Fuel characteristics

In the Czech part of the Upper-Silesian coal basin (more than 75 % of the basin area is in Poland) is located the stock of higher-quality coal, both in terms of coking properties and sulphur content. The way of utilization of the exploited raw material is given by its properties according to which it is further used as coking coal or steam coal.

Cokeability is the ability of coal to pass within a certain thermal range through plastic state, during which (while releasing a part of the coal substance) the structure and chemical composition changes. The final result of these changes is the formation of a qualitatively new type of fuel – coke. Cokeability is determined by the rank of incarbonization and the petrographic composition of coal.

Rank of incarbonization – it is most often expressed by the content of volatile matter or the reflective capacity of vitrinite. The higher content of volatile matter, the less the coal is incarbonized; in case of reflective capacity of vitrinite it is vice versa – the lower reflective capacity, the lower incarbonization of coal matter.

Petrographic composition – is determined by the composition and properties of the original vegetable material and furthermore by the conditions which affected the formation of the coal seam and its incarbonization.

These properties determine whether coal is suitable for use in the coking sector or in the power sector.