Coal Mine Methane

CMM is extracted from a coal mine for safety reasons.

CMM is a difficult fuel to utilise for the following reasons:

• High dust and dirt loading
• High condensed water loading
• Slightly acidic/corrosive properties
• Fluctuating calorific value (methane concentration) due to mining activties
• Fluctuating delivery pressure

Coal Mine Methane Utilisation:

• In 1991 the world's first CMM to power plant using Gas Turbine prime movers was constucted at Harworth Colliery, UK.

• Since 2001 a comprehensive programme to install lean gas burn gas generators on UK coal mines was undertaken, these generators sets achieved:
  • Operation on methane concentration down to 27%
  • Operational availability in excess of 85%
  • Electrical production of over 600 GW.hrs from 2001-2008

Coal Mine Methane World Firsts:

Engineers from Harworth Energy have innovated in several world first achievements including:

• First authors worldwide of the methodology for abatement of CMM for carbon credits in 2000 as part of the UK ETS
• First developers of projects worldwide to mitigate CMM for carbon credits (>2,000,000 tCO2e between 2001 and 2006)
• FIrst design, installation and operation of enclosed flares for destruction of CMM at an operating mine for carbon credits in 2003
• First use worldwide of thermal oxidiser technology for use on VAM at an operating coal mine in 1994