1. Furnace/Burner Boiler High Pressure Steam Turbine Generator Electricity Cooler/Condenser Steam Ash and Smoke Coal is burned in a large Furnace/Burner to produce heat. Heat boils water in a Boiler and produces high pressure steam Steam travels to the Turbine and spins it very fast. The Turbine is connected to a Generator which spins to produce electricity. The Steam is sent from the Turbine to a Condenser which cools the steam and turns it back into water. This water is then returned to the boiler to start the process over. Coal Fired Generating Station Ash and Smoke are produced by the furnace. Steam is released from the Condenser.

2. Energy System Diagram Chemical (Coal) Thermal (Steam) Mechanical (Steam Pressure) Mechanical (Spinning Turbine) Mechanical (Spinning Generator) Electrical Chemical (Smoke/Ash) Thermal (Waste Heat) Thermal (Waste Steam) Key Transformation Transfer Waste A Coal-fired generating station converts chemical energy in coal into electricity. This is called a Thermal Generating Station because heat is used to produce steam which turns a Turbine and Generator. Thermal energy is wasted in the process along with the chemical energy stored in ash and smoke

3. AdvantagesDisadvantages Coal is abundant in most parts of the world (especially China) and is inexpensive. Burning coal releases a lot of air pollution that contributes to urban smog, global warming and acid rain. Coal-fired generating stations are easy to build and operate. Coal mining is hazardous and destroys large natural areas.

4. The Future of Coal. Coal is cheap and easy to use for generating electricity. It has been widely used in most parts of the world including the USA and China. However, because it can have such a harmful effect on the environment, many countries plan to shut down many of their coal plants and use more renewable sources of energy that do not pollute the atmosphere as much. The air we breathe here in Beijing is heavily polluted from industry that uses coal as a fuel source. Finding cleaner energy sources than coal to meet our energy needs is very important if we are to have a healthy future. Therefore, I don’t think that a coal-fired generating facility is the best choice to meet the needs of a growing city in the future.