Coal will continue to provide a major portion of energy requirements in the United States for at least the next several decades. It is imperative that accurate information describing the amount, location, and quality of the coal resources and reserves be available to fulfill energy needs. It is also important that the United States extract its coal resources efficiently, safely, and in an environmentally responsible manner. A renewed focus on federal support for coal-related research, coordinated across agencies and with the active participation of the states and industrial sector, is a critical element for each of these requirements. Coal focuses on the research and development needs and priorities in the areas of coal resource and reserve assessments, coal mining and processing, transportation of coal and coal products, and coal utilization.

Coal mining and preparation have had a long history in the United States and the world, serving as the engine of growth for many industries. Today, new sources of energy, increased environmental awareness, and more stringent regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other organizations are changing the way coal is found, extracted, and used. As a result, fine coal cleaning, dewatering, and refuse disposal are now at a major crossroads. The increased level of fines, and near-density material in the inferior seams being mined today, necessitates the development of more efficient fine coal cleaning devices. This in turn requires improvements in traditional dewatering techniques to address the need for acceptable moisture levels in plant products. Moreover, the larger volume of fine refuse being generated, coupled with harsher disposal regulations, requires upgraded treatment options. This book is a compilation of information presented at the 2012 Fine Coal Symposium, sponsored by the Coal Preparation Society of America; the Pittsburgh Section of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc.; and the Pittsburgh Coal Mining Institute of America. Provided by international coal companies, major research organizations, technology developers, and industry leaders, the information includes both general knowledge and in-depth discussion on the current challenges facing the industry, techniques for designing more efficient plants, and new cleaning and dewatering technologies. The book is a practical yet cutting-edge resource for plant designers, engineers, and other practitioners, and for university students and faculty.

Most books on coal preparation focus on theory or day-to-day issues and operations. Designing the Coal Preparation Plant of the Future provides a unique, thought-provoking look at the industry from a different point of view--that of the preparation plant designer or engineer. How can we design more efficient plants, and what will plants look like in the future? What are the new techniques for designing plant layouts, monitoring performance, and building in preventive maintenance? What challenges face the industry and how can operators capitalize on opportunities to maximize yield, reduce costs, and improve efficiency? The 15 informative, meticulously researched chapters provide a compelling road map of where we've been and where we need to go, what we're doing today, and, most importantly, how we can do it better. Internationally respected experts address these and other issues, offering cutting-edge insights and compelling case histories from industry leaders throughout the world. Generously illustrated with photos and diagrams, Designing the Coal Preparation Plant of the Future is a big-picture, yet practical, how-to resource for practitioners, students, and faculty. Designing the Coal Preparation Plant of the Future is truly groundbreaking work for an industry where groundbreaking is a long-standing, proud tradition.

Your resource for advancements in equipment and technology for coal preparation. With recent reductions in U.S. coal production, it is important for coal preparation engineers and practitioners to be aware of advances in technology to improve plant efficiency and productivity in cost-effective ways. Challenges and Opportunities in Coal Preparation provides both a domestic and international perspective on these new technologies and includes papers from industry leaders in the United States, as well as Australia and South Africa. Opportunities for overall plant efficiency improvements and new technologies that address many aspects of the coal preparation value chain—from pre-sorting to coarse and fine coal cleaning to dewatering—are presented. Read the latest thinking from industry experts in this handy reference that will assist current and future plant engineers and designers in achieving higher efficiency and productivity.

This book is a direct outgrowth of classes that the authors gave over a period of three decades to a university audience taking a Mineral Beneficiation course as a major that included coal processing and utilization. It is designed to be used as a student's (or layman's) first introduction to coal processing and utilization, motivating the concepts

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) was given a mandate in the 1992 Energy Policy Act (EPACT) to pursue strategies in coal technology that promote a more competitive economy, a cleaner environment, and increased energy security. Coal evaluates DOE's performance and recommends priorities in updating its coal program and responding to EPACT. This volume provides a picture of likely future coal use and associated technology requirements through the year 2040. Based on near-, mid-, and long-term scenarios, the committee presents a framework for DOE to use in identifying R&D strategies and in making detailed assessments of specific programs. Coal offers an overview of coal-related programs and recent budget trends and explores principal issues in future U.S. and foreign coal use. The volume evaluates DOE Fossil Energy R&D programs in such key areas as electric power generation and conversion of coal to clean fuels. Coal will be important to energy policymakers, executives in the power industry and related trade associations, environmental organizations, and researchers.

Concentrates on the wider industrial considerations, the key business and technology drivers which govern the way industry responds to the demands for ever lower emissions. It illustrates how industry can formulate policy through techniques such as Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control.