Utilization and Characterization of Jhama Coal

Natural coke is a kind of fossil fuel with calorific value of 18–28 MJ/ kg. There are abundant natural coke reserves in the world, but at present it is abandoned and needs research and development for its utilization. Thermogravimetric analysis (TG) can be done to investigate pyrolysis characteristics of natural coke. The effects of the heating rate, the final pyrolysis temperature, the particle diameter, and the operating pressure on the pyrolysis process of natural coke can be examined with pressurized thermogravimetry. Scan electron microscopy show that the natural coke at higher temperature has better porous structure, which is beneficial to volatilization, and a better reduction activity. Decrease in the particle size leads to more volatile release. The pressure has less effect on pyrolysis under lower temperature, while the effect becomes stronger when the temperature is higher than a given point. In Indian coalfields huge amounts of natural coke have been produced due to magmatic intrusions. Jharia Coalfield in eastern part of India alone contains approximately 2000 Mt of baked coking coal as a consequence of these intrusions in the form of discordant and concordant bodies. Natural coke is characterized by the presence of low volatile matter and high ash contents and organic constituents showing isotropy and anisotropy. Natural coke is smokeless because the volatile matter escaped off, it can be processed for gasification or can be used directly for domestic ovens and in blast furnace. Natural Coke may be used to make synthesis gas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Syngas; Water gas: a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, made by passing steam over red-hot coke (or any carbon-based char), Producer gas: a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and nitrogen, made by passing air or air-steam blast over red-hot coke (or any carbon-based char). Natural coke is also used for heat shielding in space craft’s when mixed with other materials. Jhama coal or Natural coke is excluded resources due to difficulty in mining and its low calorific value. Natural coke coexists with coal in the coal bed, but is discarded or left in the mine without scheduled exploitation because of lack of effective utilization technology, which would cause tremendous energy waste and harm to the environment. Therefore, considering the challenge of energy crisis sources, it is necessary to utilize it for power generation. But it can be used into blast furnace with blending it, in formation coke from bituminous coal in coke ovens. Gasification of Natural coke can be done in fluidized bed reactor with using suitable catalyst, to increase yield and heating value of product gas. Characterization of natural coke can be done by-proximate analysis, ultimate analysis and H.G.I (hardgroove grindability index), ash fusion temp, G.C.V. (gross calorific value), swelling index no. , dilation etc.