MODELING NET-ENERGY OPTIMIZATION IN STEAM COAL TRANSPORTATION. PART 1

The energy efficiency of the steam-coal transportation system is investigated. The objective is to discover transportation patterns that deposit a maximum of BTU's at power generating facilities when the BTU's consumed in the transport of the steam-coal have been subtracted out. The present study considers the delivery of coal as mined for shipment to utilities without being able to address the question as to whether the mines are optimally located.