The problem of environmental pollution is one of the main problems of modern society and governments of different countries try to cope with this problem by providing more and more techniques which are aimed to reduce the environmental pollution but to remain effective for the whole society. Industrial pollution is one of the main sources of pollution in the modern world, and to do something with it a new innovative technique of the work with coal was invented, coal gasification. The new techniques make it possible for coal gasification to become a feasible way to convert coal into a more valuable product.
The problem of searching for new ways and technologies appeared many years ago when scientists have calculated that the expenses for electricity will grow from year to year and the solution to this problem should be searched. From the point of view of the new information, the coal-fired power plants will play one of the most important roles in the “reconstructed electricity markets of the future” (Spence 190). There is the confidence that coal-fired power plants will produce power with fewer emissions what is one of the main arguments in the support of this new technique. Furthermore, the transformation of coal into fuel gas will make it possible to emit less scope of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide (Spence 201).
There are a lot of technologies that are going to make the end product coal gas as it not just helps to protect the environment but also is cheaper and more effective from the point of view of utility and consumption. Considering the process and the reasons for the effectiveness of coal gasification, it is possible to mention that burning coal directly is a rather dirty procedure, which leaves a lot of ash behind. Coal gasification is a thermochemical process, which aims is to break the coal into its basic chemical constituents which is the wasteless manufacture (Gasification Technology R&D par. 3).
Taking the information from the U.S. Department of Energy, it is possible to understand the procedure of coal gasification. The coal is put in the special gasifier, where “coal is typically exposed to steam and carefully controlled amounts of air or oxygen under high temperatures and pressures” (Gasification Technology R&D par. 4). The conditions are such that the great temperature makes it possible for the components of the coal to break apart on its initial chemical components, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and other gaseous compounds (Gasification Technology R&D par. 4).
Dwelling upon the benefits of the new technology, it is significant to say that the environment protection and the cheap way of production are not the main points of the improvements. The other reason to consider this innovation as beneficial is that one product (coal gas) is used twice, the so-called “combined cycle” (Gasification Technology R&D par. 10). The main idea of this combined cycle is that the one portion of gas makes it provide two actions, which is the main reason for the economy. The coal gas is generated for electricity use, and the heat which is emitted during this procedure may be used in the steam turbine generation (Gasification Technology R&D par. 10).
The discussed technology is the invention of the United States of America. The problem was offered by George W. Bush in 2003 and was discussed by the new government but further actions are not provided. Easterbrook (2009) says that the technique is rather effective but it seems that further actions are not hurried to be provided. The project named FutureGen was on the studying level for five years, but the building of the improved coal-fired plants are not started yet. The author of the article tells about some benefits from the dragging out of the new technique implementation in life. The last rhetorical question of the author of the article is “Which seems more forward-thinking: do nothing and wait for FutureGen while coal-caused carbon emissions continue unabated; or start building improved coal-fired plants that reduce the problem?” (Easterbrook par. 14).
So, the new innovations are very important in modern life as they help the population to improve the life conditions and to reduce to a minimum the greenhouse effect which is the main environmental problem of the modern society. The building of the improved coal-fired plants is they out as it has not only the environmental benefits (the air pollution will be reduced to minimum thanks to the limitation emissions), but also the economical benefits, which first of all, will reduce the costs of the electricity invention and the very procedure of the coal gasification gives the opportunity use the heat which is produced by the gasifier. The conclusion is obvious, the faster the new innovation will be implemented in the people’s life, the faster people will be able to feel delight from the invention.
Works Cited
Easterbrook, Gregg. “The Dirty War Against Clean Coal.” The New York Times. 2009.
Gasification Technology R&D. Retrieved online from U.S. Department of Energy
Spence, David B. “Coal-Fired Power in a Restructured Electricity Market.” Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum 15.2 (2005).