commercial coal sizes

Commercial Coal Sizes: Classification and Applications

Coal is a vital energy resource used in various industries, including power generation, steel production, and cement manufacturing. To meet different industrial needs, coal is processed and sorted into specific size categories. Below is an overview of the most common commercial coal sizes and their typical applications.

1. Lump Coal (50–100 mm or larger)
– Description: Large, unbroken pieces of coal with minimal fines.
– Applications:
– Used in domestic heating and small-scale industrial furnaces.
– Preferred in coke production due to its high carbon content and structural integrity.

2. Pea Coal (10–50 mm)
– Description: Smaller than lump coal but still relatively coarse.
– Applications:
– Ideal for stoker-fired boilers and residential heating.
– Used in some industrial processes where medium-sized coal is required.

3. Nut Coal (20–80 mm)
– Description: Mid-sized coal pieces, slightly larger than pea coal.
– Applications:
– Commonly used in steam locomotives (historically) and modern industrial boilers.
– Suitable for hand-fired furnaces due to its manageable size.

4. Slack or Fine Coal (0–25 mm)
– Description: A mixture of small coal particles and dust.
– Applications:
– Often used in pulverized coal injection (PCI) for blast furnaces in steelmaking.
– Utilized in fluidized bed combustion systems for power generation.

5. Pulverized Coal (<0.075 mm or 200 mesh)
– Description: Finely ground coal powder, almost dust-like consistency.
– Applications:
– Primary fuel for large-scale power plants using pulverized coal combustion (PCC).
– Used in cement kilns and other high-temperature industrial processes.

6. ROM (Run-of-Mine) Coal
– Description: Raw, unprocessed coal as it comes from the mine, containing mixed sizes.
– Applications:
– Typically crushed and screened before use in power plants or industrial facilities.

7. Stoker Coal (15–50 mm)
– Description: Sized specifically for mechanical stoker systems in boilers.
– Applications:
– Ensures efficient combustion in chain-grate or