Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel in the United States. The origin goes back 300 million years ago. Coal is a combustible, black or brownish sedimentary rock which is composed mainly of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. There are four basic types which can be distinguished: lignite, subbituminous, bituminous and anthracite.In the United States all of these types occur.
Regarding the coal ranks, bituminous is mined mostly in the East and the Midwest, subbituminous is mined only in the western states, lignite in the Gulf Coast and North Dakota and anthracite in small quantities in Pennsylvania. Coal mining industry development promotes improvement of coal mining equipment in America.
Coal has been an energy source since 100 years ago in the United States. It helped to provide many basic needs like transportation for people and heating. Coal production grew permanently from the colonial period and has a long tradition.
In recent years about 90 % of coal production in the United States has been consumed at domestic electric power plants. Because of secure, abundantdomestic reserves and relatively low prices coal use grew. Mine productivity has increased because of the demand and so larger and larger mines accrued. Also larger, efficient mining machinery are used, technology and control systems advanced. Today the United States are the second largest global consumer of coal after China.
Coal is generally mined by two methods: surfacing or opencast mining and underground mining methods.The choice of mining method is mainlydetermined by the properties of the coal deposit.Underground mining currently accounts forabout 60% of world coal production; althoughin some large coal producing countriessurface mining is more common. Surfacemining accounts for about 80% of productionin Australia,but it is used forabout 67% of coal exploitationproductionin the USA.
There are two main methods of undergroundmining: room-and-pillar and long wall mining.The choice of mining technique is site specificbut always based on economic considerations;differences even within a single mine can leadto both methods being used.Many different types of mining machinery involved in the mining operation.
Surface mining – also known as opencast oropen cut mining – is only economic when thecoal seam is near the surface. This methodrecovers a higher proportion of the coaldeposit than underground mining as all coalseams are exploited – 90% or more of the coalcan be recovered.
Almost all coal produced in the U.S. is used to make electricity. It also plays a key role in industries such as steel, cement and paper.Production dropped in recently years as utilities made less electricity in general and from coal in particular.Coal will remain the dominate source of fuel for electricity generation through 2035 even as renewable energy from wind and solar along with natural gas gain ground.
Coal mining industry development requires new mining technology and advanced mining equipment in America. SBM has been specialized in mining technology for long history. We developed complete range of coal mining plant for sale in America, such as including coal extraction plant, coal crushing machine, coal grinding mill, screening plant, washing machine, coal handling equipment, coal processing plant etc.
Crushing is one of the processing stages in coal exploitation operation. Various types of crusher plants are available for coal processing. SBM is global supplier and manufacturer of crushing, grinding, screening and processing equipment. The coal crushing plant for sale includes jaw crusher, gyratory crusher, impact crusher, cone crusher, VSI crusher, mobile crusher etc. Coal crushing production line can be customized for primary, secondary or tertiary crushing. We also provide professional consulting service about coal crushing plant design, installation, operation and maintenance. Please contact us for detailed information.
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