PHYSORG.COM reported today that Lehigh University researchers have developed a cost-effective technique for reducing mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. The reductions were reportedly achieved by modifying the physical conditions of power-plant boilers, including flue gas temperature, the size of the coal particles that are burned, the size and unburned carbon level of the fly ash, and the fly ash residence time. The modifications promote the in-flight capture of mercury. See "Boiler modifications cut mercury emissions."
In another article they reported that researchers at the University of Wisconsin had developed tiny lithium ion batteries with a lifetime of 12 years for use in implantable medical applications. Using organosilicon compounds, the team has developed a generation of rechargeable lithium ion batteries with lifetimes more than twice as long as current medical device batteries. See "New battery technology power for 12 years."
I think I'm getting more optimistic about clean coal as time goes by.
I actually did work as a sub-contractor for coal power companies at one point. I helped install stack emissions monitering equipment. The feedback I got from the working engineers was that they were happy to create and run emssion control systems. At the same time they knew their companies always had to be "forced" into it.
So let's force them, and make them happy ;-)
Posted by: odograph | October 05, 2005 at 12:06 PM