Uses of coal - Research Paper Example

May 4, Uses of Coal Coal is a fossil fuel and is the altered remains of prehistoric vegetation that originally accumulated in swamps and peat bogs. The energy we get from coal today comes from the energy that plants absorbed from the sun millions of years ago. All living plants store solar energy through a process known as photosynthesis. When plants die, this energy is usually released as the plants decay. Under conditions favorable to coal formation, the decaying process is interrupted, preventing the release of the stored solar energy. The energy is locked into the coal. Coal formation began during the Carboniferous Period - known as the first coal age - which spanned 360 million to 290 million years ago. The build-up of silt and other sediments, together with movements in the earth's crust - known as tectonic movements - buried swamps and peat bogs, often to great depths. With burial, the plant material was subjected to high temperatures and pressures. This caused physical and chemical changes in the vegetation, transforming it into peat and then into coal. (World Coal Association) Coalification The quality of each coal deposit is determined by: varying types of vegetation from which the coal originated depths of burial temperatures and pressures at those depths length of time the coal has been forming in the deposit The degree of change undergone by a coal as it matures from peat to anthracite is known as coalification. Coalification has an important manner on coal's physical and chemical properties and is referred to as the 'rank' of the coal. Ranking is determined by the degree of transformation of the original plant solid to carbon. The ranks of coals, from those with the least carbon to those with the most carbon, are lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous and anthracite. Initially the peat is transformed into lignite or 'brown coal' - these are coal-types with low organic maturity. In contrast to other coals, lignite is quite soft and its color can array from dark black to various shades of brown. Over many more millions of years, the continuing effects of temperature and pressure produces further change in the lignite, progressively increasing its organic maturity and transforming it into the range known as 'sub-bituminous' coals. (World Coal Association) Further chemical and physical changes occur until these coals became harder and blacker, forming the 'bituminous' or 'hard coals'. Under the right conditions, the progressive increase in the organic maturity can continue, finally forming anthracite. (World Coal Association) In addition to carbon, coals contain hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and varying amounts of sulphur. High-rank coals are high in carbon and therefore heat value, but low in hydrogen and oxygen. Low-rank coals are low in carbon but high in hydrogen and oxygen content. Coal is one of the world’s most important sources of energy, fuelling almost 40% of electricity worldwide. In many countries this figure is much higher: Poland relies on coal for over 94% of its electricity; South Africa for 92%; China for 77%; and Australia for 76%. Coal has been the world’s fastest growing energy source in recent years – faster than gas, oil, nuclear, hydro and renewables (The Coal Resource). Coal has a very long and varied history. Some historians believe that coal was first used commercially in China. There are reports that a mine in northeastern China provided coal for smelting copper and for casting coins around 1000 BC. One of the earliest known references to coal was made by the Greek philosopher and scientist Aristotle, who referred to a charcoal like rock. Coal cinders found among Roman ruins in England indicate that the Romans used energy from coal before AD 400. Chronicles from the Middle Ages provide the first evidence of coal mining in Europe and even of an international trade as sea coal from exposed coal seams on the English coast was gathered and exported to Belgium. (The Coal Resource). Coal has played this significant role for centuries – not only providing electricity, but also an important fuel for steel and cement production, and other industrial undertakings. Most people think of coal as being used only as a fuel for burning, either to heat buildings directly, or to make electricity. But coal has many other uses. Coal is one of a number of things dug from the ground and known as fossil fuels, formed from the remains of dead plants, or from the bodies of tiny animals which lived in the sea many millions of years ago. Other fossil fuels include natural gas (the gas used for cooking in homes), petrol, oil and peat. (Durham Miners) The heat from burning coal, gas and oil are used today to make cement, glass and pottery. Coal is also mixed with certain rocks that are also mined, and when the mixture is burned steel is produced. Burning fossil fuels is not their only use. Today, much oil and coal instead of being burned are turned into other things. Some of the oldest uses made of coal have been to make waterproofing for roofs, the surfaces of roads, paints for walls and woodwork. (Durham Miners) Coal is used to make the medicines to cure diseases – from aspirin to help a headache to very special drugs to treat things like cancers. Did you know that washing up liquid comes from coal, as is the washing powder that goes in the washing machine? The shampoo you use to wash your hair, and the conditioner you may use to make it shiny and smooth are all made from coal or oil, as is the ink computer printers. (Durham Miners) Other important users of coal include alumina refineries, paper manufacturers, and the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Several chemical products can be produced from the by-products of coal. Refined coal tar is used in the manufacture of chemicals, such as creosote oil, naphthalene, phenol, and benzene. Ammonia gas recovered from coke ovens is used to manufacture ammonia salts, nitric acid and agricultural fertilizers. Thousands of different products have coal or coal by-products as components: soap, aspirins, solvents, dyes, plastics and fibers, such as rayon and nylon. (The Coal Resource) Coal is also an essential ingredient in the production of specialist products: >> Activated carbon - used in filters for water and air purification and in kidney dialysis machines. >> Carbon fiber – an extremely strong but light weight reinforcement material used in construction, mountain bikes and tennis rackets. >> Silicon metal – used to produce silicones and silanes, which are in turn used to make lubricants, water repellents, resins, cosmetics, hair shampoos and toothpastes. (The Coal Resource) References The Coal Resource, World Coal, www.worldcoal.org Durham Miners, Uses of Coal, http://www.durhamminers.com/teaching/7_what_is_coal_used_for_sn_sg.pdf World Coal Association, Uses of Coal, www.worldcoal.org Read More