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Ronald H. Affolter

Publications and source records attributed to Ronald H. Affolter.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2013

Partitioning of selected trace elements in coal combustion products from two coal-burning power plants in the United States

Samples of feed coal (FC), bottom ash (BA), economizer fly ash (EFA), and fly ash (FA) were collected from power plants in the Central Appalachian basin and Colorado Plateau to determine the partitioning of As, Cr, Hg, Pb, and Se in coal combustion products (CCPs). The Appalachian plant burns a high-sulfur (about 3.9 wt.%) bituminous coal from the Upper Pennsylvanian Pittsburgh coal bed and operates with electrostatic precipitators (ESPs), with flue gas temperatures of about 163 °C in the ESPs. At this plant, As, Pb, Hg, and Se have the greatest median concentrations in FA samples, compared to BA and EFA. A mass balance (not including the FGD process) suggests that the following percentages of trace elements are captured in FA: As (48%), Cr (58%), Pb (54%), Se (20%), and Hg (2%). The relatively high temperatures of the flue gas in the ESPs and low amounts of unburned C in FA (0.5% loss-on-ignition for FA) may have led to the low amount of Hg captured in FA. The Colorado Plateau plant burns a blend of three low-S (about 0.74 wt.%) bituminous coals from the Upper Cretaceous Fruitland Formation and operates with fabric filters (FFs). Flue gas temperatures in the baghouses are about 104 °C. The elements As, Cr, Pb, Hg, and Se have the greatest median concentrations in the fine-grained fly ash product (FAP) produced by cyclone separators, compared to the other CCPs at this plant. The median concentration of Hg in FA (0.0983 ppm) at the Colorado Plateau plant is significantly higher than that for the Appalachian plant (0.0315 ppm); this higher concentration is related to the efficiency of FFs in Hg capture, the relatively low temperatures of flue gas in the baghouses (particularly in downstream compartments), and the amount of unburned C in FA (0.29% loss-on-ignition for FA).

International Journal of Coal Geology↗
USGS2011

Geochemical database of feed coal and coal combustion products (CCPs) from five power plants in the United States

The principal mission of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Energy Resources Program (ERP) is to (1) understand the processes critical to the formation, accumulation, occurrence, and alteration of geologically based energy resources; (2) conduct scientifically robust assessments of those resources; and (3) study the impacts of energy resource occurrence and (or) their production and use on both the environment and human health. The ERP promotes and supports research resulting in original, geology-based, non-biased energy information products for policy and decision makers, land and resource managers, other Federal and State agencies, the domestic energy industry, foreign governments, non-governmental groups, and academia. Investigations include research on the geology of oil, gas, and coal, and the impacts associated with energy resource occurrence, production, quality, and utilization. The ERP's focus on coal is to support investigations into current issues pertaining to coal production, beneficiation and (or) conversion, and the environmental impact of the coal combustion process and coal combustion products (CCPs). To accomplish these studies, the USGS combines its activities with other organizations to address domestic and international issues that relate to the development and use of energy resources.

Data Series↗
USGS2007

Performance audit of the U.S. Geological Survey, energy resource program inorganic geochemistry laboratory

A performance audit of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Energy Resource Program (ERP) Inorganic Geochemistry Laboratory (IGL) was conducted between August, 2003 and October, 2005. The goals were to ensure that a high level of analytical performance was maintained and identify any areas that could be enhanced. The audit was subdivided into three phases. Phase 1 was a preliminary assessment of current performance based on recent performance on CANSPEX samples. IGL performance was also compared to laboratories world-wide with similar scope. Phase 2 consisted of the implementation of the recommended changes made in Phase 1. Phase 3 of the audit consisted of a reassessment effort to evaluate the effectiveness of the recommendations made in the Phase 1 and an on-site audit of the laboratory facilities. Phases 1 and 3 required summary reports that are included in Appendices A and B of this report. The audit found that the IGL was one of the top two laboratories compared for trace element analyses. Several recommendations to enhance performance on major and minor elemental parameters were made and implemented. Demonstrated performance improvements as a result of the recommended changes were documented. Several initiatives to sustain the performance improvements gained from the audit have been implemented.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2007

