Coal Production and Processing Technology provides uniquely comprehensive coverage of the latest coal technologies used in everything from mining to greenhouse gas mitigation. Featuring contributions from experts in industry and academia, this book:Discusses coal geology, characterization, beneficiation, combustion, coking, gasification, and liquef

Coal Production and Processing Technology provides uniquely comprehensive coverage of the latest coal technologies used in everything from mining to greenhouse gas mitigation. Featuring contributions from experts in industry and academia, this book: Discusses coal geology, characterization, beneficiation, combustion, coking, gasification, and liquefaction Explores coalbed methane drilling, excavatability, surface production, strata control, and longwall production Tackles financial, safety, and environmental issues, including coal company valuations, mine emergency preparedness, and carbon management Capturing state-of-the-art knowledge from different facets of the coal chain, Coal Production and Processing Technology offers a holistic view of today's coal industry as well as a look at future trends.

The book features the latest technology in all aspects of coal geology, exploration, production, processing, storage, transportation, and uses, as well as related economic, safety and environmental aspects. It presents application of methods with minimum math and theory. More than 20 scientists, experts, and professionals from both academia and industry have written specific chapters in the book on such topics as methane geology, waste minimization, financial aspects, new coal products, and the future of coal production, processing, and utilization.

First published in 2004. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

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.