Transforming Coal Mine Gas from Liability to Asset
Electric Power Solutions Bring Reliability and Safety to the Mine Site
Electricity is essential in modern mining — from elevator shafts, to crushers, and camp loads — and more operators are turning to electric power for these solutions, as well as their other heavy equipment and vehicles. Enerflex’s mining solutions are based on clean, reliable, high-efficiency natural gas and LNG-fueled reciprocating engines, and can be paired with other renewable sources such as hydro, wind, solar, and battery storage to provide a complete remote power solution.
Engines Made for Tough Mining Conditions
The danger of Coal Mine Gas (CMG) and methane emissions for miners can be greatly reduced when harnessed for power and heat generation because a reliable gas suction system is refurbished or installed. Gas engines with an installed capacity of more than 400 MW are already running on CMG worldwide. Enerflex is playing its part in changing the way the industry deals with CMG — by using it as fuel.
CMG is an explosive mixture of methane and air released during coal mining operations and must be safely vented. CMG’s volatility makes it complicated for use as a fuel, as it contains anything from 5% to 12% oxygen, and 25% to 60% methane. Enerflex has developed special gas mixing and engine control systems that enable safe and efficient use of this gas to a minimum CH4 concentration of only 25%.
Most underground mines, including those that have been abandoned, can have their CMG harvested to meet electricity demands onsite or monetized via the public power grid. Thermal energy can also be used for onsite heating or fed into a district heating system.
Beneficial Environmental Impact
Methane has a significant greenhouse gas impact — CH4 is 30 times more harmful than CO2 over 100 years. Capturing it and using it in gas engines prevents its direct release into the atmosphere. NOx yield is also low, thanks to dry low emissions combustors.
Coal Mine Gas to Power, Heat, and Fertilizer. Enerflex Delivers.
Enerflex in Action
- Northern Ontario, Canada
2,400 kW Power Generation for Mining Power Solution
Based on the field-proven Enerflex PWE1200D genset package, the solution was modified to include oversized generator ends, ultra-low roof peak, and low voltage MCC. The Enerflex PWE1200D unit produces 1,200 kW per genset for 2,400 kW total plant output, operating at 1,200 RPM at 4,160V.
Enerflex designed, fabricated, started-up, and commissioned the entire system, including two L7044 GSID Waukesha engines, two Kato generators, two Sutton Stromart coolers, Woodward Easygen full synchronization genset controls, and an automatic load bank.
Outcome
Enerflex’s high-specification mining power generation solution was purpose-built, and is easy to maintain even in the site’s harshest northern Canadian environment.