‘

C OA L

TSGENCO

BY
RAMESH KOMMA
Senior Chemist /TSGENCO KTPP Stage-I
CHELPUR

KOMMA RAMESH SENIOR CHEMIST TSGENCO KTPP-CHELPUR Page 1

COAL

Definition:
Coal is a combustible fossil fuel sedimentary rock composed mostly of carbon and hydrocarbons.

Advantage of Coal:
Easily combustible produces high energy upon combustion, distributed all over the world. It is easy to transport and
comparatively inexpensive due to large reserves and easy accessibility
Very large amounts of electricity can be generated in one place using coal, fairly cheaply.
The oil and gas transportation needs to setup high-pressure pipelines and back them with necessary security cover.
Most of the coal mining regions are well connected to the industrial belts by a rail network, which is again the one of the
cheapest mode of transportation available.

Disadvantages of Coal
it is Non-renewable and fast depleting. One of the biggest disadvantages of coal is air pollution. Numerous harmful gases,
including carbon dioxide, Sulphur dioxide and ash, are released. In fact, it tends to emit twice as much CO 2 than the other

fossil fuels.
Coal storage cost is high especially if required to have enough stock for few years to assure power production availability.
Coal power puts the lives of the people who dig the coal in danger, and it gives them poor lung quality. Coal-fired power
plants emit mercury, selenium, and arsenic which are harmful to human health and the environment
A coal plant generates about 3,700,000 tons of carbon dioxide every year; this is one of the main causes of global warming.
A single coal plant creates 10,000 tons of sulphur dioxide, which causes acid rain that damages forests, lakes, and buildings.

Energy Content in Coal

The basic function of the power plant is to convert energy in coal to electricity. Therefore, the first thing we should know is
how much energy there is in coal. Energy content of coal is given in terms of Kilojoules (kJ) per Kilogram (kg) of coal as the
Gross calorific value (GCV) or the Higher Heating value (HHV) of coal. This value can vary from 10500 kJ/kg to 25000 kJ/kg
depending on the quality and type of the coal.

Calorific Value or Heating Value

This is the most important parameter that determines the economics of the power plant [Link] indicates the amount
of heat that is released when the coal is burned.
The Calorific Value varies on the geographical age, formation, ranking and location of the coal mines.
It is expressed as kJ/kg in the SI unit system. Coal has a Calorific Value in the range of 9500 kJ/kg to 27000 kJ/ kg.
The calorific value is expressed in two different ways on account the moisture in the coal
1. Gross Calorific Value or Higher Heating Value it is the total heat released when burning the coal.
2. Net Calorific Value or Lower Heating Value it is the heat energy available after reducing the loss due to moisture.

KOMMA RAMESH SENIOR CHEMIST TSGENCO KTPP-CHELPUR Page 2

CV of Coal analyzed in three ways
1. As Received’ coal is the coal received in the power plant premises. The payment to the coal companies are normally made
based on the ‘As Received’ coal properties.
2. As Fired’ coal is the coal entering the boiler system. The performance of the boiler and power plant is based on the ‘As
Fired’ coal properties.
3. Air Dried’ coal is what is used in the laboratory for analysis. This coal is dried in atmosphere and has the lowest amount of
moisture. Laboratory results are reported as ‘Air Dried’ coal properties.
The difference between the above three conditions is the proportion of the Moisture.

The Calorific Value and other coal constituents analysed in the laboratory on ‘Air Dried’ basis is converted to ‘As received’ or
‘As Fired’ basis proportional to the moisture content.

Useful Heat Value (UHV) = 8900 - 138(A% + M %) Kcal/Kg

Gross Calorific Value (GCV) = (UHV + 3645 – 75.4 M %) 1.466 Kcal/Kg

(Air Dry Basis)

Gross Calorific Value (GCV) = [GCVAD] (100 – TM %)( 100 – M %) Kcal/Kg

(As fired Basis)

