how does burning coal generate electricity

Best answer


In IGCC systems,coal is not combusted directly but reacted with oxygen and steam to produce a 鈥榮yngas鈥?composed mainly of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. This syngas is then cleaned of impurities and burnt in agas turbineto generate electricity and to produce steam for a steam power cycle.

People also ask


  • How is electricity produced from coal?

  • Much of the electricity produced in the United States and the world comes from the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal. Read on to understand how the process works. Georgia Power’s Plant Scherer is one of the largest coal-fired thermoelectric power-production facilities in the United States.

  • What is the use of coal in power plant?

  • The electricity generated from coal by a power station is used for different purposes. The coal produced from ancient plant material makes it the best for producing electricity.

  • Why do we burn fossil fuels to generate electricity?

  • We burn, or combust, fossil fuels to generate electricity. The term for burning matter to generate electrical energy is thermal generation. Electricity isn鈥檛 produced from the combustion itself. The burning of coal or oil heats giant boilers filled with water. This transforms liquid water into steam.

  • How is coal burned in a coal boiler?

  • In order to increase the overall surface area of the coal, it is ground into a fine, powder-like material, enabling it to burn in a more efficient manner. The powder is then mixed with hot air and blown into the combustion chamber (or firebox) of a boiler where the coal/air mixture is burned at high temperatures.

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