Glossary
a
- ammoniaA colorless, pungent, gaseous compound of nitrogen and hydrogen (NH3), possessing strong alkaline properties when in solution. It is soluble... Read More
- anhydrousDevoid of water. Read More
- annual system load factorThe ratio of the average load over one year to the peak load occurring during that year. System load factor... Read More
- anthraciteThe most highly carbonized and metamorphosed form of coal, containing 92 to 98 percent of fixed carbon. It is black,... Read More
- approximate original contourThat surface configuration achieved by backfilling and grading an area affected by surface mining so the reclaimed area closely resembles... Read More
- aquiferA water bearing stratum of permeable rock, sand, gravel, or other geologic material. Read More
- argonA colorless, odorless gaseous element found in the air and in volcanic gases and used especially as a filler for... Read More
- ashSolid residue left where combustible material is thoroughly burned or is oxidized by chemical means. Read More
b
- base loadAn electric utility’s minimum power output over a given period of time. A base load generating plant is designed for... Read More
- batf (bureau of alcohol, tobacco and firearms)This federal agency, which is a division of the Department of Treasury, regulates and controls the storage and use of... Read More
- beneficiationThe processing of coal to remove unwanted constituents and to improve quality. Beneficiation may include ash and pyrite removal, coal... Read More
- benzeneA colorless volatile flammable liquid aromatic hydrocarbon C6H6 used in organic synthesis, as a solvent and as a motor fuel.... Read More
- bituminous coalA soft coal formed by an intermediate degree of carbonization and containing 15 to 20 percent volatiles. The most common... Read More
- blasting agentA product used by the mining industry that contains no explosive ingredient, but can be made to detonate when initiated... Read More
- british thermal unit (btu)The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. Read More
- busbar costThe total cost required to deliver electrical power to the generator bus, usually given in mills/kwh. This cost includes the... Read More
c
- capacityThe electric load for which a generator, turbine, transformer, transmission circuit, apparatus, station or system is rated. Read More
- carbon dioxide (co2)Gas formed in animal respiration, decay or combustion of organic matter, and absorbed by plants in photosynthesis. A greenhouse gas.... Read More
- carbonaceousSaid of a rock or sediment that is rich in carbon; coaly. Read More
- carbonizationThe progressive changes undergone by preserved organic matter and biochemical decomposition products between the death of the plant and the... Read More
- catalystA material which increases the rate of a chemical reaction but does not react itself. Read More
- chlorofluorocarbons (cfc's)
- climateThe average course of the weather at a place over a period of years as exhibited by temperature, wind velocity... Read More
- coala dark brown to black combustible rock of organic origin formed over millions of years by the partial decomposition of... Read More
- coal gasificationThe conversion of coal into methane, carbon oxides and other related compounds by the addition of steam and oxygen under... Read More
- coalificationThe alteration or metamorphism of plant material into coal. Read More
- combustionThe chemical process by which hydrocarbons are oxidized to synthesize carbon dioxide and water. Energy is released during combustion of... Read More
- competitionThe economic force which regulates price in the marketplace. Read More
- continental glaciationThe increase in the size of the world’s ice fields which covered major parts of the continents, in thicknesses of... Read More
- conversionThe degree of formation of products from feeds in a chemical reaction. For example, in a shift conversion, the products... Read More
- core sampleA columnar sample of rock obtained by drilling with a hollow bit and core barrel. Read More
- cresolsAny of three colorless crystalline or liquid isomeric phenols C7H 80. Read More
- croplandLand used for the production of adapted crops for harvest, alone or in a rotation with grasses and legumes and... Read More
d
- demandThe rate at which electric power is consumed by a system, expressed in kilowatts or megawatts. Demand and capacity are... Read More
- deregulationRemoval of barriers that limited competition for customers in the marketplace. Read More
- direct respreadA method of respreading soil in which the material is removed from an undisturbed area and immediately respread on a... Read More
- distillationA process that consists of driving gas or vapor from liquids or solids by heating and condensing to liquid products... Read More
- domestic coalA term used by the industry to designate coal that is to be used in homes and institutions in a... Read More
- dozerA highly versatile piece of earth excavating and moving equipment used in leveling spoil banks, building roads, benching pits and... Read More
- draglineLarge mobile excavator used to remove overburden, and sometimes interburden, from over the coal seams. Read More
e
- economicsThe study of the way we allocate resources among alternatives to satisfy human wants and needs. Read More
