Influence of flue temperature and coal preparaton on coke quality in 460-mm technical-scale coke oven

Abstract

A 460-mm technical-scale coke oven operated by the Coal Resource and Processing Laboratory (CRPL) of CANMET was recently rebuilt. The silicon carbide heating walls were replaced by silica brick walls of the type used in industry to more closely approximate the heat transfer characteristics of commercial ovens. The effect of oven flue temperature, coal moisture and pulverization level on oven operating characteristics and coke quality was determined for a typical industrial coal blend used for making blast furnace coke. Coke strength was found to increase as the coal bulk density in the oven increased and was higher for the more finely ground coal. Coke-size distribution was influenced mainly by flue temperature, narrowing as the temperature was raised. From results of the test program the following standard oven operating conditions were selected: flue temperature - 1125°C; coal moisture - 6%; coal size - 80% minus 3.25 mm.