Coal

Coal is mixture of organic and inorganic matter in another way coal is combustile
black or brownish black hydrogeneous sedimentary rock usually occuring in rock
strata in layers called coal beds or coal seams. It is fossil fuel that was formed by
decay and decomposition of vegetal matter under suitable physico chemical
condition. It powers power plant and factories.

It is composed primarily of carbon along with other variable quantities of

other element chiefly hydrogen, sulphur oxygen and nitrogen. And it is extracted
from the ground by coal mining.

Formula And Structure

Types of Coal

Coal is classified into four types according to its chemical and physical state are-

1. Peat
2. Lignite
3. Bituminous
4. Anthracite
1. Peat:- It is Soft Black Or brown natural substance that is formed from dead
plants Just under the surface of the ground under suitable physico chemical
condition.
It is the first stage in the formation of coal.

2. Lignite:- Lignite is referred to brown coal is a soft, brown, combustible,

sedimentary rock formed from naturally compressed peat. It is considered
the lowest rank of coal due to its relatively Low heat content. It has a
carbon content around 60 to 70 percent.
3. Bituminous:- Bituminous is black, soft coal containing a tar like substance
called bitumen. It is of higher quality than Lignite coal but poorer quality
than anthracite. It is formed as more pressure is applied to lignite coal. The
 carbon content of bituminous coal is around 60-80%. It is classified into
bituminous and Sub-bituminous. The difference is that sub-bituminous is
the transition stage from lignite to bituminous. It is widely used in United
States and across Europe.
4. Anthracite:- Anthracite coal is metamorphic rock and is considered as the
highest grade coal. It is hard and black in colour. It has the highest carbon
content, the fewest impurities and the highest energy density. It contains
carbon 92 to 98 percent and Ash 12-20 percent.

FORMATION OF COAL

Coal was formed from the dead mass of vegetation burried under rock over
millions of years, heat and pressure changed the dead plant matter into
hard substance that was coal. It is one of the most valuable minerals found
in the Earth`s crust.

Composition of coal

Coal field in Jharkhand

 The coal chiefly in Damuda series of lower Gondwana in main

horizons.
 The lower or barakar measures and
 The Upper or Raniganj measures separated by 1500 of Iron stone
shells.

Resource quality Assesment of coal

Industrial evolution and Efficient use of coal require a no. of laboratory test and
analysis viz. proximate, ultimate, GCV, grind ability list ash fusion test, ash
analysis.
Quality Assignment of Coal Sample:-

By proximate analysis of coal is very important among all the above tests and
analysis because it thrones light on the nature of coal as well as industrial use
within a few hours.

Proximate Analysis:- The Proximate Analysis of coal gives an idea about the
nature of coal and determines the different product obtained on heating and
oxidations of coal under specified condition. The analysis is done on air- dry
sample of coal passed through 211 micron and it involves the determination of
moisture, ash volatile matter, free carbon percentage.

Ultimate analysis:- The ultimate analysis or elementary determines the carbon,

hydrogen, Sulphur and oxygen of pure coal (organic mass).

Geology Section

Sampling and Sub-Sampling of Coal

Sampling of coal is referred as a portion of coal that is representative of the coal

in the unit from an amount of sample.

And gross reduction of sample by size and weight is called ‘Sub-Sampling’.

Method Of Sampling And Sub-Sampling:-

1. Logging of coal are:-

Step1:- The Legend is first studied thoroughly to assess the no. of boxes name of
block starting depth, Seam thickness and recovery thickness.

Step 2:- Core diameter is measured now the coal core is broken into an organic
liquid carbon Tetrachloride (spgr-1.58-1.60). If the band floats on the liquid then it
is marked as “Shally coal” or “Carbonaceous Shale” or any other type of shale
depending upon the minerals assemblage observed through eye estimation. Such
individual bands separated from each other once thickness of 5 cm or more to
achieved from an individual band.

Step 3:- The individual coal bands are labeled as A/c and A/C2, B/C1 B/C2 etc.
where A,B are the seams no and C1, C2 are the coal bands.

Similarly the shally coal band are also labeled as A/b1 , B/b1 etc. The Shale`s such
as sadistic shale sand stone, pyrites, black shale`s are labeled as NTA (note to be
analysed).

Step 4:- Weight of individual shally and carbonaceous shale band are taken and
noted down in the register. Now the samples are sent to sub-sampling section.

Reaction of gross sample and preparation of laboratory sample (IS 436 - part 1,
1964) for small coal (Coal with nominal size 5 to 10 cm).

