materials carrying steam at high temperature is of great concern to fossil power plant operators. This is due to the fact that the oxide films formed on the steam side can lead to major failures and consequently to reduced plant availability. The wall loss of the pressure boundary caused by oxidation can increase the hoop stresses and cause premature creep failures; second, the increased insulation of the tubes due to the low thermal conductivity of the oxide film can lead to increased metal temperature, thereby exacerbating the fireside corrosion as well as creep problems. The third concern is that thicker oxides may spall more easily when the plant is cooled down. On restart, the spalled material may lodge somewhere in the system with the potential for causing tube blockages, or it may be swept out with the working fluid and enter the steam turbine causing erosion damage to the turbine nozzles and blades. Failures of tubing and turbine components by these mechanisms have been widely reported in the United States. In view of the importance of the steamside oxidation, a major study of the phenomenon is being carried out as part of a major national program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Ohio Coal Development Office. As a prelude to the experimental work, a literature survey was performed to document the state of the art. Results of the review are reported here.

Blue-Green Acres

Focuses on the work of David Bayless of Ohio University's Ohio Coal Research Center. Method developed by Bayless to eliminate the carbon dioxide given off by coal-burning power plants; Use of photosythesis in Bayless's technique; Review of the work being down by Bayless using a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy; Description of the bioreactor developed by Bayless.

Historical Archaeology at the Clarkson Mine, an Eastern Ohio Mining Complex

This study examines the Clarkson Mine (33BL333), an eastern Ohio coal mine complex dating to the 1910s to 1920s, situated along Wheeling Creek. The results of preliminary surveys and the subsequent mitigation of four structures at the site are presented. The historical archaeology conducted at the site demonstrates the significant research possibilities inherent at many of these early industrial mine complexes. Of particular interest is the findings of depositional patterning around residential structures that revealed the influence of architecture on where and how items were deposited on the land surface. The ceramic and faunal assemblage were analyzed and provide significant details on socioeconomic attributes associated with the workers or staff. Artifacts recovered at the site provide an excellent diagnostic framework from which other similarly aged sites can be compared and dated. The findings at the Clarkson Mine are also placed into a more regional perspective and compared with other contemporary studies.

97/03548 Instability of laminar flow in long distance pipelines and solutions

In the transportation of solids, a variety of flow behavior can be observed. The most predominant flow regime in long distance commercial slurry pipelines is turbulent flow with the solids essentially uniformly distributed along the vertical axis of the pipe. Examples of this type of flow are the Black Mesa and Ohio Coal Pipelines. Nearly all mineral concentrate pipelines operate in the turbulent flow regime. However, there have been a few commercial long distance pipelines built where the flow regime is laminar. Many years of operation of the turbulent flow regime pipeline clearly shows that these pipelines are stable. The definition of stable operation is that the discharge pressure is constant with time for constant flow conditions. By this criterion then these cited laminar flow pipelines were not stable. The purposes of this paper are (1) to explore this instability, examine its cause and recommend solutions, and (2) to explore why closed loop tests will not reveal this instability. The paper will deal exclusively with non-Newtonian slurries having a yield point, i.e., a Bingham plastic slurry. This assumption will permit the authors to use the Hedstrom methodology, to determine the operating regime.

97/04209 Phase II: the age of high velocity scrubbing

The Clean Air Act Amendments require substantial reduction of SO{sub 2} emissions from coal-fired generating facilities and offer incentives to exceed targets by accumulation of excess emission allowances. Although considered costly, wet scrubbing was the leading post-combustion technology to achieve these reductions in Phase 1. However, the emergence of other SO{sub 2} control methods including the broad acceptance of low sulfur coal has prompted investigations into reducing the capital and operating costs of scrubbing for those facilities evaluating this option for Phase 2 compliance. One method to reduce the costs associated with scrubbing is to increase the scrubber gas velocity as demonstrated at the Northern Indiana Public Service Company`s Bailly Station or at Ohio Edison Company`s Niles Generation Station. Scrubbers designed for higher velocities will have a smaller cross sectional area and may also permit a reduction in the number of required operating scrubbers. Dravo Lime Company in cooperation with the Ohio Coal Development Office and Cinergy Corporation has conducted evaluations of high gas velocity scrubbing in magnesium-enhanced lime FGD processes in a 4.5 MW pilot plant. These studies have shown a significant decrease in the quantity of liquor required to scrub the same volume of gas as the scrubbermore » velocity increases. This paper will discuss operating conditions for 98% SO{sub 2} removal at gas velocities of 10 to 25 ft/sec in both vertical and horizontal scrubbers, potential cost impact, and comparisons between magnesium-enhanced lime and limestone FGD systems.« less

96/01251 Ceramic tile lagging eliminates belt slippage for Southern Ohio Coal's Meigs Division

96/01251 Ceramic tile lagging eliminates belt slippage for Southern Ohio Coal's Meigs Division

The log normal distribution of pyritic inclusions in coal: consequences for depyritization

A computer model is described for the geometry of the coal-pyrite system based on the log normal size distribution for the pyritic inclusions and specific assumptions about what happens when coal is ground. It gives approximate predictions for the fraction of pyrite that sinks during float/sink tests, the fraction accessible to microbial attack, and the fraction of the exposed surface area that is pyrite, all as a function of coal particle size. Results suggest that the ‘representative sample volume’ recommended for pyrite analysis may not be adequate for some coals. While 50% pyrite reduction can be achieved by removing a few thousand inclusions per cm 3 from a typical Ohio coal, 90% reduction requires the removal of several million small (~10μm) inclusions. Microbial degradation should be considered for these small inclusions because it requires less coal grinding than physical separations. The tendency of coal to fracture along planes containing pyritic inclusions is illustrated by comparing the model with X-ray fluorescence measurements of the exposed pyrite surface area.

Chemical Composition of Ochreous Precipitates from Ohio Coal Mine Drainage

AbstractOchreous precipitates and associated solutions were collected from waters draining abandoned coal works at 28 locations in eastern Ohio. Major and trace element contents of the precipitates were determined, and comparisons were made with source solutions to evaluate the effects of pH, organic C, and ionic strength on solid‐phase composition and trace metal distribution. The pH and calcalated ionic strength of the effluents ranged from 2.6 to 7.8 and 6 to 106 mmol L−1, respectively. Associated precipitates consisted primarily of poorly crystallized oxides and oxyhydroxides of Fe with jarosite occuring as a major constituent of only one specimen. Mean Fe, SO4, Al, and Si contents of the precipitates were 8.7, 1.34, 1.11, and 0.25 tool kg−1, respectively. Silicon content increased with increasing pH of the source solution suggesting pH‐dependent adsorption. In contrast, SO4 and Al appeared to be influenced both by precipitation and adsorption reactions. Partition coefficients for As, B, Ba, Co, Cu, Cr, Mn, P, and Zn showed a preferential accumulation of all elements by the solid phase with mean log Kd values ranging from 2.9 for Cu to 6.3 for As. Manganese, Co, and Zn all showed increased partitioning into the solid phase with increasing pH and decreasing ionic strength of the drainage waters. Copper appeared to be strongly associated with organic matter, and a weaker but positive relationship was also observed with Co and Zn. No effects of pH, ionic strength, or organic C were observed for any other trace elements. Solubility equilibrium calculations suggested that the solid phase concentrations of Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Zn, and As were primarily controlled by adsorption and/or coprecipitation phenomena whereas Ba and P activities in solution exceeded the solubilities of barite and strengite, respectively.

Sorbent and ammonia injection at economizer temperatures upstream of a economizer temperatures upstream of a high—temperature baghouse

AbstractThe current technology of choice—world–wide—for post–combustion NOx control is selective catalytic reduction (SCR) with ammonia. The application of SCR to coal–fired units has proven to be somewhat more difficult than its application to natural gas and oil–fired units due to SO2 poisoning of the catalyst, catalytic oxidation of SO2 to SO3, and erosion and fouling of the catalyst by fly ash [1]. These problems could be potentially diminished if SO2 and particulate removal systems were placed upstream of the SCR reactor. However, this is not easily accomplished since SCR systems operate best in the temperature range of 600°F–800°F (315°C–425°C). Several SCR installations in Europe employ conventional flue gas desulfurization (FGD) and particulate control upstream of flue gas reheat and SCR. However, the flue gas reheat typically imposes a 1%–2% energy penalty [2]. Several recent technical developments now offer a technology whereby these limitations of SCR for coal applications can be alleviated.These technical developments are in the areas of high temperature filtration, improved SCR catalysts, and advances in sorbent injection. These advances have been incorporated into a patented process known as the SOxNOxRox Box™ (SNRB) process. Briefly, this process consists of a “hot” baghouse employing woven ceramic fabric bags, a zeolite SCR catalyst incorporated into the baghouse, and the injection of either calcium–or sodium–based sorbent upstream of the baghouse (see Figure 1).This paper deals with the status and development of the SNRB process, including some results from recently completed pilot–plant tests performed under a contract with the Ohio Coal Development Office (OCDO).

