Exploration and Exploitation of Solid Fuels

Specific Foundation / Core

The course is also offered to exchange programme students.

After studying the course of “Exploration and Exploitation of Solid Fuels”, students should be able to: • Explain the origins of Coal; how Coal is formed in Coal-forming environments, the chemistry and physics of Coal formation, the four grades of Coals [coal ‘rank’ which is the measure of the degree of organic metamorphism (coalification) of a coal, ranging from low-rank peat to high-rank meta-anthracite]. • Understanding the basic concepts of Coal Geology and terminology. • Understanding the basic concepts of GCV (Gross Calorific Value) which is the quantity of heat produced by combustion when the water produced by combustion is allowed to return to the liquid state and NCV (Net Calorific Value) which is the quantity of heat produced by combustion when the water produced by combustion remains gaseous. • Characterize Coals based on their proximate and ultimate analysis. • Build knowledge on the importance of applied ‘Coal Petrology’. • Explore and find Coal deposits, acquire knowledge on planning modern mines, understand the geological problems in Coal mining. • Understand the environmental aspects of Coal mining. • Know the global Coal reserves, Coal distribution in Greece and Europe, Coal production and uses early in the 21st Century, • Integrated mining software will be used. • This course also looks at Biomass and Energy generated from biomass. Peat, xylite and fossil fractions of mixed fuels or materials shall not be considered biomass.

Course Summary: "EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION OF SOLID FUELS": How Coal Is Formed. The Chemistry of Coal. Understanding Coal Geology and Geological Structures. Coal Stratigraphy and Coal Petrography. Types of Coal deposits and depositional environments of Coal accumulations. Exploration and reserves calculation. Characteristics of the Coal deposits and Mining methods. Overview of the global Coal industry. Uses. Energy production from biomass. Detailed Course Content: The four main types of Coals [peat, lignite, bituminous coal, anthracite] are formed from the accumulation of plant debris, usually in a swamp environment. The rate of plant debris accumulation must be greater than the rate of decay. Once a thick layer of plant debris is formed, it is buried by sediments [mud, sand, etc]. These are typically washed into the swamp by a flooding river. The weight of these materials compacts the plant debris and aids in its transformation into coal. The process will take a long time. Peat is an organic sediment, soft, recently accumulated, partially carbonized. Burial, compaction, and coalification will transform it into coal. Coal properties are related to three independent geological parameters, namely: coal rank, which is the measure of the degree of organic metamorphism (coalification) of a coal, ranging from low-rank peat to high-rank meta-anthracite and can be determined through a number of chemical and physical parameters, the maximum temperature and the coal quality parameters including the impact of waste rock on the value of mining projects. The course introduces students to the notions of Bituminization and Coalification, as well as to the methods of determining the degree of Coalification. ‘Coal petrology’ which is a microscopic technique used to determine a coal’s rank (degree of coalification) and type (amount and category of macerals), is also presented, together with GCV (gross calorific value) [which is the quantity of heat produced by combustion when the water produced by combustion is allowed to return to the liquid state] and NCV (net calorific value) [which is the quantity of heat produced by combustion when the water produced by combustion remains gaseous]. The course also covers the chemical and physical properties of coal, and their proximate and ultimate analysis. Exploration methods, drilling, borehole logging, deposit evaluation, and quality assessment are presented. Students are introduced to solid fuels production software programs and to the biomass energy production basics. Finally, all uses of coal and the related environmental issues from mining and exploitation are analyzed.

Coal geology. Bituminization and Coalification. By rank classification of coal: peat, lignite, bituminous coal, anthracite. Methods of Coal Exploration and reserves calculation techniques. Calorific value, proximate and ultimate analysis. Mining techniques uses and environmental issues. Biomass and energy production.

10-03-2020