scholarly journals Coal Mining Energy Utilization and Environmental Impact Management Strategy Using the LCA Method

Author(s):  
Frances Roi Seston Tampubolon ◽  
Arief Sabdo Yuwono ◽  
Armansyah Halomoan Tambunan ◽  
Noer Azam Achsani

Coal mining processing and the clearing of land require that materials which have been removed be carefully inspected before it is reused. In this study, the boundary of our model starts with excavation and ends with material recovery. Therefore, further processing of the material to be recovered (recycling, reprocessing) is excluded from the model. In this study, the topsoil layer was collected in three pits numbered one, two, and three, from January to December 2020. The use of the LCA method gives results after the inventory data is carried out, which results in global warming. The results showed material removal unit process generated a total CO2 value of 32.44 kg CO2- eq.tonne-1 of coal, and the coal mining unit process generated a total CO2 value of 255.99 kg CO2- eq.tonne-1 of coal, for the impact of global warming. When compared to the material removal process, the results of the coal mining unit process show the highest global warming impact. Coal processing gives a yield of 25.61 kg CO2- eq.tonne-1 of coal. So that the resulting impact as a whole is 314 kg CO2- eq.tonne-1 of coal. The total emissions resulting from B30 fuel (314 kg CO2- eq.tonne-1 of coal) are smaller than B20 fuel (320 kg CO2- eq.tonne-1 of coal), 6 kg CO2-eq.tonne-1 of coal. The coal mining process includes fuel used in coal extraction, coal hauling, coal stockpiling, blasting, water pumps, and water tracks.

2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 1059-1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Lehuger ◽  
B. Gabrielle ◽  
E. Larmanou ◽  
P. Laville ◽  
P. Cellier ◽  
...  

Abstract. Nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and methane are the main biogenic greenhouse gases (GHG) contributing to the global warming potential (GWP) of agro-ecosystems. Evaluating the impact of agriculture on climate thus requires a capacity to predict the net exchanges of these gases in an integrated manner, as related to environmental conditions and crop management. Here, we used two year-round data sets from two intensively-monitored cropping systems in northern France to test the ability of the biophysical crop model CERES-EGC to simulate GHG exchanges at the plot-scale. The experiments involved maize and rapeseed crops on a loam and rendzina soils, respectively. The model was subsequently extrapolated to predict CO2 and N2O fluxes over an entire crop rotation. Indirect emissions (IE) arising from the production of agricultural inputs and from cropping operations were also added to the final GWP. One experimental site (involving a wheat-maize-barley rotation on a loamy soil) was a net source of GHG with a GWP of 350 kg CO2-C eq ha−1 yr−1, of which 75% were due to IE and 25% to direct N2O emissions. The other site (involving an oilseed rape-wheat-barley rotation on a rendzina) was a net sink of GHG for –250 kg CO2-C eq ha−1 yr−1, mainly due to a higher predicted C sequestration potential and C return from crops. Such modelling approach makes it possible to test various agronomic management scenarios, in order to design productive agro-ecosystems with low global warming impact.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett McPherson ◽  
Mihray Sharip ◽  
Terry Grimmond

Background. Sustainable purchasing can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at healthcare facilities (HCF). A previous study found that converting from disposable to reusable sharps containers (DSC, RSC) reduced sharps waste stream GHG by 84% but, in finding transport distances impacted significantly on GHG outcomes, recommended further studies where transport distances are large. This case-study examines the impact on GHG of nation-wide transport distances when a large US health system converted from DSC to RSC. Methods. The study examined the alternate use of DSC and RSC at a large US university hospital where: the source of polymer was distant from the RSC manufacturing plant; both manufacturing plants were over 3,000 km from the HCF; and the RSC disposal plant was considerably further from the HCF than was the DSC disposal plant. Using a “cradle to grave” life cycle assessment (LCA) tool we calculated annual GHG emissions (CO2, CH4, N2O) in metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (MTCO2eq) to assess the impact on global warming potential (GWP) of each container system. Primary energy input data was used wherever possible and region-specific impact conversions used to calculate GWP of each activity over a 12-month period. Unit process GHG were collated into Manufacture, Transport, Washing, and Treatment & disposal. Emission totals were workload-normalized and analysed using CHI2 test with P ≤0.05 and rate ratios at 95% CL. Results. The hospital reduced its annual GWP by 168 MTCO2eq (-64.5%; p < 0.001), and annually eliminated 50.2 tonnes of plastic DSC and 8.1 tonnes of cardboard from the sharps waste stream. Of the plastic eliminated, 31.8 tonnes were diverted from landfill and 18.4 from incineration. Discussion. Unlike GHG reduction strategies dependent on changes in staff behaviour (waste segregation, recycling, turning off lights, car-pooling, etc), purchasing strategies can enable immediate, sustainable and institution-wide GHG reductions to be achieved. Medical waste containers contribute significantly to the supply chain carbon footprint and, although non-sharp medical waste volumes have decreased significantly with avid segregation, sharps wastes have increased, and can account for 50% of total medical waste volume. Thus converting from DSC to RSC can assist reduce the GWP footprint of the medical waste stream. This study confirmed that large transport distances between polymer manufacturer and container manufacturer; container manufacturer and user; and/or between user and processing facilities, can significantly impact the GWP of sharps containment systems. However, even with large transport distances, we found that a large university health system significantly reduced the GWP of their sharps waste stream by converting from DSC to RSC.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett McPherson ◽  
Mihray Sharip ◽  
Terry Grimmond

