Smart projects lead to cleaner, greener coal
Queensland’s coal miners continue to lead the world in developing cleaner and more efficient technologies both in electricity generation and extraction of the State’s abundant coal reserves.
Three major recent developments highlight that leadership:
- MOU: CS Energy and 10 other Japanese and Australian industry partners have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop an oxy-fuel technology that would eliminate greenhouse emissions from electricity generation
- CRC for Mining: A new high speed coal drilling technology which drains and stores potentially dangerous methane gas in underground mines is being developed in Queensland by the Co-operative Research Centre for Mining (CRC for Mining) with funding from the State Government
- Simtars: The Queensland Government’s Safety in Mines Testing and Research Station (Simtars) is supplying Chinese coal mines with high speed gas monitoring systems that could save many lives. More than 8000 miners died in Chinese coal mines in 2004, many the result of underground gas explosions and spontaneous coal fires.
MOU
CS Energy’s chief executive, Mark Chatfield, said the Queensland energy industry was leading the world in testing oxy-fuel technologies, which could be installed in existing power generators as well as new plants if they prove economically viable.
Under the MOU, CS Energy’s Callide A power station will be the site of a world first demonstration plant if the initial two-year study determines that one of the station’s stored generators would be suitable.
Oxy-fuel technology involves feeding pure oxygen into power generators to produce nearly-pure carbon dioxide which can be captured and stored underground.
CRC for Mining
Methane gas is usually found trapped in coal deposits in underground mines and must be drained before mining can begin. The gas is a valuable fuel and is finding increasing market acceptance in Queensland.
However, its volatility adds a dangerous dimension to world coal mining. This new technology is both faster and safer than any currently employed and the ability to store the gas is an important bonus.
According to Professor Mike Hood, chief executive of the CRC for Mining, another advantage of this new technology, known as High Speed Cross Panel drilling, is that it’s cheaper than current methods of methane drainage.
Simtars
The Simtars mine safety technology quickly detects any build-up of explosive gases and provides an early warning system against possible disaster.
Simtars has orders from China for two systems, with an order for a further 15 anticipated. With 500 operating mines and plans to open a further 600 coal mines in the next four years, China offers huge growth potential.
The export potential of the Simtars system is not limited to China – discussions currently are taking place with coal miners in Vietnam and India.
CS Energy: www.csenergy.com.au
CRC for Mining: k.cooley@crcmining.com.au
Simtars: www.nrm.qld.gov.au/simtars
Coal tracking system a world first
Queensland’s coal customers are receiving more reliable and consistent coal shipments since the world’s first automated Coal Tracking System (CTS) was developed at the Hay Point Coal Terminal, south of Mackay.
The system allows parcels of coal from BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance’s (BMA) Bowen Basin coal mines to be traced by consignment and quality from mine site to shiploading, where the coal is despatched to customers in 27 countries.
Each customer specifies the quality of the coal they require – so quality control is of great importance.
The CTS software, developed by a team of Hay Point employees and technical consultants, integrates logistics, quality and equipment location systems. It provides 3D images that accurately represent the physical dimensions and quality variations in individual coal stockpiles.
Hay Point port manager, Sam Bonanno, said the system not only controls and reduces quality variation of coal despatches, but also improves the quality of feedback to the mines, allowing them to adjust production targets to optimise yield.
“The ability to pinpoint and isolate pockets of non-conforming product in a stockpile ensures we are providing a superior product to our customers,” he said.
BMA is Australia’s largest coal producer and exporter, specialising in the production of high quality metallurgical coals for the international steel industry.
Last reviewed 19 January 2006