Trace-element siting in iron sulfides in Ohio coals determined by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS)

Ion images of site-specific concentrations of various minor and trace elements at the surface of intact samples of iron sulfides in coals have been obtained using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Problems related to intefeering images of complex secondary molecular ions have been largely overcome by combining SIMS imaging with ion probe step scanning. Although SIMS, when used in this way, is qualitative, it is sensitive in the parts-per-million (ppm) range and has the capability of micron-scale resolution for ion mapping. Iron sulfides in samples of Ohio coal bneds contain Mn, Co, Cu, As and Pb. The elements Si, Al, K, V, Cr, Ni and Co occur outside the iron-sulfide grains and appear to be associated with clay minerals in the coal. Where Si, Al and K occur within sulfide grains they are associated with clay minerals contained in porous pyrite. Arsenic also may be associated with clays present in porous pyrite. Of the elements found within the iron sulfides, non appear to generally favor pyrite or marcasite, but in some individual samples there can be elemental preference for one or the other sulfide phase. SIMS images clearly indicate that the occurrences of some trace elements are related to the growth of the iron-sulfide grains, and as a result, their concentrations are considered to have been controlled, at least in part, by the microenvironments that existed during the formation of the iron sulfides. Site-specific determination of the occurrences of trace elements in intact coal-sulfide samples is important with regard to development of methods of environmental management of the wastes derived from the uses of coal, and also should be useful in determining the relative organic affinity versus inorganic affinity of minor elements in coals.

Statistical relationship between pyrite grain size distribution and pyritic sulfur reduction in Ohio coal

This paper presents a statistical relationship between the pyrite particle size distribution and the potential amount of pyritic sulfur reduction achieved by specific-gravity-based separation. This relationship is obtained from data on 26 Ohio coal samples crushed to 14 × 28 mesh. In this paper a prediction equation is developed that considers the complete statistical distribution of all the pyrite particle sizes in the coal sample. Assuming that pyrite particles occurring in coal have a lognormal distribution, the information about the particle size distribution can be encapsulated in terms of two parameters only, the mean and the standard deviation of the logarithms of the grain diameters. When the pyritic sulfur reductions of the 26 coal samples are related to these two parameters, a very satisfactory regression equation ( R 2 = 0.91) results. This equation shows that information on both these parameters is needed for an accurate prediction of potential sulfur reduction, and that the mean and the standard deviation interact negatively insofar as their influence on pyritic sulfur reduction is concerned.

Attachment of Sulfolobus Acidocaldarius Cells on Coal Particles

AbstractAttachment of the thermophilic microorganism Sulfolobus acidocaldarius was studied on Kentucky #9 coal, an Ohio coal mixture, Ohio #6, a European coal designated as Sulzer coal, activated carbon and iron pyrite to define the effects of initial cell density, prior acid leaching, pyrite content, and surface area on rate and extent of preleaching attachment. The results showed that the rate of preleaching attachment was so high that equilibrium was reached in less than 5 min in most cases. Attached cells increased in number with increasing initial cell density. Prior nitric acid leaching of coal reduced the extent of cell adsorption while hydrochloric acid leaching did not affect cell attachment. Some adsorption isotherms fit the Langmuir model. The specific adsorption (cells/cm3 coal) increased with increasing surface areas measured by nitrogen adsorption. Pyrite gave the highest extent of cell attachment based on per unit surface area comparison. Adsorption isotherms of a pyrite‐selective chemical adsorbate revealed that preleaching attachment of cells was affected further by altered surface properties of the coals and that the concept of selective attachment of cells on pyrite surfaces was also supported.

Britannia rules the seismic waves : Green, P Coal AgeV89, N4, April 1984, P164–168

When a longwall mining operation penetrates an unforeseen discontinuity in the coal seam, all hell breaks loose. Productivity plummets while the shearer cuts through rock, and the high proportion of reject material overwhelms the preparation plant. And, if the discontinuity is large enough, the face may have to be abandoned. To avert such catastrophies, a technique developed in Britain for mapping the presence of discontinuities has been applied in the Meigs No. 1 mine of the Southern Ohio Coal Co. in Athens, Ohio. The technology, called in-seam seismic surveying, is similar to seismic exploration in the oil and gas industry. The principle of the in-seam survey is simple: A shock wave is sent through the coal seam. If there is a sandstone channel or a displacement fault in the seam, the sound waves will be reflected back and can be picked up by geophones. Conversely, geophones installed on the opposite side of a channel or fault will not pick up the sound waves (see box). Seismic surveys have been made for four years by Britain's National Coal Board (NCB), and were developed because practically all its production is from longwall mining, and knowing what lies ahead is critical. And withmore » about 500 ft between longwall entries there's a large amount of unpenetrated seam to contain hidden discontinuities. Hence the interest in in-seam seismic surveys.« less

Dependence of coal liquefaction behaviour on coal characteristics. 8. Aspects of the phenomenology of the liquefaction of some coal

