Coal

Coal is a combustile Black or brownish black sedimentary rock, formed as lock strata called coal seams.
Coal is mostly Carbon with variable amount of other element like Hydrogen, sulphur, Oxygen and
nitrogen. Coal is formed if dead plant matter declays into peat and over millions of years the heat and
pressure of deep burial converts the peat into coal.

It is an aggregate of hetergenos substance and inorganic materials or it is a secondary rock

formed by minerals and certain more organic then mineral matters. It is a major source energy
contribution to about 65 % of the total energy consumption in the world scenario.

 It is also called as Black gold.

 It contain carbon, volatile matter, moisture and ash.
 It is mostly used for power generation and metallergy.
 Coal reserves are six times greater than oil & petroleum reserves.
B.K. Majmuder define coal as
C- Carbon
O- Oxygen
A- Anthracite
L- Lignite

Formation of soil
During the carboniferous age, the earth had large amounts of plant life and dense forests in swampy and
low-lying wetland areas. Plants and other life forms, after their death, drifted down to the bottom of the
swamps, where they were compressed and decomposed to form peat. Coal was formed due to the
compression of the Peat at high temperature and pressure As coal was formed from the remains of
vegetation, it is also called a fossil fuel.

Type of figure

Depending upon the formation at various stages, the coal can be divided into:-

Peat:- It is first stage of transformation. It contains less than 40 to 55 percent carbon. It contains
sufficient volatile matter and lot of moisture

Figure Peat

Lignite:- It is brown & lower grade coal. It contains 40 To 55 percent carbon. It is a intermediate stage
moisture content is high in lignite.
 Fig Lignite

Bituminous Coal:- It is a soft coal and is most widely available & used coal. It derives from name of liquid
called bitumen. It contains 40 to 80 percent carbon.

Fig bituminous

Anthrecite Coal :- It is a best quality hard coal. It contains 80 to 95 percent carbon. It contains very little
volatile matter. It has negligibly small proportion of moisture.

Fig Anthrecite

About CSIR-CIMFR (Regional Centre Capital, Ranchi)

CSIR CIMFR:- (Central Institute & Fuel Research) Regional Centre, Ranchi is recognised by Council of
scientific and Industrial Research Ministry of Science and Technology, Government It is located by,
Council of Samlong,
P.O.- Namkum Dist- Ranchi- 834010 Jharkhand (India) having its website address of
http:// www.CIMFR.nic.in also it is an ISO 9001 Institution and its scientist in change is Dr. M.L. Banra. It
has its headquarters at Dhanbad which is known as CSIR-CIMFR
The Laboratory, the Central Institute of Mining & Fuel Research (CIMFR) Regional Centre Ranchi
is a Constituent laboratory of Council of Scientific and industrial Research (CSIR) was aimed to provider
R & G inputs for entire Coal Energy chain from mining to consumption through integration of the core
Competencies of the two (CFRI-CMRI) premier Coal Institution of the country providing basic research,
R4D backup, advisory service and help in technology production up-gradation & adoption to coal and
mineral based industries to reach the targeted production with high standard of safety, economy &
cleaner environment. As such CIMFR, Ranchi unit would have its own vision for discharging its national
role effectively to help coal, minerals & other associated industries to get their vision translated into
reality.

As Such CFRI (Central Research Institute) Dhanbad was first established in 1946, which uses inaugurated
by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. And in 1952, CFRI Ranchi unit was established. In 2007, CMRI & CFRI was
merged and new name CSRI-CIMFR have given whose headquarter in Parmar Road Dhanbad. It is
Successfully running in the service of Government and its people for research work done in coal in its
equipped coal laboratory having its three core branches of Geology Section, Proximate Section and
Ultimate Section.

Major Coal Field In India

India is one of the richest countries of mineral resources in the world. Since India`s internal structure of
earth is the product of ancient hard rock`s therefore all types of mineral are found here. Gondawana
rock are the richest mineral deposits in India. Coal account for approx 67% of total commercial energy
produced in India and 98% of India total account is found in Gondwana rocks of Moren region. The main
regions of Gondwana Rocks are found in Westbengal, Jharkhand and Odisha.