Background. Sustainable purchasing can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at healthcare facilities (HCF). A previous study found that converting from disposable to reusable sharps containers (DSC, RSC) reduced sharps waste stream GHG by 84% but, in finding transport distances impacted significantly on GHG outcomes, recommended further studies where transport distances are large. This case-study examines the impact on GHG of nation-wide transport distances when a large US health system converted from DSC to RSC. Methods. The study examined the alternate use of DSC and RSC at a large US university hospital where: the source of polymer was distant from the RSC manufacturing plant; both manufacturing plants were over 3,000 km from the HCF; and the RSC disposal plant was considerably further from the HCF than was the DSC disposal plant. Using a “cradle to grave” life cycle assessment (LCA) tool we calculated annual GHG emissions (CO2, CH4, N2O) in metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (MTCO2eq) to assess the impact on global warming potential (GWP) of each container system. Primary energy input data was used wherever possible and region-specific impact conversions used to calculate GWP of each activity over a 12-month period. Unit process GHG were collated into Manufacture, Transport, Washing, and Treatment & disposal. Emission totals were workload-normalized and analysed using CHI2 test with P ≤0.05 and rate ratios at 95% CL. Results. The hospital reduced its annual GWP by 168 MTCO2eq (-64.5%; p < 0.001), and annually eliminated 50.2 tonnes of plastic DSC and 8.1 tonnes of cardboard from the sharps waste stream. Of the plastic eliminated, 31.8 tonnes were diverted from landfill and 18.4 from incineration. Discussion. Unlike GHG reduction strategies dependent on changes in staff behaviour (waste segregation, recycling, turning off lights, car-pooling, etc), purchasing strategies can enable immediate, sustainable and institution-wide GHG reductions to be achieved. Medical waste containers contribute significantly to the supply chain carbon footprint and, although non-sharp medical waste volumes have decreased significantly with avid segregation, sharps wastes have increased, and can account for 50% of total medical waste volume. Thus converting from DSC to RSC can assist reduce the GWP footprint of the medical waste stream. This study confirmed that large transport distances between polymer manufacturer and container manufacturer; container manufacturer and user; and/or between user and processing facilities, can significantly impact the GWP of sharps containment systems. However, even with large transport distances, we found that a large university health system significantly reduced the GWP of their sharps waste stream by converting from DSC to RSC.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (181) ◽  
pp. 45-65
Author(s):  
Dmytro BRYK ◽  
Oleg GVOZDEVYCH ◽  
Lesya KULCHYTSKA-ZHYHAYLO ◽  
Myroslav PODOLSKYY

