1. What is rank of coal? What are the different ranks of coal?

“Rank” is used in industry, which refers to degree of maturation

(carbonization) and is a measure of carbon content in coal.
the different ranks of coal:

The ranks of coal (from most to least carbon content) are as follows:
anthracite, bituminous coal, subbituminous coal, and lignite.
The coal with the highest carbon content is the best and
cleanest type of coal to use.
2. Q-2 What are the types of coal analysis explain the objective/benefits of each type of
coal analysis.
There are two types of coal analysis:
• Proximate Analysis
• Ultimate Analysis
The results of analysis are generally based on the following ways:
As received basis
Air dried basis
Moisture free basis (oven dried)
Proximate Analysis
Proximate analysis of coal determines the moisture, ash, volatile matter
and fixed carbon of coal. It gives information about the practical utility of
coal.

• This gives quick and valuable information regarding

commercial classification and determination of
suitability for a particular industrial use

Ultimate Analysis
The ultimate analysis involves the determination of
carbon, hydrogen, sulphur, nitrogen, oxygen and ash.

• The ultimate analysis is essential for calculating heat

balances in any process for which coal is employed
as a fuel
3. What arc the important coal properties relevant to boilers?
There are certain properties of coal which are important in power plant
applications.
• They are:
a. Swelling Index,
b. Grind-ability,
c. Weather-ability,
 d. Sulphur content,
e. Heating value, and
f. Ash Softening Temperature
4. What are the main constituents of fuel oil? Compare it with those of coal. What are
the
required properties of fuel oil for boiler firing?
They are primarily a mixture of hydrocarbon compounds, which may also
contain
nitrogen, oxygen and Sulphur.
• The bulk of the hydrocarbons belong to the paraffin series, Cn H2n+2 ,
like methane (CH4),
ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), etc., which are gases and Octane C8H18
is liquid at STP,
5. What is an emulsion? How does an emulsion of water in heavy oil promote
combustion?
A suspension of a finely divided fluid in fuel is called an emulsion.

6. What is a coal-oil mixture (COM)? How is COM prepared and What are the merits of
COM as a boiler fuel?
Liquid fuels using mixtures of fine coal in oil have been known as
colloidal fuel, coal in
oil and recently renamed as coal-oil mixtures (COM).

7. What are synfuels?

8. How is coal gasified ?

The U.S. Department of Energy explains that coal gasification is a
thermo-chemical process in which the gasifier's heat and pressure
 break down coal into its chemical constituents. The resulting "syngas" is
comprised primarily of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and
occasionally other gaseous compounds.
DOE says a coal gasification plant using this dual process can
potentially achieve an efficiency of 50 percent or more, compared with a
conventional coal power plant, which is often just above 30 percent.
9. What is synthesis gas?
Syngas is an abbreviation for synthesis gas, which is a mixture
comprising of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen. The
syngas is produced by gasification of a carbon containing fuel to a
gaseous product that has some heating value. Some of the examples of
syngas production include gasification of coal emissions, waste emissions
to energy gasification, and steam reforming of coke.

Q-10 What is underground gasification of coal? What arc the attractive features of
underground
gasification of coal?

In the UCG process, injection wells are drilled into an unmined coal seam, and either air
or oxygen is injected into the seam along with water. The coal face is ignited, and the
high temperatures (about 1,200°C) from the combustion and limited oxygen causes
nearby coal to partially oxidize into hydrogen, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide
(CO2), and minimal amounts of methane (CH4) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). These
products flow to the surface through one or more production wells located ahead of the
combustion zone. As the face is burned and an area depleted, the operation is moved to
follow the seam. The graphic below illustrates the general process.