State coalfield West Bengal Raniganj oldest coalfield in India jharkhand' Jharia largest Bokaro Dhanbad
Giridih Karampura Ramgarh Daltonganj Madhya Pradesh s i n g r a u l i s u h a g p u r j o h i l a Umaria
Satpura coalfield Odisha culture ham p I i m g i r i Rampur Andhra Pradesh K e l tapalli s i n g a r e l i
Assam MCU najira janji Jaipur
Chemical Properties of Coal
Coal comes in four main types or links i.e. ligite, bitutminous, anthrecite 4 graphite. each type of Coal
has a certain set of physical parameters which see mostly controlled by moisture, volatile content and
carbon content.
Moisture:- Moisture is an important property of coals as all coals aur mined wet. Groundwater and
other extraneous moisture is known as adventitious moisture & is leadily evaporated. Moisture held
within the Coal itself is known as inherent moisture and is analysed quantitatively.
Coal is of good quality if it containsless moisture. Coal is hygroscopic in nature so it can easily absorb
water from environment. Caking coal has 0.5% to 1.5% moisture sometimes it raise to 2%.
Moisture may occur inpossible forms with in coal:
 Free moisture
 Surface moisture:- water held on the surface of coil particles
 Hygroscopic moisture:- water held by Capillary action within the microfractures of the coal.
 Decomposition moisture:- water held within the coal`s decomposed organic compounds.
 Mineral moisture:- water which compreses part of the crystal structure of hydrous silicates such
as clays. Excessive moisture is unwanted form customer point of view because calorific value
with decrease and extra heat will be required for converting water into vapour state. Moisture is
determined by using an in apparatus “Moisture oven”.

Moisture oven

Ash:- Ash content of coal is the non-combustible or inorganic residue left after coal is burnt. It represent
the bulk mineral matter after carbon, oxygen Sulphur and water has been driven off during Combustion.
Ash content may be determined as air dried basic and on oven dried basic.
Caking coal contains 15% Ah in some case up to 17% thermal plant use non-caking coal that has
34% +- 2% Ash. If there is excess of ash upto 40% to 42% then it was washed in different specific gravity
liquid to reduce the ash percent upto 30% to 34%
The Colour of the ash is important parameter, If the colour of the ash is white then silica or
ammonia present is high and will surely have high refractive index. If ash is coloured then it will surely
have high refractive index. Dur to Presence of iron and will show fluxing effect. Ash is determined by
using an apparetus “Ash Furnace”.
Volatile Matter:- Volatile matter in coal refers to the components of coal, except for moisture, which is
liberated at high temperature in the absence of air. The hydrocelions like ethane, benzene are present
as volatile. VM is determined by Carbonisation i.e., heating in absence of air.
If bead formation occurs after heating then it is of coherent nature. If no bead formation occurs
after heating then it is non-coking coal and non-coherent nature. After heating in absence of air,if hard-
bead formation accurs, then it is coking Coal. After heating in absence of air, if less-bead formation
occurs, then it is weekly coking coal.

Caking Coal:- Caking coal is the coal which will form a solid residue on heating to very high temperature
around 11000C in the absence of oxygen.It is used in steel industry.
NonCaking Coal:- Non-Caking Coal is the coal which will form powder residue on heating to very high
temperature around 11000C in the absence or veryless amount of oxygen.
Non caking Coal is used in thermal industry. It has higher ash content and also used in industries like
cement,fertilizer,glass etc.

Caking Coal is called as caking coal if the Solid Residue formed is coke.

Fixed Carbon:- The fixed carbon content of the coal is the carbon found in the material which is left
after volatile material are driven off. This differs from the ultimate carbon content of the coal because
some carbon is lost in hydrocarbons with the volatiles. Fixed carbon is used as an estimate of the
amount of Coke that will be yeilded from the sample of coal. Fixed carbon is determined by removing
the mass of volatiles determined by the volatility test.
Analysis of Coil
Coal analysis techniques are specific analytical methods designed to measure the particular physical and
chemical properties of Coals. These methods are used primarily to determine the suitability of coal for
coking, power generation or for iron are smelting in the manufacture of Steel
Coal is analysed in three sections:-
1> GEOLOGY SECTION
2> PROXIMATE SECTION
3> ULTIMATE SECTION

Geology Section

Geology Section is the primary section in the field of research and conclusion of the primary
investigation done thereby with the various samples sent in the CIMFR for assessment. This sections has
three work places in itself which are:-

 Coal Core Receiving Centre

 Coal Core Logging Room
 Sub-Sampling Room
Logging of Coal Core:- Logging is a process information about the thickness,depth,lithology,roof and
properties of coal seems. In bore hole characteristics.

