The Science of Victorian Brown Coal provides extensive information on Victorian brown coal, which is a major fossil fuel resource by any standard and constitutes about 97% of Victoria's recoverable energy reserves. Energy from brown coal has been the mainstay of the Victorian economy, providing low-cost electricity to the state grid, briquettes as a fuel for industry and town gas prior to the discovery of natural gas. Because of the unique properties of the coal, it has been necessary to develop an in-depth scientific knowledge of the coal and its behavior, as well as innovative technologies for its effective utilization. The economic benefit brown coal has provided to Victoria is demonstrated throughout the chapters. This book aims to provide the springboard for further research and lead to a new era in the development of value-added products and the more efficient utilization of this major resource. This text is a useful reference for students or individuals conducting research on fossil fuel energy, specifically on brown coals.

Over the past decade, extensive research has been conducted on the subject of coal as one of the world’s leading energy sources. The current and future status of this resource is a topic of considerable interest to the largest world economies, including the US, Japan, China and Europe. Advances in the Science of Victorian Brown Coal provides critical reviews of the information and research published over this time, giving the reader an authoritative overview of the science surrounding this important topic. Critical review of recent research surrounding the utilization of brown coal. Key issues addressed include maximized efficiency and minimized environmental impacts Focuses on Victorian Brown Coal within the context of biomass and bituminous coal A critical thermodynamic overview of various advanced power generation technologies