- effluent limitThe permitted limit on the amount of suspended solids, iron, or acidity/alkalinity that can be in water discharged from a... Read More
- electricityA form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles (such as electrons or protons), either statically as an... Read More
- energyElectrical power generated, measured in kilowatt hours. Read More
- environmental protection agencyAn agency of the federal government which establishes standards that coal mines meet prior
to and during mining. Read More - externalitiesThe environmental and social costs of producing a product. They are not real costs, but perceived costs used to encourage... Read More
f
- fixed carbonThe solid residue, other than ash, obtained by destructive distillation determined by definite prescribed methods. Read More
- fixed costThose costs of a facility that are incurred on a continuing basis even though the facility may not be operating... Read More
- fluidizationThe process by which air or gases move through a bed of fine grained solids to cause the bed to... Read More
- fluvialOf, or pertaining to, rivers; growing or living in streams or ponds; produced by river action, as a fluvial plain. Read More
- fuel costThe sum of the cost of fuel delivered to the bunkers, including freight, and other transportation charges, the cost of... Read More
- fuel oilCombustible matter, derived from crude oil, used as a source of heat energy. Read More
g
- gas liquorPrimarily water which has been used to scrub the gasifier raw gas stream and contains tars, oils, ammonia, phenol and... Read More
- gasificationThe conversion of coal to a gaseous fuel. The partial oxidation of coal to form a gaseous mixture containing carbon... Read More
- generating capacityThe quantity of electric energy a power plant is capable of producing, usually measured in kilowatts or megawatts. Read More
- geologyThe science which studies the earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the changes which it has undergone... Read More
- geophysical logging rigA vehicle setup for the logging of drilling holes using a probe which measures the geophysical properties of the subsurface... Read More
- global climate models (gcm)Computer models used to predict changes in climate based on a variety of factors, including
greenhouse gas concentrations. Read More - gpsGeographic Positioning System, used to replace traditional land survey techniques, locating spatial orientation and elevation with satellite transmissions and receivers... Read More
- grass drillA specially designed machine that will seed various grass species. It is equipped with special seed boxes, agitators, depth bands... Read More
- greenhouse effectProcess by which most short-wave radiation from the sun passes through the earth’s atmosphere while most of the reradiated long... Read More
- greenhouse gasesGases which capture longwave radiation and warm the earth’s atmosphere (carbon dioxide, CFCs, methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide). Read More
- gross generationThe total amount of electric energy produced by a generating station or stations, measured at the generator terminals. This includes... Read More
- ground coverThe area of ground covered by vegetation and the mulch that is produced naturally onsite, expressed as a percentage of... Read More
- groundwaterWater which is contained in the voids and cracks of the subsurface strata. Read More
h
- heat rateThe amount of BTUs (British Thermal Units) required to produce 1 KWH of energy, normally given as BTU per KWH. Read More
- heterogeneousA mixture of diverse or dissimilar ingredients or constituents. Read More
- highwallThe steep overburden slope of the pit. Read More
- hydrocarbonA compound containing only hydrogen and carbon. They form the principal constituents of petroleum. The simplest hydrocarbons are gases at... Read More
- hydrogenA gaseous element, colorless, odorless, tasteless, flammable, and lighter than any other isolated element. Its symbol is H, and in... Read More
- hydrogenatingTo combine or treat with or expose to hydrogen; to add hydrogen to the molecule of an unsaturated organic compound. Read More
i
k
- kilowattKilowatt (KW) is the instantaneous capacity or demand. KW is also the real power generated and/or sold to a consumer.... Read More
- kilowatt-hour (kwh)The basic unit of electric energy equal to one kilowatt of power supplied to or taken from an electric circuit... Read More
- kryptonA colorless, odorless gaseous element found in air and used as a filler for electric light bulbs and in electronics... Read More
- kva, mvaKilovoltamperes, megavoltamperes is the total rated capacity of generation or transmission equipment. If the KVAR or MVAR is excessive, the... Read More
l
- lacustineProduced by or belonging to lakes, of, or pertaining to or formed or growing in, or inhabiting lakes. Read More
- land useSpecific uses or management-related activities, rather than the vegetation or cover of the land. Read More
- ligniteBrownish-black coal in which the alteration of vegetal material has proceeded further than in peat but not so far as... Read More
- liquefactionThe process by which coal is chemically and physically altered to become liquid. Read More
