Which type of coal is known for its quality?

Correct option is B

The correct answer is: (b) Anthracite

Anthracite is the highest quality of coal due to its high carbon content (80–95%) and low impurities. It has the highest calorific value among all coal types, making it the most efficient for energy generation. It burns with minimal smoke and ash, making it environmentally preferable.

Types of Coal and Their Characteristics:

Anthracite:

• High carbon content (80–95%).
• High energy output (calorific value).
• Burns cleanly with minimal smoke.
• Used in domestic heating and metallurgical processes.

Bituminous:

• Moderate carbon content (60–80%).
• Commonly used in power plants and industries.
• Produces more smoke and ash compared to anthracite.

Lignite:

• Low carbon content (25–35%).
• Low calorific value, high moisture content.
• Primarily used for electricity generation in thermal power plants.

Applications of Anthracite:

• Domestic Heating: Preferred for its clean burning properties.
• Metallurgical Processes: Crucial for steel production.
• Water Filtration Systems: Serves as an effective filter medium.

Additional Information: Clean Coal Technologies

Clean coal technologies are advanced methods designed to reduce the environmental impact of coal usage, particularly its greenhouse gas emissions, while maintaining its role as an energy source.

Key Clean Coal Technologies:

1. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS):

• What It Does: Captures carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions produced by coal-fired power plants or industrial processes. The CO₂ is compressed and stored in deep geological formations.
• Benefits:
  • Reduces CO₂ emissions significantly.
  • Mitigates climate change impacts.
• Challenges:
  • High costs and energy requirements.
  • Long-term safety of storage sites.

2. Coal Gasification:

• What It Does: Converts coal into syngas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) by reacting coal with oxygen and steam under high pressure and temperature.
• Benefits:
  • Reduces pollutants like sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ).
  • Facilitates CO₂ capture.
• Applications: Used in Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plants.

3. Fluidized Bed Combustion (FBC):

• What It Does: Burns coal in a bed of heated particles suspended by air for cleaner combustion.
• Benefits:
  • Reduces SO₂ and NOₓ emissions.
  • Allows use of low-grade coal or biomass.
• Applications: Power plants and industrial boilers.

4. Supercritical and Ultra-Supercritical Boilers:

• What It Does: Operates at very high temperatures and pressures to improve efficiency in converting coal into electricity.
• Benefits:
  • Produces more energy per unit of coal, reducing CO₂ emissions.
  • Requires less coal, lowering mining impacts.

5. Coal Washing:

• What It Does: Removes impurities like ash, sulfur, and heavy metals from coal before burning.
• Benefits:
  • Improves combustion efficiency.
  • Reduces emissions of SO₂ and particulates.

6. Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC):

• What It Does: Uses metal oxides as oxygen carriers to combust coal without direct air mixing.
• Benefits:
  • Efficient CO₂ capture.
  • Low nitrogen oxide emissions.