Humble dryer boosts coal power

Engineers at Great River Energy’s Coal Creek Station in North Dakota have begun the first continuous operation of a clean coal technology drying system. The system uses the plant’s excess heat to wring moisture from the incoming coal.

Initial results show that the system could be the first to demonstrate that pre-drying high-moisture coals before they are fed to a power plant’s boiler offers a practical and economical way to generate more power from a lower quantity of coal. The system could also reduce air emissions.

"Enhancing the fuel value of high moisture coals is critically important," said Jeffrey Jarrett, Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy. "If we are to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy, we must make the most of our abundant coal resources here at home."