Step1:- The legend is the first studies thoroughly to assess the no of bones name of Block & C.F., Depth,
Seem thickness & recovery etc.
Step2:- The Steeling depth & final depth maker in coal core box is tallied with legend & recovery
thickness of each seam is measured & tailed with legends if there are some smell anomalies in the
recovery thickness observed in the core box, the anomaly is large, then the recovered thickness
mentioned in the legend.
Step3:- Coal diameter is measured. Now the Coal Core is broken into slices 1cm thickness & immersed
into an organic liquid carbon tetrachloride. If the bands float over the liquid, then it is marked as “Coal”
& if the bands sink into the liquid it is marked as “Shale” such individual bands are separated from each
other once thickness of 5cm or more is achieved for anindividual band.
Step4:- The individual caol bands are labeled as A/c1, A/c2,B/c1, B/c2 etc where A,B is seam number and
C1,C2 are the coal band number, similarly the shaly coal carbonaceous Shale bands are labeled as A/b1,
B/b1 etc.
Step5:- Weight of individual coal, shaly coal & carbonaccous shale bands are taken & noted down in the
register.
Sub-Sampling:- In this section reduction of coal is done by weight & size of coal. Sampling occurs in
three steps:-
Crushing is the process in which coal core of suitable size are crushed into smaller size
1. Crushing:- The given coal is crushed in JAIN CRUSHER, where input size is 50mm to 0mm &
output size is 13mm to 0mm.
Double Roller Crushers are used for the Crushing

2. CONING & QUARTERING

 The sample which is crushed to 3.35mm is now heaped in the shape of cone by passing one
scoopful of the material after another at the apex of the cone till the entire samples has
been coned. The material is allowed to slide down the cone only under the influence of
gravity.
 The cone is now flatten evenly so that it forms a low circular pile. This is then cut into four
quarters along two diameter which intersects at right angles. One Retained sample is
reduced weight of 2kg which size is 3.35mm
3. Grinding:- In Grinding, the sample is passed through Raymond mill which a 212 micron sieve is
fitted. Then the sample is glind to the required size. If some of the sample is found to be over
sized then it is pandered & again passed through the 212 micron sieve. This process is repeated
till the whole sample is passed through 212 micron sieve.

Proximate Section
Proximate analysis helps in giving a vague idea about the quality of coal used in different industries
based on their requirement. After the coal and sample is analysed in the geology section, the coal is sent
to proximate section by make a good sample of 212 micron for analysis.
 Proximate analysis of coal consists of determination of
1. Moisture
2. Ash
3. Volatile Matter
4. Fixed Carbon

Moisture determination
Coal is of good quality it is containsless moisture.
Apparatus used
 Moisture oven
 Silica dish
Procedure
 1gm of dried sample is taken an a silica dish
 Silica dish is put in the moisture oven and heated to a temperature of 1080 +- 20c
 The loss of the weight before and after the heating is taken as moisture.
Uses of moisture determination
 Moisture test is used to determine the maturity of coal.
 The moisture values are essential in connection with the handling and pulverising of coal.
Sample – {a}
Moisture dish no. -14/v7
Moisture dish weight (empty)w1 = 39. 4665
Moisture dish weight (with simple) w2=40.6 215
Weight of sample taken 1.1548
Weight of sample after heating (free from (W3) moisture) = 40.5372
loss of weight =w2 - w3
=40.6 215 - 40.5 372
=0.8 41
Moisture Percentage = Loss Of Weight
sample of weight
= 0.08473 11.1 5487. 2826 moisture dish number 7/a27
monster dish weight w1 36.8 862 Monsters dish weight w2 38.0 869 weight of sample taken one point
2007 weight of sample after heating free from moisture W3 37.9 996 loss of weight W 2 W3 38.0 869
37.9 996 0.0 873 moisture percentage loss of weight sample weight 0.087 3 PowerPoint 2007 7.2 707
average 7.2 826 Plus 7.2 707 is 14.5 533 ash termination Ash is determined by complete combustion of
the inorganic mineral matter of coal. The mineral matter in coal may of two types:-
(i) Inherent mineral matter
(ii) Adventitious mineral matters
Ash is a method of Combustion Mineral matter like calcite, gypsum etc that are left
Behind after burning is called ash. Ash percent gives the idea of AFT (Ash Fusion
Temperature) refectory or non-refectory nature.
Apparatus used:-
 Electric balance
 Muffel Furnace
 Silica Dish
Procedure:- 1gm of air dried coal ground to pass through 212 microns IS sieve is taken insilica dish

 The dish with thingly spread coal is heated in a muffle furnace.

