Optimizing coke production at OAO EVRAZ ZSMK on the basis of the available coal

A model is proposed for predicting the coke strength (M ₄₀ and M ₁₀) and its NSC parameters CSR and CRI on the basis of the chemical and petrographic parameters of the coal. The model takes account of the chemical composition of the ash, the duration of coking, and the coke-slaking technology. On the basis of this model, the technological value of the coal types used at OAO EVRAZ ZSMK is assessed, and the batch composition is optimized to produce coke of elevated quality.     

Optimizing the preparation of coal batch for coking at ChAO Makeevkoks

The expediency of introducing up-to-date systems in the preparation of coal batch for coking at ChAO Makeevkoks is evident if the quality of the coal concentrates employed is assessed in terms of technical, plastometric, petrographic, and granulometric characteristics. Coking trials indicate that separating out the small coal classes prior to final crushing significantly improves the technological characteristics (M ₂₅, M ₁₀) and structural parameters (the Ginzburg abrasive hardness and Gryaznov structural strength) of the blastfurnace coke produced. Introducing hydrocarbon briquets in the coal batch permits the utilization of coking waste without impairing the coke strength.     

Oil-cum-gas-fired experimental coke oven developed at CFRI and the correlation studies of its coke with commercial oven coke

Assessment of the coking behaviour of coals and blends by conducting coking tests in experimental coke ovens still continues to be the most reliable method and is extensively used all over the world. The oil-cum-gas fired experimental coke oven developed at CFRI has a coal charging capacity of 1100 kg and simulates industrial carbonising conditions. The oven is capable of intermittent operation and can be brought up to working temperature within 36 hours.Correlation studies of coke quality were carried out by conducting a series of coking tests on the same blend, carbonised under similar conditions in the CFRI experimental coke oven and the commercial coke ovens of Bokaro Steel Plant. The study has revealed that the physical strength of the CFRI oven coke compares favourably with the Bokaro oven coke. M₄₀ and M₁₀ indices of the commercial oven coke can be predicted fairly accurately from the results of CFRI oven coke.T-tests performed on the shatter results showed that at 5% probability level there was no significant variation between the shatter indices of both cokes. The quality of the gas produced from the CFRI test oven was very similar to that of the gas produced from the Bokaro ovens.     

Improving the Preparation of Coking Batch

Currently, the most promising blast-furnace technology involves pulverized-coal injection, and the most promising blast-furnace technology for coke production involves ramming the coal batch before delivery to the coke ovens, so as to ensure high packing density. In classic bed coking, the packing density of the coal batch is also of great importance. In the absence of mechanical methods (such as ramming or partial briquetting), the packing density mainly depends on the ash and moisture content and the degree of crushing of the batch. It follows from industrial tests in the coke plant at PAO ArcelorMittal Krivoy Rog and analysis of the multifactorial correlation of the strength M₂₅ and wear resistance M₁₀ with the packing density of the batch that, with decrease in packing density, the coke strength and wear resistance decline. That increases coke consumption and considerably complicates blast-furnace operation. Since improvement in coke quality entails decreasing the moisture content of the coal batch, a method has been developed for decreasing the moisture content directly in the silo, on the basis of osmosis and vacuum, that permits decrease in the coal’s moisture content to the optimal value, thereby boosting coke quality and improving blast-furnace performance. For example, it has been established that, in the blast-furnace shops at PAO ArcelorMittal Krivoy Rog, 1% decrease in M₁₀ lowers the mean coke consumption by 5.5%. With increase in M₂₅ by 1%, the mean coke consumption falls by 2.1%, on average.     

Industrial utilization of spent ion-exchange resin in the coke battery

Experimental coking with spent ion-exchange resins as an additive in the coal batch is considered; rammed batch is employed. Both box coking and large-scale coking are considered; the resin content in the batch is 1–5 wt %. The influence of the resins on coke quality is assessed. The coal blend used in industrial coke production is employed. Adding small quantities of resin (<5 wt %) to the batch improves the coke’s cold strength M ₈₀ and M ₄₀, without impairment of CRI and CSR. The quality of the coal tar and the organized gas emission remains unchanged. Hence, spent ion-exchange resins may be recycled by adding small quantities (3%) to the coal batch in coke production.     

