An Introduction to the White Coal Technology

The ‘Ecoalogy’ of Cleaner Coal and the Energy of the Future
In a world of rising fuel prices, political instability in fuel-rich countries and heated concerns about the environment, improving the use and efficiency of existing energy sources, including coal, is a matter of paramount importance.

Coal is a major global energy source and is expected to be the dominant fuel for power generation well into the foreseeable future. The global demand for coal is now greater than ever before, and despite global warming concerns, coal usage will continue to rise. Growth is strong in coal being transported long distances and traded internationally. Despite having very large domestic coal industries, China and India are actively seeking to secure the supply of coal from other countries. Their growth in power and steel-making has led to a shortage in supply of internationally traded coal, particularly coal for power generation. Although the tonnages involved are not great, this activity has had a strong impact on coal availability and prices.

There is currently up to 200 years of proven coal reserves at current rates of production. Over 400 billion tonnes of these reserves are in the form of sub-bituminous and brown coals. These coals are high in moisture and low in energy content. This renders them economically and environmentally inefficient and difficult to transport over long distances. The moisture content of sub-bituminous coals typically ranges between 20% and 30%. In terms of transport, that means for every three carriage loads of actual energy-producing coal, there is around one carriage load of water. Moisture content in younger brown coals can be as high as 50%. When used in a coal-fired power station, this water will absorb energy released by the coal combustion, turning it into steam before any energy is available for use in power generation. In addition, the presence of moisture leads to a lower flame temperature which results in less efficient heat transfer in the power station boiler. Unless the coal has some very special property, such as low sulphur sub-bituminous coal in the USA market or low sulphur and ash sub-bituminous coal from Indonesia, its market is limited.

If moisture levels in lower grade coals can be reduced at an economic cost and product stability against spontaneous combustion achieved, then lower grade sub-bituminous and brown coals can compete in the markets previously dominated by higher grade and value bituminous thermal coals.

White Energy has a solution.
White Energy owns the global marketing rights to the patented White Coal Technology, a process that removes moisture from lower grade coals to significantly improve the heat energy content and quality of those coals. Lower grade coals are effectively upgraded into higher grade coal briquettes with properties similar to higher grade and value bituminous coals.

Developed over a number of years by the Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation in conjunction with White Energy, the White Coal Technology can process low cost, poor quality sub-bituminous coal into higher quality (from ~8,000 BTU/lb or 4,500 kcal/kg to ~11,000 BTU/lb or 6,200 kcal/kg as delivered to the customer) and higher value coal (from US$12/tonne to over US$50/tonne). An even greater calorific upgrade can be achieved when processing brown coal. The upgraded product burns more efficiently with lower carbon emissions and, depending upon the feedstock used, lower pollutant emissions. The reduced moisture content of the product results in cuts to load volumes creating transport efficiencies. The product is also physically and chemically stable, thereby reducing the risk of spontaneous combustion and making it easier and safer to handle, transport and store.

Next: History of the White Coal Technology »

Previous: « Supacoal