Fly Ash: From Cradle to Grave

The Energy Resources Program of the U.S. Geological Survey promotes and supports coal research to improve the understanding of the coal endowment of the United States. This results in geologically based, non-biased energy information products for policy and decision makers, land and resource managers, other federal and state agencies, the domestic energy industry, foreign governments, nongovernmental groups, academia, and other scientists. A more integrated approach to our coal quality work involves what we call a 'cradle to grave' approach. These types of studies focus not on just one aspect of the coal but rather on how or where different quality parameters form and (or) occur and what happens to them through the mining, production, transport, utilization and waste disposal process. An extensive suite of coal quality analyses, mineralogical, petrology, and leaching investigations are determined on samples taken from the different phases of the coal utilization process. This report consists of a tutorial that was given on June 10, 2007 at the 32nd International Technical Conference on Coal Utilization & Fuel Systems, The Power of Coal, Clearwater Coal Conference in Clearwater, Florida, USA. This tutorial covers how these studies are conducted and the importance of providing improved, comprehensive, science-based data sets for policy and decision makers.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2005

Characterization and modes of occurrence of elements in feed coal and coal combustion products from a power plant utilizing low-sulfur coal from the Powder River Basin, Wyoming

The U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research are collaborating with an Indiana utility company to determine the physical and chemical properties of feed coal and coal combustion products from a coal-fired power plant. The Indiana power plant utilizes a low-sulfur (0.23 to 0.47 weight percent S) and lowash (4.9 to 6.3 weight percent ash) subbituminous coal from the Wyodak-Anderson coal zone in the Tongue River Member of the Paleocene Fort Union Formation, Powder River Basin, Wyoming. Based on scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction analyses of feed coal samples, two mineral suites were identified: (1) a primary or detrital suite consisting of quartz (including beta-form grains), biotite, feldspar, and minor zircon; and (2) a secondary authigenic mineral suite containing alumino-phosphates (crandallite and gorceixite), kaolinite, carbonates (calcite and dolomite), quartz, anatase, barite, and pyrite. The primary mineral suite is interpreted, in part, to be of volcanic origin, whereas the authigenic mineral suite is interpreted, in part, to be the result of the alteration of the volcanic minerals. The mineral suites have contributed to the higher amounts of barium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, strontium, and titanium in the Powder River Basin feed coals in comparison to eastern coals. X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that (1) fly ash is mostly aluminate glass, perovskite, lime, gehlenite, quartz, and phosphates with minor amounts of periclase, anhydrite, hematite, and spinel group minerals; and (2) bottom ash is predominantly quartz, plagioclase (albite and anorthite), pyroxene (augite and fassaite), rhodonite, and akermanite, and spinel group minerals. Microprobe and scanning electron microscope analyses of fly ash samples revealed quartz, zircon, and monazite, euhedral laths of corundum with merrillite, hematite, dendritic spinels/ferrites, wollastonite, and periclase. The abundant calcium and magnesium mineral phases in the fly ash are attributed to the presence of carbonate, clay, and phosphate minerals in the feed coal and their alteration to new phases during combustion. The amorphous diffraction-scattering maxima or glass 'hump' appears to reflect differences in chemical composition of fly ash and bottom ash glasses. In Wyodak-Anderson fly and bottom ashes, the center point of scattering maxima is due to calcium and magnesium content, whereas the glass 'hump' of eastern fly ash reflects variation in aluminum content. The calcium- and magnesium-rich and alumino-phosphate mineral phases in the coal combustion products can be attributed to volcanic minerals deposited in peat-forming mires. Dissolution and alteration of these detrital volcanic minerals occurred either in the peat-forming stage or during coalification and diagenesis, resulting in the authigenic mineral suite. The presence of free lime (CaO) in fly ash produced from Wyodak-Anderson coal acts as a self-contained 'scrubber' for SO3, where CaO + SO3 form anhydrite either during combustion or in the upper parts of the boiler. Considering the high lime content in the fly ash and the resulting hydration reactions after its contact with water, there is little evidence that major amounts of leachable metals are mobilized in the disposal or utilization of this fly ash.

