Coal-Fired Power Station
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Coal Coal is a fossil fuel formed by the decomposition of land plants that have accumulated in swampy or low-lying areas. Millions of years ago, the continual build-up of decaying plants started the process of becoming coal. Humification, or the rapid decaying of plant materials, results in the formation of peat. The peat becomes covered with new sediment layers. The lack of air reaching the peat starts the second step of the coalification process. The combined effects of time, temperature, and pressure convert the peat into brown coal, then sub-bituminous coal, bituminous coal, and finally anthracite. The last three coals in this process are usually called black coal, the coal mined for power generation at Hazelwood and Loy Yang B is brown coal, in which the process of coalification began 45 million years ago. The main difference between brown and black coal is brown coal has a much higher moisture content. The brown coal at Hazelwood and Loy Yang B has between 60% and 70% moisture, whereas black coal has between 8% and 12%. How is coal turned into electricity? Click below to find out! |
