Two Australian groups have come up with new technologies for pre-treating brown coal and lignite which promise to reduce green house gas emissions by up to 30-40%. It is not clear whether this figure may not be understated, because by increasing the thermal efficiency of de-hydrated brown coal, less coal per day may be required for electricity generation from a coal-fired power station than currently. If that is the case, we could be looking at halving green house gas emissions.
1: Features & Benefits of ECT’s Coldry Process: ECT Website http://www.ectltd.com.au/
The Coldry Process offers some unique features, with the end product in turn having some unique attributes. In summary, these are: The Process • Uses low grade waste heat, lowering energy costs and reducing the CO2 footprint • Is Simple & Mechanical, providing high reliability and easier maintenance • Is Low Temperature and Low Pressure, reducing energy consumption and extending equipment life • Is Modular, Immediately deployable, and consists of prefabricated components for easier construction in remote installations • Provides enhanced Power Station efficiencies through reduced evaporation losses • Provides ‘Class A’ quality water as a by-product The Product • Exponentially enhanced net energy content increased up to 285% for 60% moisture Victorian La Trobe Valley Lignite • The self-ignition tendencies of typical Lignite is greatly reduced to that of normal Black Coals • Accumulation of up to 90% less Ash than typical black coal, increasing operational efficiencies and reducing removal costs • Immediately deployable in existing brown coal boilers (10% to 20% of total energy mix), Decreasing coal requirements (7% to 14%), Reducing emissions (6% to 11%) and Reducing ash accumulation (2% to 4%) • It is Unique ECT’s Coldry technology is a scalable, immediately deployable, cost-effective commercial brown coal dewatering solution that produces a storable, transportable, energy rich fuel pellet ideal for the lucrative thermal coal market, as well as providing an ideal feedstock for Coal to Liquids and Gasification systems. Additional Benefits Carbon Emission Reduction Existing brown coal power stations that consume Coldry pellets immediately gain benefits without the need of significant modifications to plant infrastructure including: • Emissions savings – 5% to 15% CO2 reduction • Reduced ash costs • Access to increased water supply These factors also drive the business case for inefficient brown coal fired power stations to install black coal fired technologies with their ensuing efficiency and financial benefits, while achieving CO2 reductions of more than 30%. High Gains • The Coldry Process represents high gains in coal drying and it is extremely well suited to taking high moisture feed stocks of around 35-65% moisture to product of around 12%. • Our patented method of dewatering has now been proven and independently validated on coals from many global sites, including China, India, Indonesia, Germany, Poland, Greece and Australia. Mechanical • Coldry is a relatively simple and efficient mechanical process that alters the physical properties of the feedstock • It is not a process that requires costly chemicals to dry coal or has any associated water clean up costs. Low Temperature • Our process requires waste heat of around 40°C. • This low heat is sourced via heat exchange from a co-located power station. Low Pressure Coldry extrudes product under low pressure. Low pressure requires less energy. Water Recovery • Coldry liberates large volumes of water • The water recovered from the coal is ready for immediate industrial use without expensive treatment, and becomes potable with minor filtering. Sensitive to the Environment Coldry is sensitive to the environment as combustion of this energy rich, low moisture fuel enhances efficiency, and reduces CO2 emissions and other environmental damage. Flexible Our Coldry plant is flexible and well suited for domestic markets (rapid-dry product) and export markets (high quality product). • The Coldry plant is modular and, hence scalable • All sections of the plant are pre-fabricated off-site, then transported in normal shipping containers and assembled. • Making it perfect for deployment at remote mine mouth locations, where there are no 5 lane freeways to bring in oversized equipment. Cost Effective Our plant creates a black coal equivalent product that is cost effective and greatly increases the value of the lignite feedstock in the face of rising black coal demand and pricing. Power Station Integration Synergies • Our design integrates with power stations and delivers synergies. • The recovered water can be fed to the power stations’ cooling circuits, reducing the need to take water from local rivers and other sources.
ECT’s MATMOR Overview Since the advent of coke based iron production in 1709, primary iron making has relied on high quality black coal as its reductant and heat source. The MATMOR process is positioned to revolutionise primary iron making thanks to the design of our simple, low cost, low emission, patented MATMOR retort using cheaper, alternative raw materials. MATMOR comprises two exclusive facets: 1. Inputs – It uses brown coal (lignite) as a reductant and heat source – no other technology can claim this 2. Plant Design – It employs our unique MATMOR retort – a vertical furnace that works with the natural chemistry of brown coal The Process MATMOR is a unique method for producing high-quality iron from inexpensive, abundant brown coal and iron oxide bearing material such as mill scale, nickel tailings and, of course, high or low grade iron ore… more>> The Product The MATMOR Process delivers a clean iron product tailored to the size/shape and carbon content requirements of the end user. MATMOR iron is a high-quality substitute for, or supplement to, scrap metal feedstock used in Electric Arc or Induction Furnaces… more>>
2: Features & Benefits of Exergen’s CHTD Technology: Exergen Website http://www.exergen.com.au/home.html
Exergen Shareholders: Tata Power: Part of the US$60bn market cap, Tata Group of India. Tata Power is India's largest private power utility with assets in thermal, hydro, solar and wind generation, electricity transmission and distribution. Under an in-principle agreement, Tata Power will be the major off-taker of LV-NG's output, using the dewatered coal to fuel new, environmentally superior, super-critical technology power plants currently under development in India.
Thiess: Part of the Australian construction giant, Leighton Holdings Group. Thiess has considerable experience and expertise in the mining industry and engineering & construction services.
Itochu Corporation: Established in 1858, Itochu is one of Japan's major trading houses. Itochu will bring its extensive experience in coal trading to market the balance of LV-NG's output into specific world markets.
Sedgman: A leading provider of mineral engineering solutions to the global resources industry, Listed on the ASX, Sedgman are recognised as specialists in coal processing and materials handling technologies.
Exergen's CHTD Technology:
Exergen has developed a breakthrough clean coal technology that, teamed with modern coal-fired power station technology, has the potential to deliver a 40% reduction in emissions. The technology is currently known as the Continuous Hydrothermal De-watering (CHTD) of brown coal (lignites) and high moisture subbituminous coal.
Core to the Exergen CHTD technology is a vertical autoclave that uses gravitational head pressure and a small amount of energy to transform the molecular structure of brown coal to remove up to 80% of its moisture content.
Exergen CHTD is a significant step towards overcoming the social and economic challenges posed by many nations' continued reliance on subbituminous coals for energy production.
Exergen prioritised this application because of the urgency of the global need to limit emissions from brown coal energy production.
By removing moisture from brown coal at previously unattainable levels of efficiency, the need to bleed off large amounts of power station energy to thermally dry fuel prior to combustion is obviated.
The significant gains in emissions levels and water recovery delivered by Exergen CHTD will extend the ‘social license’ of brown coal-fired power generation for decades to come. The technology itself has a small physical and environmental footprint.
The technology is proven and now ready for application to existing and new technology, brown coal-fired power generation plant.
The Exergen CHTD process offers scope to bring high moisture stranded lignites to a product that can be exported for the thermal coal market. At 10% moisture an Exergen CHTD coal ex Latrobe Valley has a GAR of 5700-5800 kcal/kg.
Exergen has entered into JVs with Mantle Mining(MNM) which has huge coal reserves in Victoria.
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