U.S.

 EPA
Concentrating Coal Mine Methane
Coalbed Methane
OUTREACH PROGRAM
www.epa.gov/cmop

August 2010
Why Concentrate Methane?
There exists a hierarchy of methane end uses, each of which
is appropriate for a given gas quality level. The higher the
quality of available gas, the more utilization options exist:
• High quality (>90%) — Pipeline injection (often
requires minimal processing).
• Medium quality (50 to 90%) — Upgrading for pipeline
injection (requiring significant processing), fuel for inter-
nal combustion engines (vehicles or stationary), fuel for
boilers. Fluidized Bed Concentrator (courtesy of
Environmental C&C)
• Low quality (≥1.5%) — Fuel for lean-fuel turbines
(1.5% and above), flaring (30% and above).1
• Very low quality (≤1.5%) — Oxidation with or without power generation or thermal applications
(e.g., water or space heating).
One potential benefit of concentrating methane in the very low to medium quality range, therefore, is to
VAM typically increase the end-use options available to a project developer. More end-use technological options may
has methane open up new end-use markets, increasing the likelihood that a given methane utilization project op-
concertrations portunity will be economically attractive. This is especially true for ventilation air methane (VAM), which
less than 1% typically has methane concentrations less than 1% and for which uses are limited in the absence of
effective concentration technology.

Concentration Technologies
Concentrators have been in use for years for managing volatile organic compound emissions from indus-
trial sources, and three technologies currently are available: carousel, rotary disk, and fluidized bed. Of
the three designs, the fluidized bed is deemed to be most applicable to methane concentration applica-
tions, with the other two being appropriate for compounds that exist as a liquid at room temperature. The
concentration process basically involves passing the methane-laden air up through a bed of adsorbent
material (e.g., activated carbon, zeolite beads) on which the methane accumulates, increasing the weight
of the adsorbent, which falls downward. An inert carrier gas is used to strip the methane in a desorption
step, following which the adsorbent is returned to the fluidized bed for another concentration cycle.

Benefits of Methane Concentration…

• Reduce mid-quality gas processing requirements for pipeline injection.
• Expand end-use options for low-quality gas streams.
• Elevate VAM exhaust concentrations for use as primary fuel in turbines or internal combustion
engines.
1 U.S. EPA does not endorse the transport or use of gas in (or near) the explosive range of 5% to 15% methane. For more information on
CMM use and safety, please see UNECE’s Best Practice Guidance for Effective Methane Drainage and Use in Coal Mines, available at
http://www.unece.org/energy/se/pdfs/cmm/pub/BestPractGuide_MethDrain_es31.pdf.

EPA Coalbed Methane Outreach Program Technical Options Series www.epa.gov/cmop 1

 U.S. EPA
Concentrating Coal Mine Methane
Coalbed Methane
OUTREACH PROGRAM
www.epa.gov/cmop

The Status of Methane Concentration Technology

Because the methane molecule is small, concentration of methane is challenging. With U.S. EPA grant
funding, Environmental C&C, a volatile organic compound processing technology vendor, ran a series of
tests in 2001 to evaluate the efficacy of their fluidized bed technology using then-available adsorbent
materials to concentrate simulated VAM (0.5% methane in air). The tests indicated that an absorbent spe-
cifically designed for methane applications would need to be developed. Environmental C&C has begun
development of an adsorbent material for methane concentration applications, with VAM applications a
particular goal.

Environmental C&C Fluidized Bed Process (courtesy of Environmental C&C)

Note: Other end-use options can take the place of the “thermal oxidizer” component on the diagram

For More Information…

Or, for more information about this and
To obtain more information about the status
other profitable uses for coal mine meth-
of methane concentration using fluidized bed
ane, contact:
technology, contact:
Hal Cowles U.S. EPA’s Coalbed Methane Outreach
Environmental C&C, Inc. Program
728 Church Road Washington, DC USA
Scotia, NY 12302 http://www.epa.gov/cmop
Phone: (518) 371-8642 Dr. Jayne Somers
Fax: (518) 371-3752 e-mail: somers.jayne@epa.gov
E-mail: halc@ecnc.com
Internet: http://www.environmentalcc.com

The mention of products or services in this case study does not constitute an endorsement by EPA.

EPA Coalbed Methane Outreach Program Technical Options Series www.epa.gov/cmop 2