RSS Feeds

Earth Science

Space Science

Life Science

Fields of Scientific Study

Nanotechnology

Cancer

Definitions of The Fields of Scientific Study

Environmental protection - using mine gas

March 09, 2000

The gigantic system of tunnels created by the extensive mining of coal beneath the Ruhr area in recent centuries not only leads to subsidence (as in the dramatic incident in Wattenscheid early this year). At certain times and in particular locations, up to 1000 cubic meters of mine gas per hour can escape into the atmosphere from the disused mines - a mixture of methane, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT in Oberhausen have addressed the task of finding uses for this natural source of energy. Two pilot power stations in Herne and Lünen are now in operation, and without any problems. Suction apparatus extracts the gas from old mine shafts, feeding it to a unit-type cogenerating station which converts it into electricity and heat. Combustion of the methane substantially reduces the formation of harmful carbon dioxide, thereby greatly alleviating the burden on the environment.

If the gas from all the disused mines in the Ruhr area could be used in this way, an estimated 120 million cubic meters of methane would be available per year, corresponding to 1.2 billion kWh of power. This would suffice to supply 66,500 households with power. "The use of mine gas," explains Clemens Backhaus of UMSICHT, "could never be a substitute for coal-fired power stations, which deliver 800 megawatts of power. But in the Ruhr area alone, around 50 megawatts of clean energy could certainly be used." The two pilot plants in Herne and Lünen presently generate 500 and 370 kilowatts respectively, and the facility in Herne is being extended to deliver 1.5 megawatts. Moreover, this form of environmentally sound power generation is of global interest; not only Germany has coal mines no longer in operation. In China alone, experts estimate the total annual emission of mine gas at 20 billion cubic meters.

For further information:
Dipl.-Ing. Clemens Backhaus
Phone: +49 2 08/85 98-1 88
Fax: +49 2 08/85 98-2 90
E-Mail: ba@umsicht.fhg.de
Fraunhofer-Institut für
Umwelt-, Sicherheits- und
Energietechnik UMSICHT
Osterfelder StraÃŸe 3
46047 Oberhausen
Press contact:
Achim Loewen
Telefon +49 2 08/85 98-1 42
Telefax +49 2 08/85 98-2 90
E-Mail: loe@umsicht.fhg.de
www.umsicht.fhg.de

picture caption:
Combined heat and power (CHP) systems can convert mine gas into electricity and heat.
the picture can be ordered via email: koch@zv.fhg.de

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

Related Methane Current Events and Methane News Articles

Methane Current Events and Methane News RSS

Beyond sunlight: Explorers census 17,650 ocean species between edge of darkness and black abyss
Census of Marine Life scientists have inventoried an astonishing abundance, diversity and distribution of deep sea species that have never known sunlight - creatures that somehow manage a living in a frigid black world down to 5,000 meters (~3 miles) below the ocean waves.

Energy-saving powder
It is currently estimated that natural gas resources will be exhausted in 130 years; however, those reserves where extraction is cost-effective will only flow for another 60 years or so.

Health care accounts for 8 percent of US carbon footprint
The American health care sector accounts for nearly a tenth of the country's carbon dioxide emissions, according to a first-of-its-kind calculation of health care's carbon footprint.

Interactions with aerosols boost warming potential of some gases
For decades, climate scientists have worked to identify and measure key substances -- notably greenhouse gases and aerosol particles -- that affect Earth's climate.

Report examines hidden costs of energy production and use
A new report from the National Research Council examines and, when possible, estimates "hidden" costs of energy production and use -- such as the damage air pollution imposes on human health -- that are not reflected in market prices of coal, oil, other energy sources, or the electricity and gasoline produced from them.

Caltech researchers reveal unexpected sources of nitrogen fixation
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have identified an unexpected metabolic ability within a symbiotic community of microorganisms that may help solve a lingering mystery about the world's nitrogen-cycling budget.

Arctic land and seas account for up to 25 percent of world's carbon sink
In a new study in the journal Ecological Monographs, ecologists estimate that Arctic lands and oceans are responsible for up to 25 percent of the global net sink of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Coal-mining hazard resembles explosive volcanic eruption, study shows
Worldwide, thousands of workers die every year from mining accidents, and instantaneous coal outbursts in underground mines are among the major killers. But although scientists have been investigating coal outbursts for more than 150 years, the precise mechanism is still unknown.

Mystery Solved: Marine Microbe Is Source of Rare Nutrient
A new study of microscopic marine microbes, called phytoplankton, by researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the University of South Carolina has solved a ten-year-old mystery about the source of an essential nutrient in the ocean.

