Pitch and petroleum coke additions to coke oven charges

Abstract

Asphalt, pitches, solvent refined coal (SRC) and petroleum coke were added to coke oven charges in an attempt to make good metallurgical coke from Canadian coal of poor coking quality. Asphalt, pitches and SRC were added to a low fluid western Canadian coal of medium volatile bituminous rank, and the blends coked in a technical-scale moveable wall test oven having a 230-kg charge capacity. Pitches improved coke tumble test indices, the principal coke quality parameter related to blast furnace performance. Varying levels of petroleum coke were added to an eastern Canadian coal of high volatile bituminous rank, and the blends, some partially briquetted, were carbonized in a test oven. Tumble indices of coke from the partially briquetted charges approached an acceptable level. These investigations confirm that petroleum products as well as coal derivative can play a useful part in the production of a:netallurgical strength coke from poor or non-coking coals.