Coal Combustion Byproduct Utilization in Western Maryland Strip Mines

Operation of the 180 MW AES Warrior Run cogeneration power plant near Cumberland, MD results in the formation of coal combustion byproducts (CCB), primarily as mixed ash materials (fly ash and bottom ash) and limestone. The Warrior Run plant employs a modern, fluidized bed combustion (FBC) technology where pulverized coal and finely ground limestone (acting as a sorbent) are injected into the boiler system, with a pressurized air stream maintaining a coal and limestone suspension for highly efficient coal combustion. Within the air stream, limestone sorbs the sulfur dioxide released during combustion, therefore effectively removing over 95% of the sulfur dioxide from the power plant emissions. With the enhanced FBC sulfur dioxide removal, Warrior Run can burn approximately 400,000 tons of high sulfate coal from western Maryland mines yearly. Nitrogen oxide emissions are also reduced since the FBC boiler runs at a lower temperature, with other additional in-plant techniques further reducing any remaining nitrogen oxides. Warrior Run produces approximately 370,000 tons of CCB yearly depending on regional electrical demand, and also supplies commercial grade carbon dioxide through cogeneration processes.