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1. Consider the Scherer coal fired power plant in the state of Georgia. It was built in the 1980's. It has a capacity to produce 3,500 MW of electricity and is one of the biggest coal fired power plants in the US. The plant burns a low grade, low sulphur content sub-bituminous coal from Wyoming (Powder River Basin coal reserve – 40% of US market supply). Coal is transported by train to the power plant from Wyoming. The reason Powder River Basin coal is used by electric utilities is that it is very low sulphur content compared to coal mined from the Appalachian region. a. Calculate the consumption rate of coal in tons per hour and tons per year. Assume the plant is operating at full capacity of 3,500 MW electrical production, is 33% efficient at converting heat into electrical energy, and the lower heating value of the sub-bituminous coal s 8,500 Btu per pound. b. If a rail car holds 100 tons coal, how many rail cars a day are required to keep the plant operating? (A coal train is typically ~ 100 cars long). c. Given the average price of Powder River Basin coal of 32 $/ton, what is the annual cost of coal for the plant? d. Given an average sulphur content of 0.5% for Powder River Basin coal, calculate the Ibs SO2 emitted per million Btu of thermal energy (this emission rate is regulated by the EPA and needs to be less than 0.15 Ibs SO2 / million Btu as an Acid Rain prevention policy. e. Calculate the amount of SO2 released from the 305-m stack of the power plant in tons SO2 / year. Assume no scrubbers are used to remove SO2. f. If wet scrubbers using limestone are used to remove 90% of the SO2 produced, calculate the mass (in tons) of the calcium sulphite dihydrate (CaSO3 · 2H2O) sludge produced per year. What would you do with this sludge?

1. Consider the Scherer coal fired power plant in the state of Georgia. It was built in the 1980's. It has a capacity to produce 3,500 MW of electricity and is one of the biggest coal fired power plants in the US. The plant burns a low grade, low sulphur content sub-bituminous coal from Wyoming (Powder River Basin coal reserve – 40% of US market supply). Coal is transported by train to the power plant from Wyoming. The reason Powder River Basin coal is used by electric utilities is that it is very low sulphur content compared to coal mined from the Appalachian region. a. Calculate the consumption rate of coal in tons per hour and tons per year. Assume the plant is operating at full capacity of 3,500 MW electrical production, is 33% efficient at converting heat into electrical energy, and the lower heating value of the sub-bituminous coal s 8,500 Btu per pound. b. If a rail car holds 100 tons coal, how many rail cars a day are required to keep the plant operating? (A coal train is typically ~ 100 cars long). c. Given the average price of Powder River Basin coal of 32 $/ton, what is the annual cost of coal for the plant? d. Given an average sulphur content of 0.5% for Powder River Basin coal, calculate the Ibs SO2 emitted per million Btu of thermal energy (this emission rate is regulated by the EPA and needs to be less than 0.15 Ibs SO2 / million Btu as an Acid Rain prevention policy. e. Calculate the amount of SO2 released from the 305-m stack of the power plant in tons SO2 / year. Assume no scrubbers are used to remove SO2. f. If wet scrubbers using limestone are used to remove 90% of the SO2 produced, calculate the mass (in tons) of the calcium sulphite dihydrate (CaSO3 · 2H2O) sludge produced per year. What would you do with this sludge?

Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
8th Edition
ISBN:9781259696527
Author:J.M. Smith Termodinamica en ingenieria quimica, Hendrick C Van Ness, Michael Abbott, Mark Swihart
Publisher:J.M. Smith Termodinamica en ingenieria quimica, Hendrick C Van Ness, Michael Abbott, Mark Swihart
Chapter1: Introduction
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1.1P
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**Educational Content: Analysis of the Scherer Coal Fired Power Plant** The Scherer coal-fired power plant in Georgia, established in the 1980s, is among the largest in the U.S., with a capacity of 3,500 MW. It burns low-grade, low-sulfur sub-bituminous coal from Wyoming's Powder River Basin, known for its 40% share of the U.S. market supply. This coal is favored for its low sulfur content compared to Appalachian coal, making it environmentally preferable. **Exercises:** 1. **Coal Consumption Rate** - Calculate the coal consumption in *tons per hour* and *tons per year*. Assume full capacity operation at 3,500 MW with an efficiency of 33% in heat-to-electricity conversion. The sub-bituminous coal used has a heating value of 8,500 Btu per pound. 2. **Rail Transport** - If one rail car carries 100 tons of coal, determine the number of *rail cars per day* needed to keep the plant operational, noting a typical train length of about 100 cars. 3. **Economic Analysis** - With an average coal cost of $32 per ton, calculate the *annual cost* of coal for the plant. 4. **Sulfur Dioxide Emissions** - Using an average sulfur content of 0.5%, compute the *pounds of SO₂* emitted per million Btu of thermal energy. This is under the regulation to remain below 0.15 lbs SO₂ per million Btu as per Acid Rain policies. 5. **SO₂ Output Calculation** - Determine the total SO₂ released annually from the plant's 305-meter stack, assuming no scrubbers for SO₂ removal. 6. **Scrubber Implementation** - If scrubbers using limestone remove 90% of SO₂, calculate the tonnage of calcium sulfite dihydrate (CaSO₃ · 2H₂O) produced annually as sludge. Discuss potential uses or disposal methods for this sludge. **Note**: These exercises offer insights into the operational, economic, and environmental aspects of large-scale coal-fired power plants.
Transcribed Image Text:**Educational Content: Analysis of the Scherer Coal Fired Power Plant** The Scherer coal-fired power plant in Georgia, established in the 1980s, is among the largest in the U.S., with a capacity of 3,500 MW. It burns low-grade, low-sulfur sub-bituminous coal from Wyoming's Powder River Basin, known for its 40% share of the U.S. market supply. This coal is favored for its low sulfur content compared to Appalachian coal, making it environmentally preferable. **Exercises:** 1. **Coal Consumption Rate** - Calculate the coal consumption in *tons per hour* and *tons per year*. Assume full capacity operation at 3,500 MW with an efficiency of 33% in heat-to-electricity conversion. The sub-bituminous coal used has a heating value of 8,500 Btu per pound. 2. **Rail Transport** - If one rail car carries 100 tons of coal, determine the number of *rail cars per day* needed to keep the plant operational, noting a typical train length of about 100 cars. 3. **Economic Analysis** - With an average coal cost of $32 per ton, calculate the *annual cost* of coal for the plant. 4. **Sulfur Dioxide Emissions** - Using an average sulfur content of 0.5%, compute the *pounds of SO₂* emitted per million Btu of thermal energy. This is under the regulation to remain below 0.15 lbs SO₂ per million Btu as per Acid Rain policies. 5. **SO₂ Output Calculation** - Determine the total SO₂ released annually from the plant's 305-meter stack, assuming no scrubbers for SO₂ removal. 6. **Scrubber Implementation** - If scrubbers using limestone remove 90% of SO₂, calculate the tonnage of calcium sulfite dihydrate (CaSO₃ · 2H₂O) produced annually as sludge. Discuss potential uses or disposal methods for this sludge. **Note**: These exercises offer insights into the operational, economic, and environmental aspects of large-scale coal-fired power plants.
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