Net Calorific value = [GCV] – 10.02 M% Kcal/Kg

Coal Price

COAL COAL
GCV PRICE GCV PRICE
GRADE GRADE
G1 above 7000 3896 G10 4301 - 4600 1400
G2 6701 - 700 3733 G11 4001 - 4300 1130
G3 6401 - 6700 3569 G12 3701 - 4000 910
G4 6101 - 6400 3336 G13 3401 - 3700 690
G5 5801 - 6100 3319 G14 3101 - 3400 610
G6 5501 - 5800 2360 G15 2801 - 3100 510
G7 5201 - 5500 1840 G16 2501 - 2800 574
G8 4901 - 5200 1700 G17 2201 - 2500 420
G9 4601 - 4900 1500

Heat Rate
Heat rate is the heat input required to produce one unit of electricity. (1 kw/ hr) One Kw is 3600 kJ/hr.
If the energy conversion is 100 % efficient then to produce one unit of electricity we require 3600 kJ.

KOMMA RAMESH SENIOR CHEMIST TSGENCO KTPP-CHELPUR Page 3

Types of Coal

 Peat

 Lignite

 Sub bituminous coal

 Bituminous coal

 Anthracite

Peat

It is initial stage of Coal formation.

A soft brown mass of compressed, partially decomposed vegetation that forms in a water-saturated environment .Dried
peat can be burned as fuel

Lignite
Lignite, often referred to as brown coal, is brownish-black in color.
It has carbon contents around 25-35%, a high inherent moisture content sometimes as high as 66%, and an ash content
ranging from 6% to 19%.
It is considered an “immature” coal that is still soft.
The energy content of lignite ranges from 10 to 20 MJ/kg on a moist, mineral-matter-free basis.
Lignite has a high content of volatile matter which makes it easier to convert into gas and liquid petroleum products than
higher ranking coals.
It is used for generating electricity.
Its high moisture content and susceptibility to spontaneous combustion can cause problems in transportation and storage.

KOMMA RAMESH SENIOR CHEMIST TSGENCO KTPP-CHELPUR Page 4

Sub bituminous coal
This is a dull black coal with a higher heating value than lignite, and is used principally for electricity and space heating.
It has 35-45 percent carbon contents.
The heat content of sub-bituminous coals range from 19,306 to 26,749 kJ/kg.

Bituminous coal
Bituminous Coal or Black Coal is of higher quality than lignite coal but of poorer quality than anthracite coal.
The carbon content of bituminous coal is around 60-80%; the rest is composed of water, air, hydrogen, and sulfur.
The heat content of bituminous coal ranges from (24 to 35 MJ/kg) on a moist, mineral-matter-free basis.
Bituminous coal is used primarily to generate electricity and make coke for the steel industry.

Anthracite

Also known as "hard coal" that was formed from bituminous coal.
It is very hard and shiny. This type of coal is the most compact and therefore, has the highest energy content of the five
levels of coal. It is used for space heating and generating electricity. Anthracite is coal has the highest carbon contents,
between 86 and 98 percent
The heat content of anthracite ranges from 26 to 33 MJ/kg on a moist, mineral-matter-free basis.

KOMMA RAMESH SENIOR CHEMIST TSGENCO KTPP-CHELPUR Page 5

Proximate Analysis:

Indicates the contents in the fuels in percentage by weight.

 Moisture
 Volatile material
 Fixed carbon
 Ash

Moisture Content:

Water expelled from the fuel by specified methods without causing any chemical change to fuel.
1 g of fine powdered air dried coal is weighed in crucible. Crucible is placed inside oven & Temperature is maintained at 105

to 110◦ C for 1 hour. Then sample is taken out & weighed.

Loss in weight is the moisture content in the fuel.

Loss in weight
Percentage of moisture = ------------------------ x 100
Wt. of coal taken

Moisture in coal evaporates during burning taking Latent heat of evaporation; hence moisture lowers the calorific value

“Lesser the moisture content, better the quality of coal as a fuel”

Volatile Matter:

Dried sample from the crucible is covered with a lid & placed in an electric furnace.

Temperature is maintained at 925◦ C + 25◦ C for 7 minute. Then cooled first in air, then in a desiccator & weighed again.
Loss in weight is reported as volatile matter present in coal.

Loss in weight due to removal of volatile matter

Volatile material = ------------------------------------------------------------- x 100
Wt. of coal sample taken

High volatile matter content means that high proportion of fuel will distill over as gas or vapour, a large proportion of which
escapes as unburnt. It will burns with long flame, high smoke and has low calorific value.

