Coal Mines

The Ener-Core Powerstation is designed for fuel flexibility and beneficial use of different sources of coal mine methane:

VENTILATION AIR METHANE

To ensure mine safety, fresh air is circulated through underground coal mines using ventilation systems to dilute in-mine concentrations of methane to levels well below explosive levels. Typically, methane concentration in ventilation air is below 2 percent.  The Ener-Core Powerstation is designed to convert such previously-vented gas into useful energy.

CLOSED/ABANDONED MINE METHANE

Even though a mine is no longer active, closed mines still produce significant methane emissions. Such emissions are a potent contributor to global warming.  The Ener-Core Powerstation is designed to convert such previously-vented gas into useful energy.

The Ener-Core Powerstation is Designed to Provide Several Advantages for Coal Mines:

  • Engineered to operate on gas with as little as 1.5% methane, the Ener-Core Powerstation is designed to enable electricity generation where previously impossible, while simultaneously disposing a problem gas.
  • In coal mine projects, gas is introduced into the Ener-Core Powerstation air inlet at low pressure, which minimizes the overall system parasitic loads and optimizes capital cost since high pressure compression and associated fuel conditioning is not required. (Simpler water knockout is needed instead.)
  • The system is designed to produce NOx exhaust emissions of below 1 ppmv and while avoiding methane release into the atmosphere.
  • The Ener-Core Powerstation is designed to be a simpler, pre-engineered system compared to power generating alternatives, such as using thermal oxidizers to to run a steam turbine. The Ener-Core Powerstation is designed to generate electricity directly without the complex design, operation, and costs associated with a steam turbine.

Please contact Ener-Core to discuss your coal mine methane project today.