Lignite Processing Systems

Lignite Processing Systems

Lignite, which is also known as brown coal, is a soft, brown, combustible, sedimentary rock formed from naturally compressed peat. It is the lowest rank of coal because of its low heat content. Lignite carbon content is around 60 to 70 percent. It is mined all around the world, and is primarily used as a fuel source for steam-electric power generation.

Lignite has a high content of volatile matter. This makes it easier to convert into gas and liquid petroleum products at a faster rate than most high-ranking coals. On the flip side, lignite’s high moisture content makes it vulnerable to spontaneous combustion. This causes issues when it comes to transportation and storage. The most effective way of to remove excess moisture from lignite will help to lower the risk of spontaneous combustion to that of the more commonly known black coal. Unfortunately, this increases the price of the final lignite fuel.

It is because of lignite’s high moisture content as well as low energy density that makes it inadequate to transport and thus it is not traded extensively on the world market as opposed to higher grade coal. It is frequently burned in power stations near mines. Lignite also has higher carbon dioxide emissions, which cause numerous environmental concerns.

In 2014, nearly 12 percent of Germany’s energy and 27 percent of Germany’s electricity came from lignite power plants. In Greece, about half of their energy needs were met from lignite power plants.

Even though there are concerns about the environmental impact that burning lignite can have, there are still environmentally beneficial uses that it can be applied to. It has been discovered that lignite can help with the biological control of microbes that suppresses plant disease causing microbes. The carbon found in lignite helps to enrich the organic matter in the soil while the biological control microbes provide an alternative to chemical pesticides.

Lignite can benefit from material handling and size reducing. The ONIX Corporation’s processing systems can handle numerous materials and co-products that you may not know what to do with or want a better more effective way to process. We have the ability to work with materials such as, but not limited to, apple pomace, citrus pomace, sludge, alfalfa, bagasse, coffee grounds, sawdust, lignite and much more. Our equipment is engineered to fit your specific needs. If you feel that The ONIX Corporation may be of assistance to you, please don’t hesitate to research more about our alternative fuel systems, including rotary drum dryers and material handling solutions. Whether you’re looking for a new solution to process lignite or something else, it never hurts to give us a call to learn more.