 The temperature is raised to 5000c in 30min & to 815+- 150c in another 30min to 60min. The
temperature is maintained to another 60min.
 The dish is taken out & cooled in desiccators & weighed.
 The Difference in weight before & after the heating gives the weight of ash.
Use of Ash Determination:-
 It acts as a binding agent in the formation of hard coke.
 It may for extraction valuable were earth elements.
Volatile Matter Determination:-
The Volatile matter of a coal is extremely important in accessing the use for which the coal is suitable.
The volatile matter is the loss in massless then due to moisture in order to ensure accurate result, It is
the test that should be carefully controlled volatile matter greater than 28% to 30% is not used in either
steel plant or thermal plants.
Apparatus Used:- Electric balance
VM Furnace

Procedure:- Crucible with a lid is measured by weighing in electric balance.

 1gm of air dried coal is taken in crucible &placed in the furnace & heated to 9000c +- 100c for
a period of 7 min.
 The loss in the weight after heating is calculated as percentage of the sample taken for the
test. This gives percentages of the moisture and volatile matter.
 To obtain the percentage of volatile matter the moisture content is deducted from total
percentages of V.M. obtained the volatile matter determination.

Uses of VM determination
It is essential for determining the maturity of coal.
It is used to evaluate the extent of carbonization.
Analysis of sample for volatile matter determination as conducted at CIMFR
Sample A
Volatile matter (VM) Crucible no.- B
Weight of empty crucible – R1
Weight of crucible with sample –R2
Weight of sample-1gm

Weight of VM crucible with sample (after heating)-R3

Weight loss=R2-R3
VM% ={(weight loss/weight of sample)X100}
=[(R2-R3)/R2-R1)]X100

Where,
R1 = weight of empty crucible
R2 = weight of empty crucible &weight of sample
R3= weight of empty crucible &weight of ash after heating
VM% = Volatile matter percentages
M=moisture
Fixed carbon determination
It is the actual carbon content in the coal.
 The heat value given by any fuel after burning the coal is called the calorific value.
 Initial diffusion temperature, should always be more then 14000c
 Fixed carbon is the weight loss upon combustion of a delocalised coal sample.
 IT is estimated by deducting the sum total of moisture percentage VM %,Ash% from hundreds.
 The carbon content not the same as the total carbon content of a coal.
Used of fixed carbon:-
 It is useful in classification, combustion & carbonisation of coal.
 It is used as an indication of yield of coke to be expected when coal is subjected to carbonisation
for coking.
Fixed carbon=[100-(Ash+moisture +VM)%]

Ultimate Section
Ultimate Analysis of coal indicates the component percentage basic of elements like carbon, hydrogen,
sulphur, nitrogen, oxygen & nitrogen which will be basic for computing the combustion air required. This
analysis is essential for calculating the heat balances in any process for which coal is employed as a fuel.

Ultimate analysis involves the following determination

 Carbon & Hydrogen :-

The principle of the method is simple. Nearly 2g of accurately weighed coal sample is burnt in a
combustion apparatus in a current of air.
As a result C & H present in the coal are converted into Co2 & H20 respectively. These are then absorbed
in KoH & cacl2 absorption tubes respectively. The percentage of carbon & hydrogen can be calculated
from the Increase in weight of the respective absorption tubes.
Percent carbon (C%) = increase in wt of koH tube ×12×100
Wt . Of the coal sample ×44
Less is the hydrogen content, the better is the coal. high percentage of carbon in coal reduces the size of
combustion chamber.
  Nitrogen:-
It is possible to determine nitrogen by taking 1g of coal sample in kjeldahl flask with concentrated H2so4
k2so4 & Hgso4 So that nitrogen of the sample gets converted into ammonium salt. The clear solution thus
obtained is then made alkaline with NaoH and liberated ammonia is-distilled over into a measured
amount of standard acid solution, where it gets absorbed. The unreacted acid is then determined by
back titration with standard NaoH solution. From the volume of the acid used by liberated ammonia, the
percentage of nitrogen in coal can be calculated as:-

Percentage of nitrogen= Volume of acid used × normality ×1.4

Wt.of coal sample taken

The presence of nitrogen in coal is undesirable because it has no calorific value.

