Advantages of coal

Steam coal, also known as thermal coal, is used in power stations to generate electricity. First coal is milled to a fine powder, which increases the surface area and allows it to burn more quickly.

1. In pulverised coal combustion (PCC) systems, the powdered coal is blown into the combustion chamber of a boiler where it is burnt at high temperature.
2. The hot gases and heat energy produced converts water in tubes lining the boiler into steam.
3. The high-pressure steam is passed into a turbine containing thousands of propeller-like blades.
4. The steam pushes these blades causing the turbine shaft to rotate at high speed.
5. A generator is mounted at one end of the turbine shaft and consists of carefully wound wire coils.
6. Electricity is generated when these are rapidly rotated in a strong magnetic field.
7. After passing through the turbine, the steam is condensed and returned to the boiler to be heated once again.
8. The electricity generated is transformed into the higher voltages up to 400,000 volts used for economic, efficient transmission via power line grids.
9. When it nears the point
   how is coal changed into electricity
   how is coal converted into energy