MORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES ON LIGNIN- ANTHRACITE BRIQUETTES FOR COKE SUBSTITUTION IN CUPOLA FURNACES

摘要

Coke production for cupola furnaces is an energy intensive process. To obtain coke, coals with thermoplastic properties are heated around 1000°C for up to 35 h. During coking, coal plasticizes, devolatilizes, and sets, leaving a strong porous structure in the material. Coke must be able to stand the pressure of the coke and metal load when passing from the top to the bottom of the cupola furnace. Brittle coke can produce fines that pack the coke bed tightly and hamper the flow of gases upward, increasing the pressure of the tuyeres. Only coals with very specific properties can be used to produce coke. The proportions of the vitrinite and inertinite coal macerals are optimized in order to yield the strongest coke. Prediction systems are based on models that use vitrinite as the binder and inertinite as aggregate reinforcing coke cell walls (Crelling, 2008).