Coal Mine Ventilation Air Methane (VAM) Project Development and Mitigation Options Jayne Somers,...
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Coal Mine Ventilation Air Methane (VAM)Coal Mine Ventilation Air Methane (VAM)
Project Development Project Development and Mitigation Optionsand Mitigation Options
Jayne Somers, Ph.D., P.E.US Environmental Protection Agency
13th North American Mine Ventilation Symposium
Sudbury, CanadaJune 14, 2010
Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview
Background on VAM Emissions
U.S.VAM Data Summary
Mitigation TechnologiesOxidation: Catalytic and ThermalGas TurbinesHybrid Waste Coal/VAM Rotary Kiln
Global Recovery & Utilization of CMM
• Degasification systems
CMM drainage at active underground coal mines: 14 countries
• CMM recovery and utilization projects
At active and/or abandoned (closed) coal mines: 13 countries
• 227 total CMM projects worldwide, 36 proposed or in development
Avoided methane emissions: > 3.8 billion cubic meters annually (> 54 MMTCO2E / yr)
Background on VAMBackground on VAM
Mine safety regulations require gassy underground coal mines to assure that methane concentrations in the mine workings are maintained at safe levels
- Well below the lower explosive limit (5% in air)
Mines employ large scale ventilation systems to vent methane to the atmosphere
- Pre-mine drainage can supplement ventilation
Background on VAMBackground on VAM
Ventilation air methane (VAM) is largest source of coal mine methane (CMM) emissions
- 54% of all U.S. CMM emissions in 2005
Capturing and using VAM is challenging
- Large airflows: 100,000 to 1 million cfm (47 - 470
m3/s)
- Low concentrations: range 0.1 to 1.0%, often 0.3 to
0.5%
Variable, both flow and concentration
Harnessing U.S. Ventilation Air Methane (VAM)Harnessing U.S. Ventilation Air Methane (VAM)
Largest source of coal mine methane Low methane concentrations (<1%) Technologies emerging to harness ventilation air methane
- As primary fuel- As secondary fuel
Ventilation air emissions (vented
to atmosphere)
CMM Drainage (vented to
atmosphere)CMM Recovered
and Used (Avoided
emissions-
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
Co
al M
ine
Met
han
e (m
illio
n c
ub
ic m
eter
s)
Summary of U.S. MSHA VAM Data Summary of U.S. MSHA VAM Data
Mines >0.3% methane
Quarterly sampling 2008-2009
39 mines with 78 exhausts
0.3 – 1.26% CH4
Global VAM emissions (2002)Global VAM emissions (2002)
Emissions Country (Bm3) % world
• China 6.7 38.7
• United States 2.6 15.0
• Ukraine 2.2 12.7
• Russia 0.7 4.0
• Australia 0.7 4.0
• Total World 17.3
Harnessing Ventilation Air Methane (VAM) (cont’d)Harnessing Ventilation Air Methane (VAM) (cont’d)
As Supplemental Fuel at Appin-Tower Collieries (Australia)
Installed in 1995
54 x 1 MW IC engines produce power from gob gas
VAM used as feed air:
- supplied 7% of energy
VAM Oxidation TechnologiesVAM Oxidation Technologies
Thermal Flow Reversal Reactors (TFRR)
Commercial project: MEGTEC Systemshttp://www.megtec.com
Pilot project : Biothermica http://www.biothermica.com
VAM Oxidation TechnologiesVAM Oxidation Technologies
Durr Systems (Wisconsin, USA)
Gulf Coast Environmental (Texas, USA)
Sheng Dong Group (China)
Catalytic Oxidizer: CH4Min Prototype
CANMET Energy Centre (Canada) http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/se/etb/cetc/cetc01/htmldocs/home_e.htm
• licensed by Sindicatum Carbon Capitol (SCC Americas)
Flow-reversal Oxidation Technology
Schematic of an OxidizerSchematic of an Oxidizer
Valve #1 open =Valve #2 open =*Heat recovery piping not shown
Heat Heat ExchangerExchanger
Valve 2Valve 2
Valve 1Valve 1
Valve 1Valve 1
Valve 2Valve 2
Air & CHAir & CH44Air & C0Air & C022,,
HH220 & Heat*0 & Heat*
Heat Exchange MediumHeat Exchange Medium
Heat Exchange MediumHeat Exchange Medium
MEGTEC Systems - VOCSIDIZERMEGTEC Systems - VOCSIDIZER
MEGTEC VOCSIDIZER 2007: Oxidation & electricity generation, West Cliff
Colliery, Australia
2007: Oxidation only – Abandoned Windsor Mine (CONSOL Energy, West Liberty, West Virginia)
2008: Oxidation & hot water, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
2010: Oxidation & hot water, Datong, Chongqing, China
WestVAMPWestVAMP
West Cliff Ventilation Air Methane Project•Startup: April 2007
•Capacity: 250,000 m3/hour (150,000 scfm) of mine exhaust air
•VAM concentration: 0.9 percent
•Generation unit: steam turbine
•Electricity output: 6 MW
•Four (4) VOCSIDIZER units (capturing 20% of VAM output)
•Ongoing project with two revenue sources
- Electricity (over 80GWh generated)
- Carbon credits from New South Wales trading scheme (over 500,000 traded)
WestVAMPWestVAMP