Determining the coking properties and technological value of coal and coal mixtures

A method is developed for determining the coking properties and technological value of coal from newly identified beds or new sections of existing mines. The coking properties are assessed on the basis of predictions of the strength and reactivity of coke obtained from batch containing coal from single beds and coal blends. The prediction of coke quality is based on the chemical and petrographic characteristics of the coal.     

Producing high-quality coke from blends of domestic and imported coal at PAO Zaporozhkoks

The evolution of quality requirements on blast-furnace coke indicates the need to use low-sulfur imported coal of the required quality. The best performance characteristics of European blast furnaces are noted. At such furnaces, with the injection of pulverized coal, the consumption of low-reactivity blast-furnace coke is 280.9–355.8 kg/t of hot metal. On the basis of the requirements imposed on coal used in the production of low-reactivity, low-sulfur, high-strength coke, an industrial coking method has been developed and tested at PAO Zaporozhkoks on the basis of Ukrainian, Russian, and United States coal of the required quality. The coke produced is tested in blast furnace 5 at PAO Zaporozhstal’. The results show that coke of improved quality may be obtained from batch containing 50% Ukrainian coal, 30% Russian coal, and 15% United States coal at PAO Zaporozhkoks. Thus, in the first 11 months of 2013, the quality of the blast-furnace coke produced was as follows: moisture content 3.6%; ash content 11.0%; sulfur content 0.78%; M ₁₀ = 6.3%; content of the >80 mm class 4.1%; content of the <25 mm class 3.1%; CRI = 31.8%; CSR = 51.9%.     

Variation in mineral composition of coal during enrichment and coking

The parameters I _b and B _b used in developing an optimal coking-batch composition are determined from data on the chemical composition of the ash in Donetsk Basin and other coal. It is found that, when the ash content is reduced in deeper enrichment of coal with an increased content of fine pyrite, there will be accompanying increase in the Fe₂O₃ content and decrease in the SiO₂ content of the ash in lighter fractions. This increases I _b. In other words, reducing the ash content of the coal is an unpromising means of increasing CRI and CSR of the coke produced. Thee ash-containing elements (silicon, aluminum, and iron) are experimentally proven to transfer from coal to coke. Specific behavior of calcium, magnesium, alkali metals, and sulfur during coking.     

Determining the value of coals used for coke production

A method has been developed for determining the technological value of coal in coking, on the basis of the predicted coke strength and coke yield from batch that includes such coal. The prediction of coke strength rests on the chemical and petrographic characteristics of the coal. The value of the coal in batches may be calculated in terms of the product of the coke strength and yield and the coke characteristics for standard batch.     

Effects of weathered coal on coking properties and coke quality

Determinations of weathered coal by petrographic methods, and coking tests in an 18-inch ($\text{≈}\text{1}\text{2}\text{m}$) test oven were used to quantify the effects of weathered coal on coking properties and coke quality. The results show that the presence of weathered coal causes a decrease in coke stability and coking rate and an increase in coke reactivity and coke-breeze generation. Because these effects contribute to increased costs in both the coke plant and the blast furnace, every effort should be made to reduce the amount of weathered coal in coking coal mixes.     

Optimizing the batch composition at OAO Moskoks

A multiple-regression equation is derived to describe the change in hot strength CSR of coke as a function of the coal quality in the batch and the coking parameters. The influence of these parameters on the hot strength of coke is analyzed. A computer program is written for calculating the optimal batch composition on the basis of the available coal.     

Calculating the relative value of coal in Russian coking-coal markets

In order to improve the pricing of Russian coking coal, a method is proposed for calculating the relative technological value of purchased coking-coal batches. The basic idea is to compare the parameters of optimal coking batch and coking batch that includes the purchased coking-coal concentrate and other coals available to a particular buyer. It is shown that the relative technological value of a particular batch of coking-coal concentrate will depend on the parameters of the other coals included in the coking batch at a particular coke plant.     