Scientific Investigations Report↗
USGS2002

The US Geological Survey's national coal resource assessment: The results

The US Geological Survey and the State geological surveys of many coal-bearing States recently completed a new assessment of the top producing coal beds and coal zones in five major producing coal regions—the Appalachian Basin, Gulf Coast, Illinois Basin, Colorado Plateau, and Northern Rocky Mountains and Great Plains. The assessments, which focused on both coal quality and quantity, utilized geographic information system technology and large databases. Over 1,600,000 million short tons of coal remain in over 60 coal beds and coal zones that were assessed. Given current economic, environmental, and technological restrictions, the majority of US coal production will occur in that portion of the assessed coal resource that is lowest in sulfur content. These resources are concentrated in parts of the central Appalachian Basin, Colorado Plateau, and the Northern Rocky Mountains.

International Journal of Coal Geology↗
USGS1995

Geochemical evaluation of coal from the Tertiary Usibelli Group, Usibelli mine, Alaska, one of the lowest sulfur coals mined in the United States

The Nenana coal basin extends 240 km in length and 1.5-50 krn in width along the northern foothills of the Alaska Range in central Alaska. Located at the western end of the Nenana basin is the Usibelli Coal Mine, approximately 120 km southwest of Fairbanks. The Tertiary Usibelli Group consists of coal-bearing fluvial and lacustrine sedimentary deposits that were derived from the Yukon-Tanana Upland area located northeast of the present mine site. To evaluate changes in major-, minor-, and trace-element distributions, we collected 65 samples from the No. 3 bed from 5 different locations and 128 samples from the No. 4 bed from 6 different locations

Conference Paper↗
USGS1980

Chemical analyses of coal from the Dakota and Straight Cliffs formations, southwestern Utah region, Kane and Garfield counties, Utah

As part of a continuing program by the U.S. Geological Survey to collect and chemically analyze representative samples of U.S. coals, 26 coal samples were collected from the Cretaceous Dakota and Straight Cliffs Formations, Southwestern Utah Region, Kane and Garfield Counties, Utah. Seven samples are from four core holes in the Dakota Formation of the Kolob coal field; nine samples are from six core holes and one face channel in the Dakota Formation of the Alton coal field; and ten samples are from three core holes in the Straight Cliffs Formation of the Kaiparowits Plateau coal field. The location of the Southwestern Utah Region and the Kolob, Alton and Kaiparowits Plateau coal fields are shown in figure 1 and sample localities are shown in figure 2. Brief descriptions for all 26 samples are given in table 1.

Utah↗
USGS1980

Chemical analyses of coal and coal-associated shale samples from the lower part of the Fort Union Formation, Little Snake River coal field, Sweetwater and Carbon counties, Wyoming

As part of a continuing program by the U.S. Geological Survey to collect and analyze representative samples of U.S. coals, 26 coal and 5 coal-associated shale samples were collected from 13 core and rotary-drill holes in the lower part of the Paleocene Fort Union Formation in the Little Snake River coal field, Sweetwater and Carbon Counties, Wyoming (fig. 1). The samples are briefly described in table 1. Twenty-six of the samples were collected from eight core holes that were drilled in connection with the Red Rim EMRIA (Energy Mineral Rehabilitation Inventory and Analyses) study (U.S. Department of the Interior, 1976). The locations of these eight holes and five other drill holes are shown in figure 2. Detailed geologic mapping of part of the sample collection area was done by Sanders (1974) in his work on the Riner quadrangle. Seven of the core holes (index map locations 1-7) are located in this quadrangle. In his discussion, Sanders (1974) describes the coal beds in the lower part of the Fort Union Formation as being thin, discontinuous, and generally lenticular. Few beds attain a thickness of more than five feet. In the Riner quadrangle coal beds in the lower part of the Fort Union Formation dip 12° to 24° northwestward.