 Oxygen:- In ultimate analysis the composition of coal can be expressed in the form of
percentages of ash S,C,H,N and O. Then sum of all these constituents is taken as 100% As oxygen
cannot be determined by any suitable method, its estimation is performed by subtracting the
sum of other constituents (ash, carbon, sulphur, nitrogen & hydrogen) from 100

Percentage of oxygen =100-percentage of (C+H+N+S+ash)

Calorific Value

The Calorific value of coal is defined as “the amount of heat obtained by complete combustion of unit
mass o coal".
It is the important property of coal. It is a type of measure obtained by burning the coal & it is
most important parameter for the assessment of coal because the use of coal is based on the available
heat that is produced from it. The Calorific value is determined in the laboratory with a bomb
calorimeter. The coal is burnt in the burnt in the atmosphere of oxygen under the pressure of about 25
atomic pressure. The bomb is placed in an exactly known quantity of water. The heat produced is
absorbed in the water. The calorific value is expressed in calories.
There are two kinds of heat of combustion, called higher and lower heating value, depending on
how much the products are allowed to cool & whether compounds like H2O are allowed to condense.

Higher Heating Value

Or
Gross Calorific Value

The quantity known as higher heating value (HHV) or Gross Calorific Value (GCV) is determined by
bringing all the products of Combustion back to the Orignal Pre- Combustion temperature, & in
particular Condensing any vapour produced.
In other words HHV assumes all the water component is in liquid state at the end of
combustion.
Gross Calorific Value of Same as Calculated.

Sl. No Sample Name GCV(Kcal/kg)

1 Coal -1 5155
2 Coal -2 3715
3 Coal -3 5880
4 Coal -4 5615
5 Coal -5 4110

Conclusion

Energy is a prime economic importance coal is an important source of energy. The extract from coal
depends on the quality of coal which varies with its varying composition. The portion of the constituent
of coal differs within wide limits and varies from seem to seem.
Proximate analysis is the basic analysis of coal includes the analysis of moisture, ash, volatile
matter and fixed carbon. This analysis helps in grading & ranking of coal which affects the market value
of coal.
Proximate analysis is widely used for industrial purposes.
As seen earlier ultimate analysis of coal involves the estimation of the proportion of Carbon,
Nitrogen, Oxygen, sulphur & Phosphorous. The amount of carbon, hydrogen & nitrogen determined
directly but of oxygen is undesirable as it not only reduces the heating value of coal but also affects its
coking property.

INDEX

Sl. No Description Page No.

1. About CSIR-CIMFR (Regional Centre)
2. Coal
(a)Formation of Coal
(b)Types of Coal
3. Chemical properties of Coal
(a)Moisture
(b)Ash
(c)Volatile Matter
(d)Fixed Carbon
4. Major Coal fields in India
5. Analysis of Coal
6. Geology Section
7. Proximate Section
A Moisture Determination
B Ash Determination
C Volatile Determination
 8. Ultimate Section
9. Calorific Section
10. Gross Calorific Value
11. Conclusion
12.

Moisture determination
Coal is of good quality if it containsless moisture.
AIM:- To determine the moisture percentage of given sample

APPARATUS USED:-
 Moisture Oven
 Silica Dish
PROCEDURE
 1gm of dried sample is taken in a Silica dish.
 Silica dish is put in the moisture oven & heated to a temperature of 1080+- 20C
 The loss of the weight before & after the heating is taken as moisture.
OBSERVATION:-
Ash Determination

Ash is determined by Complete Combustion of the inorganic mineral matter of coal. The mineral matter
of coal may of two types:
1> Inherent mineral matter
2> Adventitious mineral matter
Ash is a method of Combustion. Mineral Matter like Calcite, gypsum etc. that are left behind burning is
called Ash. Ash percent gives the idea of AFT
(Ash fusion temperature), Refractory or non-refractory nature.
AIM:- To determine the ash percentage of given sample.
APPARATUS Used:-
 Electric Balance
 Muffel Furnace
 Silica Dish
PROCEDURE:-
 1gm of air dried coal ground to pass through 212 micron, Is sieve is taken in silica dish.
 The coal in the dish was thinly spread & heated in a muffle furnace.
 The temperature is raised to 5000c in 30min & to 815+- 150c in another 30min to 60min. The
temperature is maintained to another 60min.
 The difference in weight before & after the heating gives the weight of ash.
Colour of Ash
 The colour of ash is important parameter, If the colour of ash is white then silica or aluminium is
present in high amount & it have very high refractive index.
 If the colour of ash is brown then iron is present.
 If the colour of ash is deep brown then high percentage of iron is present.
 If the ash is coloured then its refractive index will not be high due to the presence of iron.

Uses of Ash determination

 It acts as a binding agent in the formation of hard coke.
 It may for extraction valuable rare earth elements.
Uses of moisture determination
Mositure test is used to determine the maturity of coal.
The moisture values are essential in connection with the handling & pulverising of coal.