Come on in and explore our Cement Production, Coal-fired Power Generation, and Mining and Minerals pages. You can grab some free goodies for your trick-or-treat bag, like application notes, interactive apps, videos, and even some eBooks.  Here are a few to start: A Practical Guide to Improving Mining and Mineral Operations A Practical Guide to Improving Cement Manufacturing Processes and Production A Practical Guide to Improving Coal-fired Power Generation Operations Happy Halloween! The post Fill Your Trick-or-Treat Bags with Free eBooks for Mining and Cement Operations appeared first ..read more

Today we celebrate you — the folks who are involved in the mining industry. But we should also celebrate the technologies used to help keep miners safe. According to the The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), “Miners Day was established in 2009 to honor miners. The date was chosen to acknowledge the Monongah mining disaster, the worst single loss-of-life event due to mining in American history. On December 6, 1907, at least 362 West Virginia coal miners were killed in a catastrophic explosion.” The US Bureau of Labor Statistics defines the Mining sector as those est ..read more

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, coal will account for 85% of U.S. electric generating capacity retirements in 2022. But as the  Global Energy Monitor reported, “the world still has more than 2,400 coal-fired power plants operating in 79 countries, for a total of nearly 2,100 GW of capacity. An additional 176 GW of coal capacity is under construction at more than 189 plants, and 280 GW is in pre-construction at 296 plants. In 2021, the operating coal fleet grew by a net 18.2 GW, a post-Covid rebound in a year that saw a slowdown in coal plant retirements.” As a res ..read more

Coal miners and residents living near mines are being exposed to more harmful dust than previously thought, according to an analysis reported in ABC Tropical North. One of the key points in the research finds that as coal production increases, levels of harmful dust particles in areas nearby also rise. If you’ve been around a mining site, you know that the environment is less than pristine because of the dust and smoke.  In addition to the dust and toxic elements within the mine itself, because mining sites are usually remote, they often utilize coal-fired power plants to supply power. T ..read more

Radiation exposure in the workplace must be accurately measured and monitored to protect employees and employers alike. Coal miners can be exposed to radiation emitted from naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) such as uranium and thorium. Personal radiation dosimeters (some of these instruments are referred to as handheld Geiger counters) can be used to monitor radiation exposure, and the data read from the dosimeters can be used to help coal mines introduce additional radiation protection measures. Dosimetry is the calculation of the absorbed dose in tissue resulting ..read more

As we have previously written, every year 1.1 billion tons of coal are burned in the U.S., with 90% of that being used for electricity generation. A 1000 MWe coal plant uses 9000 tonnes of coal per day, equivalent to an entire train load — 90 cars with 100 tonnes in each! (Source energyeducation.ca) Globally, the coal-fired power plant faces the increasing demands of cost saving, process optimization, and cleaner gas emissions. Here are some areas where operations can be optimized, and environmental concerns can be addressed and a glimpse at some of the technologies that ar ..read more

Every year 1.1 billion tons of coal are burned in the U.S., with 90% of that being used for electricity generation. The interconnected series of steps which takes the coal from the mine to the boiler to deliver reliable electricity to industry and households is aided considerably by various technologies. These steps include measuring tonnages, determining coal quality, ensuring personnel safety, and meeting emission regulations. The Global Energy Monitor reports that there are an estimated 2,425 coal-fired power stations in the world, with 280 operating in the US.  In addition to those 28 ..read more

Every year 1.1 billion tons of coal are burned in the U.S., with 90% of that being used for electricity generation. Several years ago, a University of Illinois professor reported that to produce 109 kWh/year of power, a plant burns 14,000 tons of coal every day. He noted that the coal that goes to a typical coal-fired power plant is crushed to approximately 5 cm in size before it is loaded into the inlet hopper. As part of its Energy Education information, the University of Calgary reported that: “Coal plants require enormous amounts of coal. Shockingly: a 1000 MWe coal plant uses 9000 tonnes ..read more

The International Energy Agency recently reported that after three years of increase, coal-based generation dropped 3% in 2019 as electricity demand growth slowed. However, “It remains the primary energy source for electricity generation worldwide…with a share of 36% due to its widespread use in Asian economies… Making the existing coal power plant fleet more flexible and efficient is a priority.” According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Although coal at U.S. power plants has cost less than natural gas, for coal to be competitive, its delivered cost must be at least 30% lower ..read more

I was reading over a paper that was introduced at the SAG Conference last year. (Where are the Opportunities in Comminution for Improved Energy and Water Efficiency? Lane, Hille, Pease, & Pyle).  The SAG Conference event brings together all those engaged in the field of autogenous, semi-autogenous and HPGR grinding in the industrial and metalliferous mineral industries. The paper addressed how community attitude, the cost of energy, and the cost and availability of water have combined to motivate mining houses to consider ways of improving energy and water efficiency. According to the ..read more