415978
Storyboard Text
- How is coal processed into electricity?
- coal is mined under the surface as well as above the surface. There are 5 steps in the production of coal-fired electricity generation. First, coal is mined from the ground by coal miners with giant machines. There are two methods of mining coal, surface mining and underground mining.
- Surface mining can be used when coal is less than 60m underground; underground mining is used to dig out coal buried extremely deep into the earth. Some mines can be up to 304m deep. once the coal is out of the ground it goes onto a conveyor belt to a preparation plant which is located at the mining site.
- The electricity is transported along transmission and distribution power lines, through a sophisticated, connected grid, to your home and workplace.
- Coal fired electricity generation is a five step process. Firstly, the thermal coal which has been crushed into a fine powder is burned. The heat is then used to warm the water into steam. the steam, at extreme pressure is then used to spin a turbine that is connected to an electrical generator. The spinning turbine allows large magnets to turn within copper wire coils. The moving magnets cause electrons in the wires to move from one place to another, generating an electrical current and producing electricity.
- about 92% of coal is used to generate electricity. Though we use coal for many products such as electricity, it is not the most efficient form of energy. Coal pollutes the earth when it is burned. it emits carbon dioxide and sulfur.
Over 30 Million Storyboards Created