Steps are now being taken to define in more detail the phenomenology of coal liquefaction and to provide a scientific basis for empirical correlations previously established between liquefaction conversion and basic compositional characteristics of coals. The rates of production of oils, asphaltenes and preaphaltenes have been determined at four temperatures for three coals, two of Carboniferous and one of Creaceousage. Products are formed more slowly from the younger coal (which is of slightly lower rank) than from the others, but oxygen, partly as OH but probably mostly in a type of ether, is lost more rapidly. It is estimated that the maximum content of O as cleavable ether is 7.7 atoms/100 C atoms for the younger coal (from Wyoming) and 4.1 and 5.1 for the other two (from Oklahoma and Ohio, respectively). Until ≈ 50% of the amount present in the Oklahoma coal is lost, the rates of removal of oxygen and organic sulphur are approximately equal; beyond this level, the removal of S is more rapid. The loss of organic sulphur from the Ohio coal is slightly faster. Even so, the data do not support the idea that cleavage of thioethers is more rapid than that of ethers and that this is the basic reason why a high organic sulphur content tends to promote liquefaction. Conversion of the pyrite in the Ohio coal to pyrrhotite occurs considerably more rapidly than the pyrite in the Oklahoma coal. In preliminary experiments, it is shown that a curve-resolving programme allows two aromatic and five aliphatic C-H stretching vibrations to be distinguished in FTIR spectra of the hexane-insoluble products, and the distribution changes with degree of conversion. In particular, there is evidence that new aryl methyl are generated during liquefaction, in agreement with evidence from oxidation studies.

Variability in Btu, Ash, and Sulfur Content of Northeastern Ohio Peat Deposits: ABSTRACT

Northeastern Ohio contains over 24,460 acres (9,898 ha.) of peatlands, some of which combine relatively low ash and sulfur with Btu values comparable to those of Ohio coal. This combination of properties makes these deposits a potential local fuel source. Eighteen bogs developed in nine different substrate units were sampled to determine the range of within-bog and between-bog variability with respect to Btu, ash, and sulfur content. The substrate units are based on glacial and soil maps of the area. Two bogs were sampled from within each substrate unit. For each unit, one bog was sampled laterally at two localities at a depth of 6.5 ft (2 m), and a second bog was sampled vertically at one locality at depths of 6.5 and 20 ft (2 and 6 m). A total of 36 samples was collected and analyzed for Btu, ash, and sulfur. The data show a strong negative correlation between ash and Btu. Ash content can explain 99.2% of the Btu values in the peat samples and can be used to predict Btu values to within ±200 Btus. There are statistically significant differences in Btu, ash, and sulfur content in samples from different substrate units. Bogs in the substrate units, which included the Kent-Lavery Drift end moraine and kame facies, are generally high in Btu and low in ash and sulfur. An attempt was made to identify the combination of variables present locally in the nine substrate units which best explained their Btu content. Stepwise multilinear regression analysis of these variables shows that mean annual precipitation and drainage area explain 72% of the variation in the peat Btu values. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1166------------

Coal Resources in Ohio: ABSTRACT

Coal is Ohio's single most important mineral resource. With decreasing supplies of oil and natural gas and a lack of alternate energy resources, increasing reliance will be placed on coal as the primary energy resource. To assist in the development and utilization of Ohio's coal resources, the Ohio Division of Geological Survey is continuing to investigate and report on the coal deposits in the state as well as investigating methodologies instrumental to the cleaner burning and more effective utilization of the coal. Two investigations of deep coal resources in parts of southeastern Ohio have recently been completed, and resources of the Clairon (No. 4a) and Sharon (No. 1) coals in southern Ohio are currently being investigated. Ancillary to coal resource studies is the federally funded Division of Geological Survey project to accurately show the location and extent of abandoned underground coal mines on U.S. Geological Survey 7.5-minute End_Page 1289------------------------------ quadrangle maps. Through a grant from the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority, the washability of Ohio's coal is presently being investigated by the traditional float-sink method as well as by petrographic methods. Fluidized-bed combustors are a promising means of burning high-sulfur coals, and the Division of Geological Survey has proposed a study to evaluate the effectiveness of Ohio's carbonate rocks as sulfur dioxide sorbents in these combustors. Results from this study will contribute to cost reductions in the removal of sulfur dioxide and should increase the utilization of Ohio's high-sulfur coal. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1290------------

Pyrite deposits in Ohio coal

Potential commercially-minable pyrite deposits in 16 Ohio coal seams were discussed with reference to the occurrence and distribution of pyrite in the coals. The degree of purity of pyrite in coal seams varied from 23% to 51.2% in terms of available S, and pyrite generally occurred in association with Sb, As, Ca, Cu, Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/, Mg, Pb, and Zn. Forms of pyrite identified included balls, lenses, continuous layers, thin sheets, nodules, flakes, fossils, and incrustations. Balls were generally found at the top or base of the seam, and lenses normally occurred along the bedding planes within the coal. Pyrite of the highest purity occurred as lenses and continuous layers.