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STORAGE OF CARBON DIOXIDE IN LIQUIDATED MINING HEADINGS OF ABANDONED COAL MINES

Jaroslaw Brodny

Abstract

One of the most dangerous greenhouse gases that causes intensification of so-called global warming (also called as greenhouse effect) is carbon dioxide (CO2). Results of studies indicate that this gas impacts on the growth of air temperature at the ground and through this it causes the climate changes on our planet. Main reason of emission of this gas is combustion of fossil fuel (coal and crude oil). The biggest emitters of gas are energetics (heat and power production), transport and industry and construction sectors. In order to protect the natural environment of our planet, it is necessary to limit emissions of carbon dioxide into the environment. It can be achieved through the limiting of its generation or its storage in places isolated from natural environment. The topic of the paper relates to analysis of possibilities of storage of carbon dioxide in liquidated mining headings of inactive mines. It turns out that one of the methods to reduce this gas could be its sequestration from exhaust gas streams and then store in places isolated from biosphere (carbon capture and storage, CSS). In a range of storage a technology based on usage of underground mining headings treated as deep geological structures seems perspective. This technology does not impact directly on the reduction of CO2 emission associated with anthropogenic activity but attenuates its effects. Simultaneously, it is very promising and accessible method enabling to fairly quick reduction of CO2 emission into the atmosphere in a relatively short horizon time. Generally CSS technology enables to trapping and safe storage of carbon dioxide in widely understood deep geological structures, seas and oceans and also in exploited spaces. Hence, it creates possibility for limitation of emission of this gas into the atmosphere, at simultaneous further utilization of solid fuels for energy production. Problem of too high CO2 emission is also present in Poland. Over 50% of electric and heat energy is produced from hard coal. Coal exploitation is connected with formation of huge underground headings in which carbon dioxide can be stored. Using these headings as gas tanks will give measurable ecological and economical effects. In the paper results of numerical tests which aimed to determine possibilities of carbon dioxide storage in liquidated underground headings of mines are presented. Studies were carried out for system of inactive mining headings and goaf with caving in chosen mineral. In Polish mines there are a lot of such headings. During tests the mass amounts of CO2, which for given mining-geological conditions can be stored in selected system of headings were determined. In this case very significant meaning had a determination of porosity and permeability of goaf with caving treated as high-pressure abyssal CO2 tank. Based on the performed tests distributions of mass and pressure in a function of its forcing time were also determined. Obtained results clearly indicate the great potential of using inactive mining headings as CO2 tanks. This also provides real possibilities for limitation very harmful emission of this gas into the atmosphere.

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