Plastic wastes, lube oils and carbochemical products as secondary feedstocks for blast-furnace coke production

Two plastic wastes (polyolefin-enriched and multicomponent), two lube oils (paraffinic and synthetic) and one coal-tar were assessed as individual and combined additives to coal blends for the production of blast furnace coke. The effects of adding 2 wt.% of these additives or their mixtures (50:50 w/w) on the coking capacity of coal, coking pressure and coke quality parameters were investigated. It was found that the two plastic wastes reduce fluidity, whereas the addition of oils and tar helps to partially restore the fluidity of the coal-plastic blend. From the co-carbonization of the coking blend with the different wastes in a movable wall oven of over 15 kg capacity, it was deduced that polyolefins have a detrimental effect on coking pressure. The addition of oils and tar to the coal-plastic blend has different modifying effects. Whereas paraffinic oil eliminated the high coking pressure caused by the polyolefins, polyol-ester oil had a weak reducing effect unlike coal-tar which had a strong enhancing effect. The compatibility of the oils/tar with plastics and coal and the beneficial influence of these combinations on coking pressure is discussed in relation to the miscibility of the plastic and the oily and bituminous additives, and the amount and composition of the volatile matter evolved from each additive during pyrolysis as evaluated by thermal analysis. Furthermore, it was found that coke reactivity towards CO₂ (CRI) and coke strength after reaction with CO₂ (CSR) are heavily dependent on the composition of the plastic waste, with polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) having a clear negative effect. The porosity of the cokes obtained from blends containing plastic wastes is always higher, but the pores are smaller in size.     

Assessing the technological value of coal in coking

Coking coal of the same rank from different countries and fields may be distinguished in terms of use value by rating on the basis of seven technological and petrographic characteristics that determine the coke yield and properties: the ash content A^d; the total sulfur content S_t^d; the yield of volatiles V^daf; the plastic-layer thickness y; the vitrinite reflection coefficient R_o; the content of vitrinite-group macerals Vt; and the basicity index B_b. A range of values and a rating (on a scale from 1 to 10) are established for each of these parameters. Each rating corresponds to a particular score (from 0.1 to 1.0). Ranges of A^d, S_t^d, Vt, and B_b are established for the whole metamorphic series, while ranges of V^daf, y, and R_o are established for individual ranks and groups of ranks. Altogether, 105 coking coals from Ukraine, Russia, the United States, Australia, and Canada that are used at Ukrainian coke plants are investigated. The range of rating scores and their mean values are determined for individual coal ranks and groups. As an example, three bituminous coals from Ukraine, the United States, and Australia are compared by the proposed method. This method permits objective assessment of the technological value of coal within a single rank and the selection of the best purchase option.     

Influence of the coking properties of coal batch on coke properties

At OAO Zapadno-Sibirskii Metallurgicheskii Kombinat (ZSMK), research is undertaken to improve the optimization of coking batch. The basic approach, proposed by specialists from OAO Nizhne-tagil’skii Metallurgicheskii Kombinat, employs the coefficient K _opt, which characterizes the deviation of the batch from its optimal composition. The coking properties of the OAO ZSMK coal batch over the last few years are analyzed. After laboratory and industrial coking of batch with different K _opt, the strength and reactivity of the resulting coke is investigated. Evaluation of coke-grade coal in terms of its rank according to State Standard GOST 25543-88 proves inadequate, since coal of the same rank may differ markedly in coking properties. A method is established for assessing the optimality of the coal batch at OAO ZSMK.     

Coal blend moisture—a boon or bane in cokemaking?

