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Sub-bituminous coal is a lower grade of coal that contains 35–45% carbon. The properties of this type are between those of lignite, the lowest grade of coal, and those of bituminous coal, the second-highest grade of coal. Sub-bituminous coal is primarily used as a fuel for steam-electric power generation.

Properties

Sub-bituminous coals may be dull, dark brown to black, soft and crumbly at the lower end of the range, to bright jet-black, hard, and relatively strong at the upper end. They contain 15-30% inherent moisture by weight and are non-coking (undergo little swelling upon heating). The heat content of sub-bituminous coals range from 8300 to 11,500 BTu/lb or 19.3 to 26.7 MJ/kg. Their relatively low density and high water content renders some types of sub-bituminous coals susceptible to spontaneous combustion if not packed densely during storage in order to exclude free air flow.

Reserves

A major source of sub-bituminous coal in the United States is the Powder River Basin in Wyoming.

Application

Sub-bituminous coals, in the United States, typically have a sulfur content less than 1% by weight, which makes them an attractive choice for power plants to reduce SO₂ emissions under the Acid Rain Program.

Sub-bituminous coals release large quantities of greenhouse gases when burned, compared to higher grades of coal.

See also

• Types of Coal
• Greenhouse gas emissions#Carbon dioxide (CO2)
• Anthracite
• Bituminous coal
• Lignite
• Coal mining
• Coal mining in the United States
• Coal-fired power station

References

1. "Coal explained". Energy Information Administration. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
2. The Babcock & Wilcox Company (2005). Steam: its generation and use. The Babcock & Wilcox Company. pp. 36–5. ISBN 0-9634570-1-2.
3. Bond, Jordan (14 July 2021). "NZ imported more than a million tonnes of 'dirty' coal last year". RNZ. Retrieved 24 September 2023.

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Note: Peat is considered a precursor to coal. Graphite is only technically considered a coal type.

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