Lignite

 
Fueling  the  world’s  need  for  energy  
Rank,  Grade  &  Usage  of  coal

Carbon/energy  content  of  coal                                                                                                        High

High                                                                                                                                            Moisture  content  of  coal  

Low  Rank  Coals Hard  Coal  

% 47%   53%
W
O Lignite Sub-­‐bituminuos Bituminous   Anthracite  
R 17% 30% 52% <1%
L
D
Thermal
R Metallurgical
E Steam  coal  
Cooking  coal
S
E
R
V
E Manufacture  of  Iron  &  
Largely  power   Power  generation,  Power  generation,  
S generation   cement  manufacturing
cement  manufacturing steel   Domestic/  industrial  
including  smokeless  
fuel
 Coal  Classification
Coal  type     A   classification  of  coal  distinguished  on  
(organic   the   basis   of   the   constituent   plant  
composition) materials;   megascopic   classification   is  
a   “ l i t h o t y p e ” .   M i c r o s c o p i c  
classifications   use   “microlithotypes”  
and  “macerals”.
Coal  Grade   A  classification  of  coal   based  on  degree  
(Mineral   of   purity   i.e.   quantity   of   ash   left   after  
matter)   burning;   dependent   upon   amount   of  
mineral  matter

Coal  Rank   The   classification  of  coals   according   to  

(Coal   their   degree   of   metamorphism   or  
maturity)   coalification   (maturation)   in   the  
n a t u r a l   s e r i e s   f r o m   l i g n i t e   t o  
anthracite.
Coalification  Process

Releases  :  volatile  
fractions  (methane,  
water,  CO2  )

Eliminates:  Oxygen  
containing  functional  
group

Increases  :  aromatic  
unit  &  carbon  
Major  Stages  in  Coalification
Peatification  →  Peat  

Dehydration  →  Lignite  to  Sub-­‐bituminous  

Bituminization  →  Upper  sub-­‐bituminous  (high  vola6le)  

Debituminization  →  Low  vola6le  bituminous

Graphitization  →  Semi-­‐anthracite  to  anthracite  

to  meta-­‐anthracite    
LIGNITE
 WHAT  IS  LIGNITE?
 Brown  coal,  or  Rosebud  coal  by  Northern  Pacific  
Railroad.
 Soft  brown  fuel.
 Lowest  classification  of  coal.
HOW  IT  IS  FORMED?
Lignite  Formation

Dehydration Compaction

DEHYDRATION

Expulsion  of  COOH,  H2O  and  

CO2
Type  of  lignite
 Xyloid  lignite Perfect  lignite
 Fossil  wood   Compacted  lignite
 Have  a  tenacity  and   Characterised  by  its  
appearance  of  an   complete  solubility  in  
ordinary  wood. hypochlorites  and  nitric  
 Provide  considerable   acid.
quantity  of  ulmic  acid  
Lignite  Formation

Humification Maceration

PEATIFICATION

Gelification
Properties  and  Classification  of  
Lignite
Physical  properties
 Yellow  to  dark  brown
 Soft,  the  original  wood  
texture  may  still  
present.
 It  crumbles  easily  after  
dried.
 German  classification  of  coal  grade
Sub-­‐bituminous  to  bituminous  coal
German  classification  of  coal  grade
Chemical  composition

 Coal  is  composed  primarily  of  carbon  along  with  

other  elements,  chiefly  sulfur,  oxygen  and  hydrogen.

Some  scientists  say…..

Chemical  composition

 Coal  is  composed  primarily  of  carbon  along  with  

other  elements,  chiefly  sulfur,  oxygen  and  hydrogen.

Some  scientists  say…..

Chemical  composition

 Coal  is  composed  primarily  of  carbon  along  with  

other  elements,  chiefly  sulfur,  oxygen  and  hydrogen.

Some  scientists  say…..

Chemical  properties

Another  group  of  

scientists  say…..
 Chemical  properties

Another  group  of  

scientists  say…..

• Heat  content  is  also  known  as  calorific  value.

• It  indicates  the  amount  of  heat  that  is  
released  when  the  coal  is  burned  in  kJ/kg.
 Chemical  properties

Another  group  of  

Low  cost,  inefficient   scientists  say…..
transportation,  storage  and  
ash  disposal.

• Heat  content  is  also  known  as  calorific  value.

• It  indicates  the  amount  of  heat  that  is  
released  when  the  coal  is  burned  in  kJ/kg.
IDENTIFYING  LIGNITE  AND  
COAL  BEDS
Geophysical  Logs  (revisited)
Log Func(on
mesures  aount  of  radioac6vity  emi@ed  iby  various  stra6graphic  
Gamma
lithotypes
measure  the  interac6on  between  inducec-­‐gamma  ray  and    electron  
Bulk  Density
in  material
Neutron measures  the  hydrogen  present  in  water  atoms  in  a  forma6on
measure  the  velocity  of  compressional  wave  component  of  acous6c  
Sonic  (Acous6c)
signal
Resis6vity determine  the  current  flow  between  electrodes

Lateralog measures  electrical  conduc6vity  of  beds  through  horizontal  signals

Summary  of  Drill  Hole  Characteristics
Typical  Responses  of  Geological  Logs  in  Rock  Type  
Commonly  Encountered  in  Coal  Drilling
Geological  Logs  Showing  Lithologic  
Responses  in  Drillholes  
USAGE  OF  LIGNITE  

1. Electricity  generation
2. Synthetic  natural  gas  generation
3. Fertilizer  products  production
USAGE  OF  LIGNITE  

1. Electricity  generation
2. Synthetic  natural  gas  generation
3. Fertilizer  products  production
USAGE  OF  LIGNITE  (in  percentage,  %)
Electricity  generation

 Power  plant  in  Rhenish,  Germany.    

