The Proximate Analysis method for the Composition Determination of Different Coal Types

The global consumption of power is increasing and the shortage in finding cost effective fuel sources kept the coal as one of the biggest contributors of power generation resources or raw materials. This can be regarded as a motivator for this work. This research explains the proximate analysis method to determine the composition of coal in terms of moisture, volatiles, fixed carbon, and ash contents. Hence, the proximate analysis was established as a suitable method for defining the delivery of products obtained by heating coal under a standard set of conditions. In addition, Thermo-gravimetric analyzer TGA 4000 is used to measure the composition of various coal samples from 4 different locations mainly in the UK and Japan: (Pyehill, South Wales, Nigata and South Yorkshire). Furthermore, the thermal properties like calorific value were also determined for each sample by the bomb-calorimeter. The main results that were obtained on air-dried basis for the four different samples are as follows: fixed carbon (55.4%, 78.6%, 62.2% and 60.3%) respectively; volatile matters (28.9%, 34.4%, 29.7% and 10.8%) respectively; and ash content (12.4%, 9.7%, 6.1% and 2.8%). On the other hand, the dry basis analysis reported an increase in the percentages of (volatiles, fixed carbon, and ash) contents such as (30.2%, 63.5%, and 6.3%) respectively. Finally, finding the composition of the coal has countless value to forecast the products and amount of liberated heat that will be produced during the combustion process, as well as establishing a base for the price of coal. Based on the performed measurements, the ranks of the coal samples (Pyehill, south Wales, Nigata and South Yorkshire) were found, on dry basis. These ranks were as follows: (Sub-bituminous, Low volatile bituminous, High volatile B, bituminous and High volatile C, bituminous) respectively.