Coal pipeline in serviceIn 1957, the first U.S. commercial long-distance coal slurry pipeline, 108 miles long, began delivery from a coal mine (Georgetown Preparation Plant of the Hanna Coal Company, near Cadiz, Ohio) to a power station (Cleveland Illuminating Company, in Eastlake, Ohio). Completed on 12 Sep 1956, the 10-3/4 inch diameter pipeline could transport over a million tons of coal per year. Mixed with an equal amount of water, it delivered 150 tons of coal per hour. The coal slurry was then processed to remove the water, and made ready for burning. Slurry pipelines now exist transporting over twenty types of minerals, including iron-ore concentrate, copper ore, phosphate rock concentrate, limestone, clay and mineral sands. Pipelines can be built to the mouth of mines at lower cost than railroads.« |