A by-product coke making plant is required to supply sufficient coke of good quality and adequate gas of high calorific value for the integrated steel plant to be a going concern. The one element that influences the handling of coal and impacts the operation and efficiency of the plant is moisture. Compared to other important properties of the coal blend, moisture can be easily manipulated. The coal moisture can be increased simply by adding water through hose pipes. Also, it can be reduced to 5–6 mass percent using Coal Moisture Control (CMC) and 2–4 mass percent using Dry-cleaned & Agglomerated Pre-compaction System (DAPS). Moisture content is one among the many variables affecting the bulk density of coal blend and those controlling the coke qualities and yield. Increase in moisture reduces coal grindability, coking pressure and internal gas pressure; helps in dust suppression during charging and hence reduces jamming of ascension pipes and hydraulic main. Batteries charging coals with high moisture content are not troubled with roof carbon deposits. It was observed that when moisture content in coal blend of SAIL-Bokaro Steel Plant increased to more than 8.50%, the calorific value of coke oven gas improved. In the working moisture range of 9–11%, the increase of the yield of coke oven gas per 1% of working moisture is 5.2 m³. Studies have shown, however, that the increase in moisture content of coal beyond 8% hampers strong coke formation. Pre-carbonization preheating process generally showed an increase in the proportion of 40–80 mm coke, compared with wet charges. For SAILBokaro coke ovens, driving out 1% moisture from coal blend requires 125 Mega-calories of heat/oven. With lesser moisture, the emission of NO _x in atmosphere will also be low. On using dry to low moisture coal blend, the swelling of coke mass increases leading to difficulty in oven pushings. Hence, an optimum level of moisture content of charge coal needs to be maintained for improving coke oven productivity, coke quality and operational smoothness. The coke oven managers all around the globe maintain this optimum level according to their requirement, the operating conditions, the quality of product and by products, the oven health & age and the ease of handling.     

Influence of the size distribution of batch components on coke quality

Different degrees of crushing of coal in different technological groups, with constant rank and granulometric composition of the batch, significantly affect all the basic characteristics of coking: the packing density of the batch, the yield and strength (M ₂₅ and M ₁₀) of the coke, and its granulometric composition. That influence is practically always expressed through the products of factors (the contents of coals of different rank and different size class in the batch). This indicates systematic interaction of the components.     

Kuznetsk Basin coking coal: Reserves and technological value

Reserves of Kuznetsk Basin coking coal are analyzed, in terms of rank composition and scope for coke production. The technological value of the coal is evaluated by the OOO VNITs Ugol method, in comparison with the rankings provided by State Standard GOST 25543-88.     

Elegest coal in coking batch at OAO EVRAZ ZSMK

The coking of batch with different proportions of Elegest coal from the Ulug-Khemsk Basin is investigated in laboratory and production conditions. The mechanical strength of the coke is improved when such coal is used in the batch. At the same time, CSR falls, while CRI rises.     

Thermogravimetric investigations in prediction of coking behaviour and coke properties derived from inertinite rich coals

The coal quality, temperature, pressure, heating rate, various processes and reactor type affect coking behaviour of coal and resulting coke properties. Several petrographic and chemical methods were proposed earlier for prediction of coking behaviour of coals. Inertinite rich coal samples (I^mmf>30 vol%) having different petrographic compositions were selected for thermogravimetric investigations (DTA, DTG and TGA) and their coking behaviour was studied. The petrographic build up, micro-structural properties (porosity and cell wall thickness) and mechanical strength of the resulted cokes were also investigated. ΔH and ΔH_max (the main endothermic area of heat absorption and fast absorbing main endothermic area, respectively) were distinguished in DTA curves. ΔA and ΔA_max (the main decomposition area and fast disintegrating main decomposition area) under DTG curves were identified. ΔH_max/ΔA_max shows good correlation with Roga's indices (RI, caking properties) as well as with petrographic caking ratio (PCR). The coarse mosaic content of cokes seem to depend on LΔT_max/ΔT_max (ratio of weight loss during fast decomposing main reaction to temperature difference) under DTG. L^mΔT/ΔT (ratio of weight loss during main decomposing reaction to temperature difference) under DTG exhibits correlation with p₁ (mean pore size) and t₁ (mean cell wall thickness) of cokes. ΔA_max/(L^mΔT_max) also indicates good relationship with mechanical strength of cokes. (L^mΔT_A−T_B)/(L^mΔT) (i.e. ratio of weight loss during main endothermic reaction under DTA to weight loss during main decomposing reaction) appears to have relationship with DD (compactness) of cokes. The course of main endothermic reaction/main decomposition reaction under DTA, DTG and TGA seems to govern coking behaviour and the resulting coke strength, which in turn is controlled by microlithotypes.