Denver to Barcelona: Global cities and greenhouse gas emissions
Denver released the largest amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) and Barcelona the smallest amount in a new study documenting how differences in climate, population density and other factors affect GHG emissions in global cities.

More Methane Current Events and Methane News Articles

	Methane Generation from Human, Animal, and Agricultural Wastes by National Academy of Sciences (Author) This book deals with the need for alternative energy supplies. Our fossil fuel reserves will eventually be exhausted. Moreover, these reserves are unequally distributed and are becoming too costly for many countries that must purchase them. In addition, the cost of transportation may sharply limit the use of fossil fuels in the rural areas of many developing countries. And, as recent events have shown, the cost – and the availability – of these fuels is determined less by market forces than by the decision of the producing nations. This report is devoted to the development of an alternative energy resource suitable for individual or village use in a rural environment. An ideal resource is one that is local in origin and can produce energy useful for this purpose depending only...
	Cardiovascular Research - Dim-Sum (Di-Indole Methane), 50mg, 60 capsules by Cardiovascular Research
	Stone Temple Pilots 2008 Concert Poster by Methane Studios
	SafetySiren Family Safety Combustible Gas (Propane Methane) Detector by SafetySiren Detects dangerous levels of Methane and Propane gas. Computerized calibration helps eliminate false alarms. Built-in self-diagnostics assures the unit is operating properly. Easily plugs into any standard 110-120v AC electrical outlet and samples the air every 2-1/2 minutes. UL 1484 Certified. Lock tab feature makes the detector tamper proof. Advanced surface mount circuitry increases reliability. Powerful 85dB Alarm. 5 year warranty.
	Oakley Men's Methane 2 Sandal,New Khaki,10 M US by Oakley Blow away the competition with the sporty Methane 2 sandals from Oakley. Premium leather upper in a casual flip-flop sandal style with a round open toe. Flexible nylon fabric toe thong post. Leather instep straps with inset fabric and RED CODE(TM) technology for the comfortable feel of an athletic shoe. Fabric lining, contoured footbed. Shock-absorbing EVA midsole, rubber traction outsole.
	21st Century Essential Guide to Methane and Biogas: Landfill Methane and Manure for Energy, AgStar Program, Recovery and Mitigation, Greenhouse Gas Emissions ... Biofuels, Bioenergy, and Biobased Products by World Spaceflight News (Author) This up-to-date electronic book on CD-ROM contains a great collection of documents and publications from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on methane and biogas, greenhouse gas emissions and sources, and related topics, including the AgStar Program, the use of agricultural material and manure for methane and biogas production, methane recovery and emission mitigation, carbon cycle science, black carbon, carbon sequestration in agriculture and forestry. This is part of our comprehensive series of discs and ringbound documents on renewable energy, biofuels, bioenergy, and biobased products. This incredible CD-ROM has nearly 9,000 pages reproduced using Adobe Acrobat PDF software - allowing direct...
	History -- Mega Disasters: Methane Explosion Also With: Creative Differences (Producer) The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history was caused by a gigantic eruption of methane gas from deep in the oceans 250 million years ago. That's the theory of a Northwestern University scientist, who says similar, if smaller, disasters have occurred This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.
	Cud Chewing Cows - Volume One - "Udderly Content" (Special Edition) [CD on Demand] by Cud Chewing Cows Somewhere on Earth, where Classical Music, Jazz, Blues, Rock and Folk meet in the middle of some universal musical nexus to combine and fuse to create a unique sound, there's a group that has taken shape in the form of Cud Chewing Cows. Bovine Bob is a classically trained musician with a down-home flair for feel-good-music. When Bo, as his friends call him, met Jim Jersey, they decided to make a band which became complete with the arrivals of Harry Hereford, Henry Holstein and Big Bobby Brown-Swiss collectively known as the Cud Chewing Cows (3C or CCC). The music's Jazz and Blues influences, blended with instruments from around the world, creates a Rock-Folk blend which exudes happiness and contentment. 3C (or CCC), has recently gained notoriety and has become a spiritual...
	Andrew Bird Concert Poster by Methane Studios by Methane Studios
	Methane (Lateral View) T-shirt by SHOPZEUS Our standard t-shirts are made of 100% cotton and preshrunk (ultra cotton heavyweight). We typically use Gildan Activewear but at times may substitute with other brand name t-shirts. We carry thousands of t-shirts with sayings. To view additional t-shirts please visit our storefront on Amazon (Shopzeus.com) and search for t-shirt.