Ukraine has significant coal resources. Chervonohrad Mining and Industrial District is the main coal complex in the west of Ukraine. In recent years, the average annual coal production in the mines of Chervonohrad Mining and Industrial District has amounted to 1.5 bn t, coal ash varies over a wide range of 25 to 53 %, average coal ash content of about 40 %. Coal mining has produced millions of tons of coal waste every year. Concentration of technogeneous coal objects (mines, mining infrastructure, coal-mining waste dumps and wastes of coal enrichment) in a relatively small area has caused environmental degradation. Therefore, technological and environmental aspects of carbon-containing technogenic objects are particularly important and actual. Coal-waste dumps in the territory of Chervonohrad Mining and Industrial District are characterized in detail. The dumps cover different areas – from 9–10 to 29–30 ha, the height of the dumps reaches 62 m at the mostly heights of 25–40 m. The total waste deposit in the dumps of existing mines has a volume of more than 20 million m3. The coal wastes from Mezhyrichanskaya mine coal-waste dump was investigated to determine the suitability for thermochemical processing. Technical characteristics of taken coal-waster samples is presented. The technogenic carbonaceous objects and the impact to the environment are evaluated. The developed and patented technical and technological solutions for the technogenic carbonaceous objects using are considered. It is shown that the concept of industrial development of coal wastes dumps is based on two aspects – extraction of valuable mineral components and energy utilization of carbonaceous wastes of coal production. Its patented as Patents of Ukraine technological schemes for terrestrial process in of solid carbonaceous raw material from dumps and sludges with the production of coal tar and synthesis gas CO + H2 are presented, as well as the scheme of a system for utilization of heat from coal dump. Recommendations for the implementation of innovative technologies are based on the results of the laboratory research. The purpose of the resolution is to obtain valuable components and energy from coal wasters while improving the environment.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett McPherson ◽  
Mihray Sharip ◽  
Terry Grimmond

Background. Sustainable purchasing can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at healthcare facilities (HCF). A previous study found that converting from disposable to reusable sharps containers (DSC, RSC) reduced sharps waste stream GHG by 84% but, in finding transport distances impacted significantly on GHG outcomes, recommended further studies where transport distances are large. This case-study examines the impact on GHG of nation-wide transport distances when a large US health system converted from DSC to RSC. Methods. The study examined the alternate use of DSC and RSC at a large US university hospital where: the source of polymer was distant from the RSC manufacturing plant; both manufacturing plants were over 3,000 km from the HCF; and the RSC disposal plant was considerably further from the HCF than was the DSC disposal plant. Using a “cradle to grave” life cycle assessment (LCA) tool we calculated annual GHG emissions (CO2, CH4, N2O) in metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (MTCO2eq) to assess the impact on global warming potential (GWP) of each container system. Primary energy input data was used wherever possible and region-specific impact conversions used to calculate GWP of each activity over a 12-month period. Unit process GHG were collated into Manufacture, Transport, Washing, and Treatment & disposal. Emission totals were workload-normalized and analysed using CHI2 test with P ≤0.05 and rate ratios at 95% CL. Results. The hospital reduced its annual GWP by 168 MTCO2eq (-64.5%; p < 0.001), and annually eliminated 50.2 tonnes of plastic DSC and 8.1 tonnes of cardboard from the sharps waste stream. Of the plastic eliminated, 31.8 tonnes were diverted from landfill and 18.4 from incineration. Discussion. Unlike GHG reduction strategies dependent on changes in staff behaviour (waste segregation, recycling, turning off lights, car-pooling, etc), purchasing strategies can enable immediate, sustainable and institution-wide GHG reductions to be achieved. Medical waste containers contribute significantly to the supply chain carbon footprint and, although non-sharp medical waste volumes have decreased significantly with avid segregation, sharps wastes have increased, and can account for 50% of total medical waste volume. Thus converting from DSC to RSC can assist reduce the GWP footprint of the medical waste stream. This study confirmed that large transport distances between polymer manufacturer and container manufacturer; container manufacturer and user; and/or between user and processing facilities, can significantly impact the GWP of sharps containment systems. However, even with large transport distances, we found that a large university health system significantly reduced the GWP of their sharps waste stream by converting from DSC to RSC.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 2866-2868
Author(s):  
Andino Maseleno ◽  
Wahidah Hashim ◽  
Alicia Y. C. Tang ◽  
Moamin A. Mahmoud ◽  
Marini Othman

Environmental destruction that is marked by high CO2 level or greenhouse gas emissions due to excessive use of fossil fuels is a serious challenge that must be minimized immediately. One of the most prominent impact is the destruction of natural ecosystems such as forest fires due to very high temperature, rising sea level, flash flood, melting of iceberg in the north and south poles and uncertain natural climates. From the energy sector that contribute most to global warming is the power generation sector. Currently there are still many power plants that use fossil fuels such as petroleum and coal as the main source of turbine drive in generating electrical energy. The burning results certainly produce CO2 gas that contributes to increase levels of global warming. In response to the crucial issue, developed countries make an effort to reduce the impact of greenhouse gases by conducting research and utilization of renewable energy as an environmentally friendly source of energy such as wind energy and solar energy. Renewable energy is capable of generating electrical energy without generating and increasing greenhouse gases. Current renewable energy utilization trends continue to increase which contributes to the birth of the smart grid concept. So the introduction of smart grid technology is a necessity to reduce the impact of global warming while encouraging efficiency, reliability and effective governance in the supply of electrical energy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-112
Author(s):  
Elena Esposito ◽  
Scott F. Abramson

