Applying TGA parameters in coke quality prediction models

Twenty five bituminous coals of different rank and geographical origin were studied in terms of their thermoplastic properties and pyrolysis up to 1000 °C in a thermobalance. The coals were carbonized at pilot scale (250 kg) and the coke quality of the resulting cokes was assessed by means of the Nippon Steel Corporation (NSC) test. The parameters derived from the analysis of their thermoplastic properties were introduced into models to predict coke quality. Since the plastic properties of a coal can be expressed by parameters derived from TGA, the second step was to replace fluidity by these parameters. Promising results were obtained when the TGA parameters were introduced into models for coke quality prediction.