Caking Ability Tests for Coal Blends in Process to Utilize the Indian Origin Coals

Abstract

The idea of this paper is to properly utilize Indian low-rank coking coal (semi-coking coal) with the blending of high-rank imported coals and to reduce the overall cost of coke making. The blending of the coals has been done in two phases. Effect of blending mass ratio on the swelling index and plasticity parameters has been studied. The effect of maceral content, vitrinite reflectance, and volatile matter content on the caking ability of coals has been studied. Blended sample analysis shows that there is an abrupt drop in the fluidity of the samples compared to the original coals; there is no proper relation between the fluidity and swelling index of the coal blends. Phase 1 coal blends show better results compared to phase 2 samples. Crucible swelling number values for blend 1 and blend 3 from phase 1 are 6 and 4.5, respectively. To validate the swelling number, coke strength after reaction (CSR) and coke reactivity index (CRI) tests have been done for blend 1 and blend 3 coals from phase 1. CSR, CRI for blend 1 and blend 3 samples are 22.18, 71.30 and 23.79, 70.75, respectively.