The authors who have collaborated in writing this book have also worked together for more than a decade in promoting Coal Utilisation R&D. They bear a substantial responsibility for the way the policy of the National Coal Board in this field has developed since 1966 and, more directly, for the programme of work at the Coal Research Establishment, Stoke Orchard, near Cheltenham. After a period of relative neglect, R&D on Coal Utilisation has flourished in recent years, both in extent and the importance ascribed to it. A large amount of technical data has been obtained from the pioneering experimental work and this will form the foundation on which vast new industries can be based. The timing and organisation of the application of technical information into these new coal conversion industries represents, in the authors' view, the most important question in the whole field of energy, which is now widely recognised as a vital aspect of social and economic development. The scale of the new coal utilisation enterprises will be greater, and their success more critical, than that of any other development in the field of energy, including that of nuclear power or the renewable resources. This book is, therefore, not directed specifically at technical experts in the field of coal utilisation, and in particular it is not intended to enlighten those who specialise in particular sections of this technology.

Discusses the formation, composition, properties and processing of the principal fossil and biofuels, ideal for graduate students and professionals.

Introduction to Carbon Science deals with various aspects of carbon science, from polymer science and prosthetics to crystallography, carbonization, spectroscopy, and surface science. Topics covered include the mechanisms of formation of isotropic and anisotropic carbons, physical properties of pitch relevant to the fabrication of carbon materials; kinetics and catalysis of carbon gasification; and porosity in carbons and graphites. Carbon fibers, cokes and composites, and coal to coke transformations are also discussed. This book is comprised of nine chapters and begins with an overview of the basic structural features of carbon materials, along with definitions of the various carbon forms encountered in carbon science. The principal techniques for studying the structure of solid carbons are also considered. The reader is then introduced to the mechanisms underlying the formation of isotropic and anisotropic carbons; the physicochemical changes that take place when pitch is pyrolyzed to carbon; and kinetics and catalysis of carbon gasification reactions. The following chapters explore various types of porosity in carbons and graphites; manufacture, properties, structure, and applications of carbon fibers; and mechanical properties of cokes and composites. This text concludes by describing the conversion of coal to coke. This monograph will be of interest to carbon scientists, technologists, and engineers, as well as those entering the field of carbon science for the first time.

The demand for secure, affordable and clean energy is a priority call to humanity. Challenges associated with conventional energy resources, such as depletion of fossil fuels, high costs and associated greenhouse gas emissions, have stimulated interests in renewable energy resources. For instance, there have been clear gaps and rushed thoughts about replacing fossil-fuel driven engines with electric vehicles without long-term plans for energy security and recycling approaches. This book aims to provide a clear vision to scientists, industrialists and policy makers on renewable energy resources, predicted challenges and emerging applications. It can be used to help produce new technologies for sustainable, connected and harvested energy. A clear response to economic growth and clean environment demands is also illustrated.

Coke: Quality and Production describes the scientific and technical basis of coke manufacture and provides a detailed account of the physical and chemical mechanisms occurring in coke oven chambers. Emphasis is on the influences of coal quality and production parameters. This book is comprised of 12 chapters and begins with an introduction to technical characteristics displayed by coals or cokes, followed by a discussion on the chemical, physicochemical, and mechanical phenomena that occur during carbonization. The following chapters focus on carbonization in a coke oven chamber and its relationship to coke quality; the criteria used to evaluate coke quality; and industrial and semi-industrial tests carried out at the Marienau Station in France. The formulation of coke oven blends is also considered, along with the production factors that affect the quality of coke; factors that affect the production capacity of a coke oven battery; and heat balances on industrial coking plants. The final chapter looks at the industrial applications of blast-furnace coke and foundry coke. This monograph is intended primarily for technical personnel at coking plants and will also be of interest to consumers concerned with the working properties of coke.

Fuels, Furnaces and Refractories focuses on the sources and efficient use of energy available to modern industry. This book begins with the classification, properties, tests, and different kinds of fuels, as well as trends in fuel utilization. This text also tackles the generation and distribution of electricity from both chemical and nuclear energy sources. Subsequent chapters focus on the thermodynamics, physics, chemistry, and kinetics of combustion of fuels; the burner design; the heat transfer and flow of gases through furnaces and flues; and ways of controlling energy supply rates and temperatures. The refractory materials, which are heat-resisting substances, are also described.