“Lesser the volatile matter, better the rank of the coal”

KOMMA RAMESH SENIOR CHEMIST TSGENCO KTPP-CHELPUR Page 6

Ash:
◦
Residual coal in crucible is heated without a lid in a muffle furnace at 750 to 800 C for one hour. Then cooled first in
air and next in desiccator. Then weighed and the ash content is reported.

Wt. of Ash left

Percentage of Ash = ---------------------- x 100
Wt. of coal taken

Ash is a useless, non-combustible matter and it reduces the calorific value of coal.
Ash also causes hindrance to flow of air and heat, thereby lowering the temperature.

“Lower the ash content, better the quality of coal”.

Fixed carbon

Percentage of Fixed carbon = 100 - % of (moisture + Volatile matter + Ash)

“Higher the percentage of fixed carbon, greater is it’s calorific and betters the quality of coal.”

Ultimate Analysis:
Gives the Elementary composition of
 Carbon
 Hydrogen
 Oxygen
 Nitrogen
 Sulphur in percentage by Weight
Determination of Carbon & Hydrogen:

1 g of coal is burnt in current of oxygen in a combustion apparatus.

C & H are converted into CO2 and H2O.
Gaseous products are absorbed in KOH & CaCl 2 of known weights.
Increases in weights are determined.

Carbon:
Increase in weight of KOH tube * 12
% of C = ------------------------------------------------------- x 100
Weight of coal sample taken * 44

Hydrogen:

Increase in weight of CaCl2 tube * 2

% of H = ---------------------------------------------------- x 100
Weight of coal sample taken * 18

“Greater the percentage of Carbon and Hydrogen, better is the coal in quality and calorific value”.

KOMMA RAMESH SENIOR CHEMIST TSGENCO KTPP-CHELPUR Page 7

Determination of Nitrogen:
1. 1g of powdered coal is heated with conc. H2SO4 with K2SO4 as catalyst in a Kjeldal flask.

2. After solution becomes clear, treated with excess KOH.

3. NH3 is liberated & absorbed in known volume of standard acid solution.

4. Unused acid is determined with NaOH.

5. From the volume of the acid used by NH3 liberated % of N in coal is determined.

Volume of acid used x Normality x 1.4

% of N = ------------------------------------------------------
Weight of coal taken

“Nitrogen has no influence in the calorific value. A good quality coal should have very little nitrogen.”

Determination of Sulphur content:

From washings of bomb in bomb calorimeter, Sulphur is converted into into sulphate.
S + 2H +2O2 2SO4
H2SO4 + BaCl2 4 + 2HCl

Weight of BaSO4 obtained *32

% of S = ------------------------------------------------------------------ x 100
233 * weight of coal sample taken in bomb calorimeter
Determination of Oxygen:

It is determined from the difference.

% of O = 100 – percentage of ( H + S + N + Ash ).

Oxygen content decreases the Calorific value of coal
Oxygen is in combined form with Hydrogen, thus hydrogen available for combustion is lesser than actual.

“Good quality coal should have low percentage of Oxygen”

Reporting:

Fuels are Heterogeneous in Nature so it is essential to report all the data analytically.
Basis of reporting
 Run-of-mine (ROM).
 As-received.
 Air dried.
 Dry.
 Dry and ash free ( d.a.f ).
 Dry and mineral matter free ( d.m.m.f ).
 Moist mineral matter free or simply mineral free.

KOMMA RAMESH SENIOR CHEMIST TSGENCO KTPP-CHELPUR Page 8

KTPP STAGE – I and II RECCEIVES COAL FROM

COAL MINE GCV

Tadicherla G8
Kakatiya khani OCP – II bhupalapally G11
Kakatiya khani OCP – II bhupalapally G9
Kakatiya khani 1A SLK bhupalapally G11
Kakatiya khani 1A RND bhupalapally G10
Kakatiya khani CHP RND bhupalapally G11
Kakatiya khani CHP SLK bhupalapally G11
RECHINI G12
OCP – III G11
RAMAKRISHNAPUR G12

KOMMA RAMESH SENIOR CHEMIST TSGENCO KTPP-CHELPUR Page 9