 Current  production  level  is  about  100  million  tonnes  per  year.
Electricity  generation

 Lignite    is  crushed,  pulverized  into  a  powder  and  then  

burned  in  a  conventional  super  critical  boiler  to  create  
high  pressure  steam  
 That  steam  is  then  used  to  power  steam  turbines  linked  
to  electric  generators  
Synthetic  natural  gas  generation

 Lurgi  gasification  process;  Synfuels  Plant  

gasifies  lignite  to  produce  valuable  gases  and  
liquids.
 Lignite  consumption  is  more  than  6  million  tons  
annually.
Synthetic  natural  gas  generation
Lurgi  Mark  IV  
gasifiers  (Lignite)

Lurgi  moving  bed  

gasifiers  (steam  and  
oxygen;  produces  a  

Waste  heat  boiler  

(raw  gas  stream  
that  exists  each  
Fertilizer  products  production

 1150  tons  per  day  of  anhydrous  ammonia  

(approximately  150  MMSCFD  of  CO2,  and  a  
variety  of  other  byproducts)
Fertilizer  products  production

  Process  flow  diagram

1. Removes  93%  of  the  Sulfur  Dioxide.
2. Flue  Gas  Desulfurization
3. Dewatering  and  Compaction
Assessing  Impact  of  Lignite  
Economic  Prospects  and  Hazards
What  is  good  about  it?

 Supplies  are  available  throughout  the  world

 Coal  Mining  is  expanding  very  fast  in  Asia  and  starting  to  decline  in  the  Europe

Where  in  Sarawak?

Mukah-­‐Balingan  Province
Merit  Pila,  Kapit  Division  
Estimated  Resource  of
 400  million  Tonnes!  Will  be  mined  to  power  SCORE  project
Lignite  Econs
 Germany  
largest  
producer
 India  -­‐  
controlled  
lignite  
production
 China  -­‐    
increased  
production
Lignite  Economy
Poland's  Lignite
 Poland  was  the  world's  
fourth  largest  lignite  
producer  in  1999.
 Poland  is  the  largest  
electricity  producer  in  
Central  and  Eastern  
Europe.   Hard Coal Power Station
 Source?  =  Coal  &  Lignite Lignite Power Station
 Lignite  supplies  25%  -­‐   Gas Power Stations
Hydroelectricity
Poland's  Electricity   Autoproducers
Poland's  Lignite
Late  1990s  
 Lignite  price          -­‐  NOT  

profitable  for  mining  

companies
 Lignite  miners    –  loss  of  

interest
 2003  –  New  Pricing  System

 Lignite  –  with  agreement  –  

miners  &  power  plants

Poland's  Lignite

1 Polish zloty / milligram (PLN/Mg) = 313 578 U.S. Dollars / kg

Adamów” - until 2029 Bełchatów” - until 2050

Konin” - until 2037 Turów” - until 2035

 THIS SECTION MAY
CONTAIN
DISTURBING IMAGES
PROCEED WITH
CAUTION
Health  hazard
 Affect  those  directly  involved  with  mining  and  
those  who  are  not.

 Severe  Pneumonic  and  Respiratory  Problem  

(CWP,  Bronchitis)
 Occupational  Hazards  to  miners  (slippage,  
collapse  of  shafts,  explosion)
 Toxic  exposure-­‐Polluted  water  sources      
METHANE  GAS  EXPLOSION  IN  SIBERIA
On  13  May  2010,  a  mine  in  Raspadskaya  
killing  66  people  and  injuring  99  including   1968  Virginia  mine  explosion
rescuers.  
 Death  Episode  of  China  Coal  Mining

China  Labour  Bulletin  News  Flash  No.  60,  Hong  Kong

 Death  Episode  of  China  Coal  Mining

Never
Below

5000
Fatalities!

China  Labour  Bulletin  News  Flash  No.  60,  Hong  Kong

Environmental  Impact
 Air  Pollution  :  Green  house  gas  emission  
(CO2,SO2,NO,CO)
 Pollution  of  noise
 
 Pollution  to  water  sources  
-­‐ AMD
-­‐ Coal  mine  slurry  (contains  arsenic,  mercury,  chromium  
and  lead)
-­‐ Release  of  volatile  substance
-­‐ River  pollutions  by  the  likes  of  salts  and  solids  
materials

 Land  disturbance  (subsidence,  wildlife  &  vegetation)    

Toxic  Mine  Slurry    of  Appalachian  Coal  Fields Open  Pit  causes  land  destructions

Water  source  pollution Release  of  GHG  and  hazardous  emissions

Toxic  Mine  Slurry    of  Appalachian  Coal  Fields Open  Pit  causes  land  destructions

Land

Water Air

Water  source  pollution Release  of  GHG  and  hazardous  emissions

Before  we  end…
Press  statement

“    The  mining  of  coal  is  one  of  the  most  

environmentally-­‐damaging  and  polluting  projects  
on  Earth.  The  burning  of  coal  in  power-­‐generating  
plants  produces  huge  volume  of  green-­‐house  gas  
and  have  caused  tremendous  climatic  changes  all  
over  the  world.  The  extraction  of  coal  from  the  
ground  and  from  underground  mines  have  
caused  irreparable  environmental  damages.  
These  woes  have  been  seen  all  over  the  world,  
especially  in  coal-­‐producing  countries.
Borneo  Resources  Institute  on  lignite  extraction  for  the  SCORE  project