Fluidity Development During Coking
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Faculty of Engineering
Abstract
Metallurgical coke is a porous carbonaceous material used in blast furnaces to reduce metal ores and is produced in coke ovens by carbonisation of coking coals at temperatures in excess of 1000C. Good coking coals develop thermoplastic or fluid properties upon heating (400-500C) that control the most important properties of coke, i.e. mechanical strength and reactivity. In order to characterise the fluid material of coking coals. Nottingham has developed high-temperature rheometry and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to follow fluidity development in-situ. A thorough understanding of individual coals has bene obtained and the aim know is to develop the techniques for blends actually used for coke making. The research is most suited for a chemist with interests in thermal conversion and analytical techniques.
People |
ORCID iD |
| George Thomas (Student) |
| Description | As coking coal enters a viscoelastic state during heating in an inert atmosphere, techniques such as high temperature oscillatory shear rheometry can be used to study the fluid development of these materials. High quality coking coals show a good fluid profile as obtained from rheometry and hence this technique can indicate the behaviour of the coal on a larger scale. However, such materials are expensive and of limited abundance, hence TATA Steel are looking to use cheaper coals to use in multi-component blends to reduce operational costs and use more available resources. To date there has been very little advances in the methodology used to study these samples, along with any models to predict the viscoelastic behaviour of coking coals and their blends. During the project I have attempted to develop a new methodology for the study of coking coals to enable a more thorough understanding of the fluid development of the samples and to hopefully use the data to develop a model to predict the viscoelastic parameters of the single coals and their blends to be used by TATA Steel for coal quality analysis. With the development of a successful model, cheaper coals could be incorporated into blends for the use in coke making. Significant progress has been made where a new methodology has been developed for the study of coking coals through rheometry, showing promise for comparisons with industry standard procedures. The results using the new methodology show good comparisons with the previous standard methodology from literature. Extensive work has been performed to ensure the efficacy of the new methodology for its use for the study of coals which has outlined the differences in measurement with the previous methodology. A publication detailing the development of the new methodology is currently being worked up. In previous work on the study of viscoelasticity of coking coals, limited work has been done to expand the available data obtained from the tests where complex viscosity has been used as the staple of fluid measurements. In the project I have shown that other parameters can show equally important findings to describe the fluid generation of the coal which would otherwise be unavailable from complex viscosity trends. The use of other parameters has also elucidated new information about the behaviour of blends of coals which do not match previous models to predict the viscosity of blends. High temperature NMR has also been performed on the single coals to outline the role of fluid hydrogen on the viscoelastic properties of the coals, where correlations have been made with the rheometric data. NMR of blends of coals has commenced in order to hopefully develop more understanding as to how these complex systems behave on the molecular level. |
| Exploitation Route | There are plans for publications on the work from the project so far, along with planned work in the future to enable further publications. As such, this work will enable further study into this research area as high quality coking coal abundance dwindles and the use of cheaper resources becomes ever more necessary. With the development of a new methodology for the study of coals, this can be used in the future to study coals alongside previously utilised techniques. The novel methodology could also be applied for the study of similar viscosity materials such as polymers, gels, colloids and coking coal alternatives. |
| Sectors | Chemicals,Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Description | In November I attended the International Conference on Coal Science and Technology in Krakow giving an oral presentation about my findings to date. Present in the audience were members of other research institutes and industry representatives. With the research being very much applicable to heavy industry, there was significant interest in the findings to date and what the possible applications of it would be, where the use of cheaper resources was very appealing to industry based representatives. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | International Conference on Coal Science and Technology 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | I attended the International Conference on Coal Science and Technology in Krakow where delegates from industry and research attended my oral presentation. This initiated multiple lines of conversation about the impacts of my research and the importance that it has for the steel industry. Due to the novelty of the research there was significant interest in its operation and its use for the study of coals as opposed to previously used measurements. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |