D
dvdjs
Guest
In the context of emission of acid rain related sulfur oxides, some coal can be clean.
But not in the context of carbon dioxide emissions.
- Status
But not in the context of carbon dioxide emissions.
E
Ender
Guest
I burned coal for years when I lived in upstate New York; it was in every way preferable to the wood burning stoves many of my friends used, and a good bit less polluting. It was so effective I had to put anti-freeze in the water line to keep my baseboard heaters from freezing up where the pipes went under the house because my furnace so rarely came on. There was a big rush to auxiliary heaters when the price of oil shot up. This would surely happen again if the cost or availability of oil or electricity became questionable.
Speaking of “renewable” energy, coal is not on that list but wood is. It is also quite a bit more polluting, but it is readily available and if reliable energy is not, people will return to burning wood. Hardly a step forward.
LeafByNiggle
Well-known member
That’s because wood is renewable while coal is not.
It is easy to argue against wood when no one is arguing for it.
E
Ender
Guest
Except that Europe is replacing coal generators with wood. But it works out for them - there are plenty of old growth forests in Eastern Europe to supply it. Ah, progress.
M
MonteRCMS
Guest
Good friend of mine built his retirement home and uses coal for heat.
T
tomarin
Guest
But doesn’t coal release poisonous gases when it’s burned? That’s what I seem to recall from reading a book about it years ago.
M
MonteRCMS
Guest
To paraphrase: “take your lips off the exhaust pipe”.
[“poisonous gases”? We used it for hundreds of years … and still do.]
T
tomarin
Guest
So it does then?
Last edited:
M
MonteRCMS
Guest
OK … now … what are those “poisonous gases”.
No joke.
Please name those “poisonous gases”.
No joke.
Please name those “poisonous gases”.
T
tomarin
Guest
I would if I knew. As I said I read a book about coal years ago that I seem to remember made that claim. This is why I asked the question.
M
MonteRCMS
Guest
T
tomarin
Guest
Why not simply answer my question in a straightforward way? My level of interest in this topic is not high enough to do the research that you suggest, at least not right now.
Last edited:
M
MonteRCMS
Guest
Products of combustion.
We will now look at six products of combustion :
- Carbon Dioxide.
- Carbon Monoxide.
- Sulfur Dioxide.
- Nitrogen Oxides.
- Lead.
- Particulate Matter.
Some toxic constituents that are found in coal ash are arsenic, boron, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, mercury, molybdenum, selenium, thallium and uranium.
Concentration matters as well.
But are they “poisonous”?
Does the concentration matter?
Do other fuels have “poisonous” products of combustion?
https://www.boltinsurance.com/types-of-wood-you-should-not-burn-in-your-fireplace/
https://www.pinedalegas.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76&Itemid=493
Oil: http://www.delavaninc.com/pdf/combustion_of_fuel_oil.pdf … but it depends on how it is refined.
Last edited:
T
Theo520
Guest
So the main risk for home use would be Carbon Monoxide, if it didn’t burn properly and wasn’t correctly vented.
M
MonteRCMS
Guest
Are there any heating fuels that do not release poisons?
Yes.
Electricity.
But it depends on how the electricity is generated.
Last edited:
T
tomarin
Guest
I also seem to remember the same book claiming that cities in the industrializing world in the 18th and 19th centuries which were burning coal in homes and factories and so forth had really dirty air, which would sicken the residents of those cities and require them to leave periodically for the good of their lungs, if they could afford to do so.
Last edited:
T
tomarin
Guest
Yes, if you get electricity from a coal burning plant you’re still polluting the air. Thanks for the links posted above, incidentally.
Last edited:
M
MonteRCMS
Guest
Prior to the 18th century, what did they burn for heat?
T
tomarin
Guest
Wood, peat, not really sure.
T
Theo520
Guest
Centuries back, they were very low tech in how they burned coal or wood, which increases the CO and particulate.
But yes, if we reverted back to home coal burners, even if modern, there would be a significant decrease in air quality. We’ve seen that in areas that burn a lot of wood in the winter. Much better for a large coal generator to burn the coal since they are very good at scrubbing the exhaust.
- Status