Solid Fuels – Coal, Coke, Charcoal

This chapter concerned solid fuels e.g. coal, coke and charcoal, its composition, calorific value as well as its industrial significance. Solid fuels are fuels that are made out of carbon and are burned to become energy used in the industries and electricity retreats or used at home. Chapter explains the chemical make-up of coal including carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, nitrogen and ash contents and explains their environmental impacts on the calorific value and combustion properties. Coke is obtained by carbonization of coal and is even mentioned to be involved in the metallurgy particularly in blast furnace in the process of making iron and steel. Charcoal is a waste of wood which undergoes a process called pyrolysis and is discussed in connection with its application in smelting, cooking and chemical industries. The other environmental concerns that are considered in the chapter are the processes of combustion, efficiency optimization, and emission, ash disposal and the control of the pollutants. The concerns and problems like fuel selection, storage and management in industries are discussed in a bid to reveal efficiency and viability of activities. Using the principles of chemistry and industry, students can obtain the idea concerning the energy production, fuel description, and management of the environment. Energy engineering, metallurgy, environmental science, optimization of industrial processes require knowledge of solid fuel, and in this respect, they are still used in energy and industry industries.