Coal Production in Philadelphia: Similar

Coal Production in Philadelphia:

Similar to other cities in Pennsylvania State, coal-production is one of the major activities in Philadelphia. Actually, the city is among leading coal-producing cities in the United States and is the only region that mines anthracite coal. In addition to this, Philadelphia also manufactures natural products, sand, petroleum, gas, and limestone, which is used for roadbeds and cement. The process of mining coal produces coal ash that is more radioactive as compared with nuclear waste and coal combustion waste such as bottom ash, flue gas desulfurization sludge, fly ash, and boiler slag.

Coal Combustion Waste:

Coal production in Philadelphia produces coal combustion waste, which is regarded as the second largest industrial waste flow in the country. The waste is generated when power plants are engaged in the burning of coal and the use of some processes to clean air emissions based on the requirements of the Clean Air Act ("EPA Considers Rules," 2009). This kind of waste is mainly stored in dry or wet impoundments and utilized as fill in deserted surface or disposed in landfills. Coal combustion wastes are used beneficially in building materials and construction and development of roads and highways. Additionally, fly ash can be found in ceiling tiles, cultured stone, concrete foundations, masonry blocks, and mortars.

While coal production generates coal combustion wastes, it accounts for 53% of the electricity-generation needs of the state. Coal-production in Philadelphia is hugely threatened by federal legislations that focus on lessening pollution and global warming. Rather than promote investment in upgrades to comply with the strict standards, these regulations could result in the closure of some shutter coal-fired power plants (Mastrull, 2011). The need to reduce pollution and global warming has resulted in the emergence and use of alternate resources.

The advantages of using such resources include the lessening of pollution and global warming, which will help in saving the ecosystem and human life. Secondly, the alternate resources would be more efficient and less-costly means of meeting people's energy needs. However, the use of these resources also has disadvantages including increase in unemployment because of more job losses and inability to match the impact of coal throughout the region.

Reducing Coal Combustion Waste:

The reduction of coal combustion waste and enhancement of the efficiency of coal-fired power plants involves the use of various advanced coal combustion technologies. To reduce this waste in Philadelphia, the most efficient method is the use of Fluidised Bed Combustion, which is a very flexible means of producing electricity. This project would also be effective since its systems enhance the impact of coal-based electricity on the environment while reducing the emission of Sulphur Oxide and Nitric Oxide by approximately 90% ("Improving Efficiencies," n.d.).

The implementation of the process involves burning coal in a reactor consisting of a bed with which the gas is fed to ensure that the fuel remains in a turbulent state. Through this, Fluidised Bed Combustion enhances combustion, recovery of waste materials or products, and heat transfer. These kinds of systems permit the process to function at lower temperatures because of the higher heat exchanger efficiencies. Moreover, Fluidized Bed Combustion systems use abandoned coal waste than previous systems because of their flexibility.