SOLID FUELS

Coal. Its main constituents are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, moisture and ash. Coal passes through different stages during its formation from vegetation. These stages are enumerated and discussed below :

Plant debris—Peat—Lignite—Brown coal—sub-bituminous coal—Bituminous coal—Semibituminous coal—Semi-anthracite coal—Anthracite coal—Graphite.

Peat. It is the first stage in the formation of coal from wood. It contains huge amount of moisture and therefore it is dried for about 1 to 2 months before it is put to use. It is used as a domestic fuel in Europe and for power generation in Russia. In India it does not come in the categories of good fuels.

Lignites and brown coals. These are intermediate stages between peat and coal. They have a woody or often a clay like appearance associated with high moisture, high ash and low heat contents. Lignites are usually amorphous in character and impose transport difficulties as they break easily. They burn with a smoky flame. Some of this type are suitable for local use only.

Bituminous coal. It burns with long yellow and smoky flames and has high percentages of volatile matter. The average calorific value of bituminous coal is about 31350 kJ/kg. It may be of two types, namely caking or noncaking.

Semi-bituminous coal. It is softer than the anthracite. It burns with a very small amount of smoke. It contains 15 to 20 per cent volatile matter and has a tendency to break into small sizes during storage or transportation.

Semi-anthracite. It has less fixed carbon and less lustre as compared to true anthracite and gives out longer and more luminous flames when burnt.

Wood charcoal. It is obtained by destructive distillation of wood. During the process the volatile matter and water are expelled. The physical properties of the residue (charcoal), however depends upon the rate of heating and temperature.

Coke. It consists of carbon, mineral matter with about 2% sulphur and small quantities of hydrogen, nitrogen and phosphorus. It is solid residue left after the destructive distillation of certain kinds of coals. It is smokeless and clear fuel and can be produced by several processes. It is mainly used in blast furnace to produce heat and at the same time to reduce the iron ore.

Briquettes. These are prepared from fine coal or coke by compressing the material under high pressure.

Anthracite. It is very hard coal and has a shining black lustre. It ignites slowly unless the furnace temperature is high. It is non-caking and has high percentage of fixed carbon. It burns either with very short blue flames or without flames. The calorific value of this fuel is high to the tune of 35500 kJ/kg and as such is very suitable for steam generation.