- liquor streamA process stream having a high concentration of organic and inorganic soluble compounds. Read More
- load managementThe process of shifting customer demand to better meet a utility’s generating capabilities. Read More
- load shapingThe process of changing customer demand for electricity from one time of day to another. Read More
- loading shovel, front-end loaderEquipment used to load coal into haulage trucks. Read More
- lurgi processA coal gasification process which produces gas in a reactor through the controlled reaction of coal and oxygen in the... Read More
m
- mappMid-Continent Area Power Pool - A group of power generation and transmission utilities who coordinate an electric power network in... Read More
- marine rocksSedimentary deposits deposited under sea (marine) conditions. Read More
- megawattMegawatt (MW) is the instantaneous capacity or demand. A thousand kilowatts of electric power. Read More
- megawatt hourMegawatt Hour (MWH) is the amount of electric energy provided by 1 megawatt in 1 hour. Read More
- mercaptansSulfur compounds, analogous to alcohols, in which sulfur has replaced oxygen. They are colorless, flammable liquids with a strong, repulsive... Read More
- metabolismThe chemical change by which carbohydrates are oxidized and energy is provided for biological processes. Read More
- metamorphismThe changes of mineralogy and texture imposed on a rock by pressure and temperature in the earth’ interior, as well... Read More
- methanationA process of converting carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide present in synthetic gas to methane, using hydrogen, steam, heat and... Read More
- methane (ch4)Gaseous hydrocarbon that is a product of the decomposition of organic matter and the burning of fossil fuels. A greenhouse... Read More
- methanolA flammable colorless liquid infinitely soluble in water. The simplest possible alcohol. Read More
- msha (mine safety and health administration)This federal agency oversees the health and safety of miners on the job. Read More
- mulchVegetation residues or other suitable materials that aid in soil stabilization and moisture conservation. Read More
n
- nameplate capacityThe maximum design of the electric capability as shown by the nameplates of generating units, turbines, synchronous condensers, transformers, or... Read More
- naphthaThe lightest liquid constituents of oil separated by distillation processes. The word was derived from the Persian word “nafata,” meaning... Read More
- native grasslandLand on which the natural potential plant cover is principally composed of native grasses, grasslike plants, forbs and shrubs valuable... Read More
- native speciesPlants which have evolved in North America. Read More
- natural gasA mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons found in many places connected with deposits of petroleum, to which the gaseous compounds are... Read More
- net generationGross generation less the station service energy used to operate the generating plant. Read More
- net generation available at loadNet generation, less reserves and transmission losses, which can be considered available at the delivery points to serve member loads. Read More
- nitrogenA colorless tasteless odorless gaseous element that constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume and occurs as a constituent... Read More
- nitrous oxide (n2o)A gas produced from fertilizers, fossil fuels and many natural processes. A greenhouse gas. Read More
o
- office of surface mining (osm)An agency of the federal government which insures all mines meet federal standards. Read More
- outcropA segment of bedrock exposed by erosion to the atmosphere, visible to the eye. Read More
- overburdenAll of the earth and other materials, except SPGM, which lie above the lignite. After overburden is moved it is... Read More
- oxides of nitrogen (nox)Gases produced by the burning of fossil fuels. With volatile organic compounds, thought to be responsible for ozone formation. With... Read More
- ozone (o3)Triatomic form of oxygen formed naturally in the upper atmosphere and also generated commercially. Desired in the upper atmosphere as... Read More
p
- peak demandThe maximum customer use of electricity during a specific period of time. Read More
- peak loadThe maximum electricity load consumed or produced during a specific period of time. Read More
- peaking capacityGenerating equipment normally operated only during the hours of highest daily, weekly or seasonal loads. Some generating equipment may be... Read More
- peatA dark-brown or black structureless groundmass produced by the partial decomposition and disintegration of plant material in a marsh or... Read More
- performance bondA surety bond, collateral bond, self bond, deposit or alternative form of security approved by the Public Service Commission by... Read More
- permitA document which allows a company to conduct surface mining and reclamation in North Dakota. It is prepared by the... Read More
- phenolsAny of various organic compounds which are hydroxyl derivatives of aromatic hydrocarbons. Read More
- photosynthesisThe chemical process by which carbohydrates (hydrocarbons) are synthesized from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of light. Photosynthesis... Read More