Process of Sub Sampling:-

2. Crushing :- The process is used to reduce the size of coal sample.

(fig)

3. Coning and quartering:- The material which has been crushed to 3.35mm
in now heaped into the shape of cone by passing one spoonful of the
material after another at the apex of the cone till the entire sample has
been cored. The material is allowed to slide down of the cone only under
the influence of gravity. The cone is now flatten eventually so that it forms
a low circular pile; the pile is then cut into four quarters along two
diameters which bisects at right angles one pair of opposite quarter which
intersects at right angle is removed from the sample to reduce the weight
up to 2 kg. Now the 2kg sample is grinded to 212 micron which is the size of
laboratory sample.
 4. Grinding:- In grinding the sample is first passed through the Raymond mill
in which a 212 micron sieve is fitted. Then the sample is passed through
212 micron sieve to check whether the whole sample is grinded to required
size. If some sample is found to be over sized then it is hand pandered and
again passed through the 212 micron sieve. This process is repeated till the
whole sample is passed through 212 micron sieve.

Proximate Analysis

Principle:- Proximate analysis is consisting of determination of moisture, ash,

volatile matter, fixed Carbon. Fixed Carbon is hydopothetical figure obtained
by Subtracting sum of percentage of ash, moisture and volatile matter from
100. It is thermogravimetric analysis. All the weight loosed are measured as
function of different selected temperature.

Proceducer:- 1,0000 gm of air- dried sample ground to pass 212 micro is seive
taken for each experiment. Temperature and duration of experiment are
shown below:-

S.No. Experiment Temp. of Exp. During of Heating

1. Determination of 108 ± 2oc One hours
moisture

2. Determination of 815 ± 10oc

ash

3. Determination of 900 ± 10oc seven minutes in

volatile matter absence of air

Determination Of Moisture

Procedure:- 1 gm sample taken in a moisture dish and note initial weight with lid.
Now it is put into a oven (108 + 20 c) in uncovered condition for one hour. After
one hour moisture dish is covered with lid and taken out from the oven. When
temperature of dish reaches at room temperature, note the final weight. The
difference initial and final weight gives the weight of removed moisture.
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠
% of moisture = 𝑋 100
weight of coal sample

𝑤3−𝑤2
or % of moisture= 𝑋 100
w2−w1

Where,

wt of empty dish = w1

dish + coal sample = w2

after 1 hour heating W3 sample WT sample wtw 211 WT of loss 3322 observation
table moisture WT of ampati WT of Moss WT of 20 WT of sample loss in this and
moisture t u r e d i s h after oven GM weight d i s h g m s sample GM dried GM
GM sample a 3 8 8 3 5 6 3 9 9 0 0 4 3 9 8 4 2 1 0 6 4 8 0. 0 5 8 0 sample b 3 6 3 8 4
8 3 7 5 4 2 0 3 7 4 7 4 8 1. 1512 0.067 to calculation sample a moisture 0.05 80 1.0
6485. 447 sample be moisture 0.067 21.15 725. 807 average moisture 5.44 7 5
8072 5.6 27

Result:-

The moisture % in the coal sample is 5.62%

Determination of Ash%

It is the burning of the coal and residue is left after burning of coal at by standard
heat (8150c temp) and the organic part will be burn out. Ash furnace is used for
ash% analysis.

Procedure:-

1. 1 gm sample of Coal is taken in an ash dish.

 2. It is inserted in an ash furnace at room temperature and raised upto 5000c
in 30 minutes and 815+ 100c in further 30 to 60min and maintain this
temperature for one hour.
3. After that ash dish is taken out of the furnace.
4. Dish is cooled on metal plate up to room temperature and weigh.

% of ash= w t of the s i d u e WT of sample aur of a s h w 311 ww1 where

WT of imported is w1 WT of this course sample WT WT of left Residue WT
observation table a s h d i s h w t of ampati WT of a s h WT of this WT of
loss and a s h d b i s h of the Robin sample with GM sample try GM GM GM
GM sample 19.9 164 to 1.04 8620. 21451. 13220. 2991 sample be 13.9
75715. 1878 14.2 973 1.2 1 to 10. 3216 calculation TSH of coal sample
determined as a s h loss in WT sample WT sample a a s h 0.29 11.1 3222 6.4
175 sample BSS 0.32 161.2 121 26.5 324 the average SH 26.4 172 6.5 32226
4749 result e a s h of the Other given School sample is 26.4749%

Determination of Volatile Matter%

The Volatile matter of a coal is extremely important in accessing the use for which
the coal is subtitle. The volatile matter is the loss in mass less than 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 steal
plants.

Procedure:-

1. 1 g coal sample is taken in volatile matter crucible.

2. Taken intial weight with lid.
3. Tab the crucible to level the sample.
4. Crucible are placed into the crucible stand with lid.
5. This is inserted into a VM- furnace maintained at 900+100c.
6. After 7 minute crucibles are taken out from furnace.
 7. It is cooled on a metal plate then placed into the desiccator for 20 minutes.
8. % of volatile matter = loss of wt. due to removal of VM
WT of school sample
or thermal plant observation table BMS WT of imperative in
this GM WT of PM this sample GMT of this after oven dried GM WT of
sample GM loss in WTF sample a 13.4 9251 4.49 2514. 1963 1.0000. 2962
sample Bhim 13.7 1141 4.71 14 14.4 151 1000 0.29 63 calculation the v m
of Koel sample is determined hbm loss in WT sample WT sample a b m 0.2
9631. 000 2962 sample P B M 0.2 9631. 2002 9.63 average BM 29.6 to 29.6
322 9.6 th u.s. net BM BM 29.6 5.6 to 4.0

Result:-
The net VM % of given coal sample is 24.0%

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 than 14000c.
 Fixed carbon content not the same as the total carbon content of a
coal.