Zhengzhou, Henan, China Zhengzhou, Henan, China
First VAM project approved by UNFCCC under the CDM Mechanism
Single VOCSIDIZER unit
0.3% - 0.7% CH4 concentration range
CONSOL Windsor Mine DemonstrationCONSOL Windsor Mine Demonstration
Using diluted, drained CMM to simulate VAMSingle MEGTEC VOCSIDIZER unitOperated unattended with a VAM concentration of 0.6 percentProject partly funded by USEPA & USDOEGoals were to verify:
- Ability to maintain VAM oxidation- System safety- Operability and maintenance with field
conditions - Capacity: 30,000 scfm of simulated VAM
CONSOL Windsor Mine DemonstrationCONSOL Windsor Mine Demonstration
Biothermica – VAMOX™Biothermica – VAMOX™
Jim Walter Resources
Brookwood, Alabama, USA
Active Mine No. 7
2008: MSHA approval received
27,000 carbon credits in first year of operation
Listed with the Climate Action Reserve (CAR)
•
Typical VAMOX™ System
Jim Walters Resources VAM Demonstration Jim Walters Resources VAM Demonstration
Single Biothermica VAMOX unitCapacity: 30,000 cfmVAM concentration: 0.9 percentGreenhouse gas emission mitigation: >35,000 tonnes of CO2e per year Revenues: Carbon emission reductionsProjected lifetime: > 4 years
CONSOL McElroy Mine VAM Project CONSOL McElroy Mine VAM Project
Marshall County, West Virginia Verdeo Group is financingRegistered with Climate Action Reserve Planned operation: mid-2011
Gas Turbines Gas Turbines
Lean fuel gas turbine http://www.em.csiro.au/sust_mining/sustainable_projects.htm#vamcat
Microturbines: - Ingersol Rand Energy Systems http://energy.ingersollrand.com/index_en.aspx
- FlexEnergy http://www.flexenergy.com/contactus.html
CONSOL CMM-Fired MicroturbineCONSOL CMM-Fired Microturbine
In early 2007, CONSOL Energy – in partnership with Ingersoll Rand Energy Systems – successfully demonstrated electricity generation by a microturbine fueled by unprocessed CMM at Bailey mine in Pennsylvania.The unit underwent a one-year operational phase.The 70 kW microturbine expected to generate approximately 500 MWh of electricity while consuming approximately 8 MMCF of methane that would have otherwise been emitted to the
atmosphere.
Hybrid Coal Mine Gas Technology Hybrid Coal Mine Gas Technology (HCGT)(HCGT)
Combusts waste coal and VAM in a rotary kiln Generates thermal energy for electricity or steamThree 10 MW power plants were planned in India over the next five years EESTECH and Aryan Clean Coal Technologies joint venture
http://www.eestechinc.com/index.php?page=16
Technology Deployment BenefitsTechnology Deployment Benefits
•Ability to mitigate the largest source of coal mine emissions worldwide•Capability to capture and beneficially use VAM’s dilute energy content•Adds to energy security by beneficially using a currently wasted energy source•Multiple vendors should lead to cost competition that will drive down project capital costs• Attractive payback times (3 - 6 years) can be achieved at VAM concentrations > 0.6 percent and carbon emission reduction sale prices ≥ $10.00 per tonne CO2e
Technology Deployment ChallengesTechnology Deployment Challenges
• Newer technology; field experience limited to a few countries
• Most VAM concentrations exiting the mine are below 1 percent
• May need supplemental methane (drained gas) to raise VAM inlet concentrations to near 1 percent
ConclusionsConclusions
Flow-reversal oxidation of VAM with power generation is a proven technology Field installations of various technologies are multiplying Potential global market for VAM-to-power applications is large Emerging cost competitiveness should enhance project economics
USEPA Coalbed Methane Outreach Program (CMOP)USEPA Coalbed Methane Outreach Program (CMOP)
Voluntary climate change program since 1994
Promote the profitable recovery and use of coal mine methane (CMM)
Support CMM project development
International Methane to Markets Partnership
Methane to Markets Partnership• Encourages development of cost-effective methane recovery and use
opportunities in– coal mines– landfills– oil and gas systems and – agriculture (manure waste management)
• Private companies, multilateral development banks and other relevant organizations participate by joining the Project Network – over 900 organizations now participating
• 34 Partner GovernmentsJapanKazakhstanKoreaMexicoMongoliaNigeriaPakistanPeruPhilippinesPolandRussiaThailandUkraineUnited KingdomUnited StatesVietnam
ArgentinaAustraliaBrazil Bulgaria*CanadaChileChina ColombiaDominican RepublicEuropean Comm.Ecuador FinlandGeorgiaGermany IndiaItaly
For more information, please contact us!For more information, please contact us!
Jayne SomersUSEPA Climate Change Division
www.epa.gov/coalbed