Coal is mined, crushed into a fine powder, and burned in a boiler to produce steam. The steam powers a turbine which spins a generator to produce electricity. The electricity is then sent through power lines to substations and distributed to homes.

2. STEP # 1:
Coal is mined from the ground
and sent to coal power plants
There are
approximately
1100 coal mines
in North America

3. STEP # 2:
Coal is crushed into a
fine powder. So, it can
burn quicker
Crushing
coal
process
happens

4. STEP # 3:
The powder is blown into the
combustion chamber and it is
burnt at extreme temperatures
Burning
process
takes place
in the
boiler

5. STEP # 4:
The hot gasses and heat
produced converts the water into
steam from the water chamber
Water
adjacent to
boiler

6. STEP # 5:
steam then moves into a turbine
which contains propeller
blades, steam causes blades to
move at a high speed
Water Steam
travels
through
pipes to
turbine

7. STEP # 6:
• Generator is placed at the end of
the turbine, where tightly wound
wire coils are found. Electricity is
generated when coils are rotated
quickly.
• Strong magnetic field is produced
Turbine and
generator are
adjacent to each
other

8. STEP # 5:
Electricity is sent through power
grid lines and then travels to
substations located in towns.
House gets
electricity
from
substation
on their
street

9. Review:
THE CYCLE OF COAL TO ELECTRICITY
1. Coal is found
2. Coal is crushed to
fine powder
3. Powder is burned
in the boiler
4. Hot gasses and
heat change water
to steam
5. Steam travels to
turbine and causes
to propellers to
spin at high speeds
6. At the end of
turbine , there is a
generator which
contains coils
which spin and
produce electricity
7. Electricity is
distributed by
power grid lines