CoalTek Tour in Calvert City Shows off new Technology

Sometimes the most interesting technology is going on right in your back yard and you don't even know it.

 

I went with several state legislators on a tour of a coal processing and blending facility, CoalTek, in Calvert City Kentucky, which produces cleaner and more efficient coal for power plants and other end users.  It's the only facility of its kind in the world.

 

The coal arrives by rail, is crushed for some applications, and then processed by a large microwave oven and formed into briquettes (again, for certain applications). The processed coal has up to 40% more energy per unit of weight than the raw coal.  They blend several different types of coal together to reduce the amount of sulfur and other environmental constituents found in Eastern Kentucky coal, for example by blending it with processed Powder River Basin coal from out west, which is low in sulfur. 

 

The technology is scalable and flexible in terms of location. It can be easily placed at the mouth of a mine or at the generator.  Because it is a microwave, it is a very efficient process, but certainly the power used in the process is something to consider. There are two main advantages to the process.

 

1) It produces coal with less moisture at consistent levels, which increases the efficiency of producing the energy and means power plants don't have to continually adjust for disparate ranges in moisture in the coal during the process, thereby increasing the efficiencies of the parasitic processes required to make run the generator.

 

2) By increasing the BTU capacity from around 8,500 BTU's to 11,200 BTU's, the power plant has the option to burn 30% less coal to produce the same power.  

 

That's good news for both the power-producing plants and consumers.

 

While this technology can be used to upgrade low energy Western coals, it can (and is) also applied to a broad range of other fuels to achieve targeted improvements in energy efficiency, environmental quality, handling quality, etc.  CoalTek is also working on projects to improve the quality of locally available waste coal fines, to solve the coal ash/waste slurry impoundments issues, and upgrading a variety of coals used in the steel manufacturing process (anthracite, metallurgical coal). For more information you can contact Rolando Sanz-Guerrero at rsg@coaltek.com. Rolando is CoalTek's VP of Marketing and will be able to answer more detail questions about CoalTek and its technology.

“SMART GRID" Technology - The Jetson's approach to energy conservation

Another component of the energy solution is the development of a “Smart Grid”. So what is a “Smart Grid”? Well the idea is to take digital technology and apply it to the electrical transmission grid. It will be like the digital cable boxes that you hook up to your television and receive “on demand” movies. Basically, the new digital technology will allow two-way communication via that big transmission grid, which brings electricity to your home.

Jim Roger’s, CEO of Duke Energy, told a large crowd at NCSL recently that after extensive review, polling and research he believes the new “smart” technology will need to work in the background, in order to be effective. When he says, “work in the background”, he means the technology will work in a way that requires little human interaction. He explained most people only think about electricity only when they flip a switch and the light doesn’t come on. He contends if consumers are asked to understand why their usage patterns must change to conserve electricity and what changes have to be made, they will become frustrated and not take the necessary steps required. But if the changes can be made in the "background," as he describes, then two-way communication between the source of the electricity and the smart “gadgets” in our homes, will allow the necessary changes to be made automatically.

What are these “smart” gadgets? You might have appliances that are interconnected so that when one is on the other one shuts itself down. For example, when the dishwasher is running the refrigerator will not cycle as often. Or the refrigerator will automatically increase its thermostat by two degrees during peak electricity demand times. Washing machines, dryers and dishwashers can be scheduled to run at the time of day when there is the least amount of demand on the grid. Most people do not understand that electricity is far cheaper to deliver at 3:00 am than it is at 3:00 pm. Smart technology can help ensure that your home is making the best use of the electricity available.

According to extensive polling done by Duke Energy, Mr. Rogers said only 10% to 15% of the public makes electricity-purchasing decisions based on the environmental impact. These are the folks that will want an app on their iPhone that allows them real time access to monitor their “smart meter” from anywhere in the world.

He argues, this “Smart Grid” technology is critical for the average consumer. These new “smart meters,” which are currently a rarity in Kentucky, can be used as a dramatic teaching tool. The “smart meters” can tell you in real time how much electricity you are using and how much that electricity is costing. These devices are designed for the budget conscious. An individual may not understand using less electricity decreases the impact on the environment, but with a "smart meter" they will see that using more electricity is going to take more of their income."

The new “Smart Grid” technology can also send signals back to the source of the electricity generation, giving power companies a signal that could indicate a potential outage.  Power outages may potentially be avoided altogether.

 

There is tremendous potential for this new technology, but there are some concerns, as well. Cyber security is one of the most important. We all know computer hackers are lurking behind every web page and with this new technology they will be lurking behind every meter. The developers, energy companies and regulators are all focused on this critical area. It is also important that utility rates are structured so that utility companies have an incentive to invest in these types of technologies. And finally, these new technologies need to incorporate future changes in electricity production, such as individual solar panels, the development of electricity storage devices and/or facilities and other developments that are only a glimmer in an engineers eye right now.

 

The “Smart Grid” technology can make a difference at the individual level, and after all, that is where the rubber meets the road, or the electricity meets the switch, so to speak.