Wyoming↗
USGS1980

Chemical analyses of coal from the Mesa Verde Formation, Grand Mesa coal field, Delta and Mesa counties, Colorado

As part of a continuing program by the U.S. Geological Survey to collect and chemically analyze representative samples of U.S. coals, 45 coal samples were collected from the Upper Cretaceous Mesaverde Formation, Grand Mesa coal field, Delta and Mesa Counties, Colorado. These samples were collected from cores (30 samples, 11 locations), mines (11 face channel samples, 9 locations), and from drill cuttings (4 samples, 1 location). U.S. Geological Survey sample numbers, index map locations, coal thickness or depth interval sampled, and brief descriptions for the 45 samples are listed in table 1. Sampling locations are shown in figure 1. Geophysical logs for all samples summarized in this report can be found in Eager (1978,1979).

Colorado↗
USGS1979

Geology, coal resources, and chemical analyses of coal from the Fruitland Formation, Kimbeto EMRIA study site, San Juan County, New Mexico

The Kimbeto EMRIA study site, an area of about 20 square miles (52 km2), is located on the south margin of the San Juan Basin on the gently northward-dipping strata of the Upper Cretaceous Fruitland Formation and the Kirtland Shale. The coal beds are mainly in the lower 150 feet (45 m) of the Fruitland Formation. Coal resources--measured, indicated, and inferred--with less than 400 feet (120 m) of overburden in the site are 69,085,000 short tons (62,660,100 metric tons), 369,078,000 short tons (334,754,000 metric tons), and 177,803,000 short tons (161,267,000 metric tons) respectively. About 68 percent of these resources are overlain by 200 feet (60 m) or less of overburden. The apparent rank of the coal ranges from subbituminous B to subbituminous A. The average Btu/lb value of 14 core samples from the site on the as-received basis is 8,240 (4580 Kcal/kg), average ash content is 23.4 percent, and average sulfur content is 0.5 percent. Analyses of coal from the Kimbeto EMRIA study site show significantly higher ash content and significantly lower contents of volatile matter, fixed carbon, carbon, and a significantly lower heat of combustion when compared with other coal analyses from the Rocky Mountain province.

New Mexico↗
USGS1979

Chemical analyses of coal from the Emery and Ferron Sandstone members of the Mancos Shale, Henry Mountains Field, Wayne and Garfield counties, Utah

As part of a continuing program by the U.S. Geological Survey to collect and chemically analyze representative samples of U.S. coals, 18 samples were collected from the Upper Cretaceous Emery and Ferron Sandstone Members of the Mancos Shale in the Henry Mountains coal field, Wayne and Garfield Counties, Utah (fig. 1). The 18 samples are briefly described in table 1. Thirteen of these samples were collected from seven holes that were drilled in connection with the Henry Mountains EMRIA (Energy Mineral Rehabilitation Inventory and Analyses) study (U.S. Department of the Interior, 1978). The locations of the seven core holes and the four other sampling sites are shown on figure 2. The Henry Mountains coal field is adjacent to the Henry Mountains of southeastern Utah. The basin is a long, narrow syncline about 110 km long and 24 km wide bounded on the west by the Waterpocket Fold and on the east by the Henry Mountains. The most comprehensive geologic report available on the area is by Hunt and others (1953). Their work included a considerable amount of information on the coal resources. Other work in the area concerning coal or stratigraphy of coal bearing units includes: Doelling (1972), Peterson and Ryder (1975), Doelling (1975), Law (1977; 1978; 1979 a,b), and U.S. Department of the Interior (1978). In the Henry Mountains field, there are three coal bearing units in rocks of Late Cretaceous age. In ascending order they are the Dakota Sandstone, the Ferron Sandstone Member of the Mancos Shale, and the Emery Sandstone Member of the Mancos Shale. The coal beds of the Henry Mountains coal field originated as layers of peat that were deposited, for the most part, in coastal swamp environments. Individual coal beds are discontinuous and exhibit large variations in thickness and quality. The thickest and most continuous coal beds occur in the Emery Sandstone Member along or near the axis of the Henry Mountains syncline (Law, 1978).

Utah↗