Estimation of Methane Emissions from a Surface Coal Mine Using Open-Path FTIRSpectroscopy and Modeling Techniques

摘要

The paper discusses a new methodology that allows the rapid and efficientmeasurement of methane (CH4) emissions from surface coal mines. An initial field trial of this methodology has been completed, and results from the field trial revealed that emissions from one surface coal mine in the U.S. are estimated to be 1,735,000 cu m/yr. The results provide some evidence that CH4 concentrations determined by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometry may be low by 20-75%, but the overall effect of this potential bias on the mine emissions estimate cannot be adequately quantified. The initial trial demonstrated that the methodology is an applicable and feasible approach for measuring CH4 emissions from very large coal mines. It also highlighted several uncertainties and methodology questions which, if resolved, could improve the performance and reliability of the methodology.