Investigation into the Effect of Multi-Component Coal Blends on Properties of Metallurgical Coke via Petrographic Analysis under Industrial Conditions

Abstract

The coalification rank of the coal blend components and their caking properties initially impact the coke’s quality. In part, the quality of coke depends on the technological parameters of the coke production technology, such as the method of blend preparation, the coking condition, the design features of the coke ovens, and the technique used for post-oven treatment. Therefore, to improve the coke quality, the main attention is paid to the quality of the coal blend. The petrographic analysis is the simplest and most reliable way to control coal quality indicators under industrial conditions. In this paper, the effect of nine industrial blends on coke quality using petrographic analysis has been studied. Additionally, this paper addresses the efficient use of coals and the preparation of coal mixtures under industrial conditions, which contributes to the sustainability of cokemaking. For the preparation of blends, 17 coals were used, for which, in addition to petrographic and proximate analyzes, the maximum thickness of the plastic layer was determined. Industrially produced cokes were analyzed for coke reactivity index (CRI), coke strength after reaction with CO2 (CSR), and Micum indices (M25 and M10). It has been established that the petrographic properties of coal blends are reliable parameters for assessing the quality of coke under conditions of an unstable raw material base, multi-component blends, and changes in coking regimes. Moreover, the research results have shown that to ensure the rational use of coals in the preparation of coal blends to achieve the required coke quality and consequently the sustainability of cokemaking, it is necessary to consider not only the mean reflectance of vitrinite but the proximate and caking properties of coals.

Biocoke Thermochemical Properties for Foamy Slag Formations in Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking

“…The temperature was elevated to 1600 • C and held for 1 h to ensure complete melting. Following the foaming tests, liquid nitrogen was employed to rapidly cool and solidify the foam structure, after which it was allowed to naturally cool to ambient temperature [29][30][31].…”

Ensuring a safe geomechanical state of the rock mass surrounding the mine workings in the Karaganda coal basin, Kazakhstan

“…Conducting of mine workings is one of the main mining production technological processes. Accordingly, it is also characterized by the largest number of possible emergencies and accidents, among which rock caving ranks second (after gas-dynamic events) [11], [12].…”

Investigation of the Impact of Biochar Application on Foaming Slags with Varied Compositions in Electric Arc Furnace-Based Steel Production

“…At the same time, some iron in the slag will be reduced [2,7]. Fossil fuel carbon sources [8], namely, coal or cokes (metallurgical or petroleum), are commonly used as injected and charged carbon in the EAF process [9,10]. Applying conventional carbon sources has been extensively studied [10][11][12][13], and the main results have been analyzed in previous studies [14].…”