Uses of Fixed Carbon:-

 It is useful in classification, combustion and carbonisation of coal.

 It is used as indication of yield of Coke to be expected when coal is
subjected to carbonisation for cooking.

Fixed carbon= [100- (Ash+moisture+VM)%]

Sample no proximate analysis (at 60 % RH and 400c)

M% A% VM% FC%
A 4.4 35.7 23.9 36.0 3.84 42.9 21.4 48.6 3.9 21.6 25.9 43.3 3.4 29.7 23.6 44.3 2.9
28.0 24.8 44.3

 Ultimate Analysis
Ultimate Analysis
Ultimate analysis of coal indicates the component percentage basic of elements
like carbon, hydrogen, sulphur, nitrogen and oxygen 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.

Carbon:- The Carbon of coal is not to be confused with its fixed carbon. In
anthracites the volatile matter is very small and the value of fixed carbon and
total carbon are almost equal. In other coal fixed carbon is less than total carbon.

The coal is current of pure oxygen and finding the amount of coal resultant
carbon dioxide. The carbon content depends upon the nature of coal. In increase
with increase the rank.

 Hydrogen:- Hydrogen is determined together with carbon by completely

burning the coal the hydrogen in coal from peat to bituminous stage varies
between 4.5 and 6.5 percent. Beyond the bituminous Stage the hydrogen
content sharply decrease to a value to upto 2% in anthracite. The hydrogen
of coal is responsible for the production of many useful materials i.e
gaseous hydrogen methane.
 Nitrogen:- Nitrogen can be determined by taking 1 gm of coal sample in kj
kjheldal flask with H2SO4 , K2SO4 and Hgso4 . So that the nitrogen of the
sample is converted into Ammonium salt. The sample solution in then
made alkaline amount of standard acid solution, where it is absorbed. The
unused acid is then determined by back titration which standard NAOH
solution. From the volume of the acid used by liberated Ammonia, the
percentage of Nitrogen in coal is calculated.
Sulphur:- Sulphur is commonly present in coal in three forms namely pyrite
organic and sulphate only organic sulphur should be included in the ultimate
analysis since most Indian coal contains 0.7% or less of total Sulphur.

Total sulphur is determined by bomb method. In this the total sulphur is also
converted into the sulphate from during the determination of caloricfic value
in bomb calorimeter.

Calorific Value

Calorific value/ Heat Value:-

Calorific value of a fuel is “the total quantity of heat liberated from the
combustion of a unit mass (or unit volume) of the fuel in the air or oxygen”.

Unit of Heat:-

Calorie:- It is the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of one

gram water through one0c.

kilocalorie: 1 kcal= 1000 cal.

British thermal unit (B.T.U.): The quantity of heat required to increase the
temperature of one pound of water through one degree Fahrenheit.

1B. Th.U= 252 cal

1 kal=3.968 B.Th.u

centigrade heat unit: “The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature
of one pound of water through one degree Celsius”

Higher or gross calorific value (GCV/ GCV):-

Hydrogen is found to be present in almost fuels and when the calorific value of
hydrogen containing fuel is determined experimentally, the hydrogen is
converted into steam. If the product of combustion one condensed to the
room temperature, the latent heat of combustion of steam also included in
the measured heat, which is then called higher or gross calorific value.

Definition of gross calorific value:-

The total amount of heat liberated, when unit mass or unit volume of the fuel
has been burnt completely and the products of combustion are cooled to
room temperature.

Procedure for determining calorific value:-

1. Bomb is first washed with distilled water and dried.

2. In the bomb 5ml of distilled water is taken.
3. Cotton thread is attached to the bomb for burning the coal.
4. In the crucible approximate 1gm of coal is taken. crucible is then fitted in
the bomb and the cotton thread is touched to the coal to burn.
5. In the bomb 20 + 25 atmospheric pressure oxygen gas is given
automatically by the machine.
6. Water up to 2L is filled inside the bucket automatically after hanging the
bomb in calorimeter automatic water filling and oxygen filling takes place.
7. Approximate after 7 to 9 minutes is taken to determine the calorific value
of coal.
8. After the result the calorific value is noted down.

Conclusion

Analysis of coal, determines the quality of coal accordingly then coal is used
either in steel industry, cement industry, power plants or for domestic
purpose.
 The project work helped me to understand the basic facts about coal in an
easy manner. So, coal has many benefits hence it should not be wasted but
saved properly so that our future generation can also avail the benefits of coal.