- pitThe excavated hole dug by a dragline or auxiliary equipment. Read More
- plant availabilityThe time generating equipment is available for service, divided by the total time in a month or year. Read More
- plant capacity factorThe total generating output of a plant for a known period of time divided by the capacity of the plant,... Read More
- plant load factorThe total generating output of a plant for a known period of time, divided by the capacity of the plant,... Read More
- powerThe electrical energy sold or generated by a utility. Power normally means both capacity and energy. Read More
- pozzolanFinely divided silica and alumina materials that react with slaked lime in the presence of moisture to form a strong... Read More
- precipitation eventA rain or snowfall usually expressed in terms of magnitude compared to time; e.g., 10-year/24-hour event = 3.25 inches which... Read More
- probable hydrologic consequencesAn analysis of the probable effects of mining on the surface and groundwater hydrology in terms of water flows, availability,... Read More
- productivityA measurement of vegetation production on a reclaimed area for specified time, usually expressed in pounds per acre or bushels... Read More
- psigPounds per square inch gauge. Read More
- public service commission (psc)The State of North Dakota agency that promulgates and enforces reclamation and mining laws. Read More
- push-pull modeAn industry term that describes the method used by tractor-scrapers to increase their production efficiency by hooking the two machines... Read More
r
- rankThose differences in the pure coal material due to geological processes whereby the coal material changes from peat through lignite... Read More
- reactorA vessel in which hydrocarbons are reacted with chemicals or other hydrocarbons to obtain the desired end products. Read More
- reclamation planSubmitted by a company as part of a permit which sets forth a plan to reclaim a surface mine. Read More
- rectisolProcessing section which removes carbon dioxide, naphtha, sulfur compounds and HCN from the mixed gas by contact with cold methanol. Read More
- reservesUnloaded generating capacity available for service. Read More
s
- scoriaInformal name for porcelanite, which is a rock formed by the baking of clay materials by underlying, burning coal seams. Read More
- sedimentary depositsRocks formed by the accumulation of rock or mineral grains transported by wind, water, or ice to be deposited or... Read More
- side streamA liquid product stream taken from one of the plates of a bubble tower. Read More
- sngSynthetic Natural Gas. Methane is the primary constituent of SNG. Read More
- soil horizonsContrasting layers of soil lying one below the other, parallel or nearly parallel to the land surface. Soil horizons are... Read More
- soil surveyThe identification and location of all SPGM within a permit area and an accompanying report that describes, classifies and interprets... Read More
- specialty productsProducts and markets for lignite other than fuel for large-scale coal-burning power plants and for the production of syngas. Read More
- spgmSuitable Plant Growth Material is a collective term for topsoil and subsoil inventoried by a Professional Soil Classifier to a... Read More
- spinning reservesThe amount of unloaded generation held in generating units capable of immediately picking up load following the loss of another... Read More
- spoil or spoil pileOverburden or interburden which has been removed from over the coal seam by the dragline. Read More
- state health departmentNorth Dakota's lead agency for enforcing EPA regulations. Read More
- strip miningThe mining of coal by surface methods; the name comes from the shape of the pit containing coal. Read More
- stripping ratioThe ratio of earth moved per unit of coal uncovered, often yards of earth to move per ton of coal... Read More
- sulfur dioxide (so2)Gas produced by the burning of fossil fuels which contain sulfur. Thought to be responsible for acid rain Read More
- synthesis gasThe materials from which product compounds are made synthetically. The primary components of synthesis gas are carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Read More
t
- tame pasturelandLand used for the long-term production of predominantly adapted, introduced species of forage plants to be grazed by livestock. Read More
- tippleCoal preparation facility that crushes the coal according to the customer specification. Read More
- tractor-scrapers (scrapers)Two-axle earth moving units which load by lowering a cutting edge into the earth and moving forward producing an action... Read More
- transmission capacity lossesThe power lost in transmission between one point and another. Read More
v
w
- wholesale rateThe rate at which a utility must sell power to another utility in order to recover all investments and operating... Read More
- williston basinThe tectonic synclinal depression of strata with its center in North Dakota and extending over parts of three other states... Read More
- woodlandLand where the primary vegetation is trees or shrubs, including natural wooded areas and shelterbelts and other man-made woody plantings. Read More