AbstractIn this paper we examine the impact of natural resource wealth by focusing on historical coal-mining across European regions. As an exogenous source of variation in coal extraction activities, we rely on the presence of coal-deposits located on the earth’s surface, which historically facilitated the discovery and extraction of coal. Our results show that former coal-mining regions are substantially poorer, with (at least) 10% smaller per-capita GDP than comparable regions in the same country that did not mine coal. We provide evidence that much of this lag is explained by lower levels of human capital accumulation and that this human-capital effect is concentrated in men. Finally, we provide suggestive evidence that the persistently lower levels of human capital in coal mining regions that we document result from the crystallization of negative attitudes towards education and lower future orientations in these regions.


Author(s):  
Yu Wang ◽  
Yu Xing ◽  
Xiongqing Yu ◽  
Shuai Zhang

Besides the influence of aircraft noise and emissions on the local air quality, the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on the global climate achieves more and more attention recently. The engine is very important for the noise and emission reductions, whereas the airframe and flight conditions have great effect on these items as well. This paper aims to study the effect of the airframe parameters and the flight conditions on the emissions during standardized landing and takeoff cycle, the total emitted greenhouse gas, the noise during approach, and the cost with the multidisciplinary analysis framework. The analysis displays that the cruise and the climb stages have the main effect on global warming potential with about 95%, and reducing the cruise altitude may result in a decrease of the global warming impact but an increase of direct operating cost. The flap with fewer gaps is better to be employed for the noise reduction. Meanwhile, a larger wing area is needed to make up for a loss of aerodynamic effect. The steeper approach could reduce both of the noise during approach and the emissions during landing and takeoff-cycle. Two types of configuration are achieved after optimization.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhengyuan Qin ◽  
Vivek Agarwal ◽  
David Gee ◽  
Stuart Marsh ◽  
Stephen Grebby ◽  
...  

Underground coal mining activities and ground movement are directly correlated, and coal mining-induced ground movement can cause damage to property and resources, thus its monitoring is essential for the safety and economics of a city. Fangezhuang coal mine is one of the largest coalfields in operation in Tangshan, China. The enormous amount of coal extraction has resulted in significant ground movement over the years. These phenomena have produced severe damages to the local infrastructure. This paper uses the finite difference method (FDM) 3D model and the stacking interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) method to monitor the ground movement in Fangezhuang coalfield during 2016. The FDM 3D model used calibrated Fangezhuang geological parameters and the satellite InSAR analysis involved the use of ascending C-band Sentinel-1A interferometric wide (IW) data for 2016. The results show that the most prominent subsidence signal occurs in mining panel 2553N and the area between panel 2553N and fault F0 with subsidence up to 57 cm. The subsidence observed for the FDM 3D model and stacking InSAR to monitor land deformation under the influence of fault are in close agreement and were verified using a two-sample t-test. It was observed that the maximum subsidence point shifted towards the fault location from the centre of the mining panel. The tectonic fault F0 was found to be reactivated by the coal mining and controls the spatial extent of the observed ground movement. The impact of dominant geological faults on local subsidence boundaries is investigated in details. It is concluded that ground movement in the study area was mainly induced by mining activities, with its spatial pattern being controlled by geological faults. These results highlight that the two methods are capable of measuring mining induced ground movement in fault dominated areas. The study will improve the understanding of subsidence control, and aid in developing preventive measures in Fangezhuang coalfield with fault reactivation.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1224
Author(s):  
Zheng Zheng ◽  
Dilei Chen ◽  
Tao Huang ◽  
Guopeng Zhang

As one of the major pieces of equipment in fully mechanized coal mining, the drum shearer plays a critical role in improving the efficiency and energy utilization in the coal mining production process. In this paper, an energy consumption model of a shearer, derived from the analysis of the cutting and traction resistances on the shearer during different processes within a working cycle, is established. Based on the derived model, control and coordination strategies between the two speeds are proposed to minimize the shearer’s energy consumption in unidirectional mining. The case study of a real coal mine shows that the proposed models are valid, and the optimal control of shearer speeds can effectively reduce the energy consumption by 5.16% in a working cycle. To gain further insights into the impact of traction speed and drum rotational speed on the shearer’s energy consumption, several speed coordination cases are employed to further compare with the optimized one. Our study results show that the energy consumption of a shearer can be decreased with the increase of traction speed while decreasing drum rotational speed in coordination.


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