An approach to blast furnace coke quality prediction

R. A

lvarez
*
, M.A. D ez, C. Barriocanal, E. D az-Faes, J.L.G. Cimadevilla
Instituto Nacional del Carbo n (INCAR), CSIC, Apartado 73, 33080 Oviedo, Spain
Received 11 October 2006; received in revised form 15 November 2006; accepted 16 November 2006
Available online 19 December 2006
Abstract
Although coke cold drum mechanical strength has historically been the most relevant coke quality parameter, currently coke reactiv-
ity and post-reaction strength (CRI/CSR) are the most important parameters used to assess blast-furnace coke quality. Many models of
coke quality prediction have been proposed, most of which are based on coal characteristics and limited to the same coal geographic
origin, but as yet there is no universally applicable prediction formula. The present work describes a simple model of coke CRI/CSR
prediction based on the assumption that the CSR of a coke produced from a blend of coals can be predicted from the CSR obtained
from the cokes of the individual coals through the application of the additivity law. The additivity law was also applied to the coke cold
mechanical strength indices derived from the Irsid test, which are widely employed by the European coke industry as complementary
coke quality indicators.
2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Coke quality prediction; Coking coals; Carbonization of complex blends
1. Introduction
It is normal practice in the cokemaking industry to use
models to help in the prediction of coke quality. The dier-
ent models currently available for predicting coke quality
take into account selected properties of the coals that make
up the blend. Each steel company employs models adapted
to its operational characteristics which change as a func-
tion of the coals available on the market. However, the role
of inerts (breeze, pet coke, anthracite, etc.) added to the
coal blend has still not been fully claried in most of the
models. Recently some of the most relevant methods
applied in coke quality prediction have been reviewed [1],
the main conclusion being that as yet there is no universally
applicable prediction model due to the great diversity of
the coals used for cokemaking.
Among the physical properties of coke used to dene its
quality, resistance to size degradation at ambient tempera-
ture in a rotating drum (cold mechanical strength) is always
considered of great relevance in coke performance in the
blast furnace. The tests used are standardized in terms of
drum design and dimensions, amount and size of the coke,
operation conditions during the test (number of revolu-
tions, rate) and indices which reect the extent of the coke
fragmentation by ssuration, cohesion and abrasion. All of
these tests measure coke resistance to degradation when
subjected to impact in mild conditions (ambient tempera-
ture and atmosphere); but they do not show how a coke
will behave in the gas atmosphere and high temperatures
of a blast furnace. Nippon Steel Corporation (NSC) dem-
onstrated the need to introduce new quality parameters
of coke based on the reactivity towards CO
2
at high tem-
perature and the resistance to size degradation of the par-
tially gasied coke [2]. Afterwards, a new test was
developed by NSC which is a combination of reactivity
to CO
2
at high temperature (CRI index) and post-reaction
mechanical strength (CSR index). This test has been widely
accepted by the steel industry around the world. There is
disagreement as to whether CSR can be considered addi-
tive or not. NSC [3] and other authors [4] suggest that
0016-2361/$ - see front matter 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2006.11.026
*
Corresponding author. Tel.: +34 985 11 89 60; fax: +34 985 29 76 62.
E-mail address: ralvarez@incar.csic.es (R. A

lvarez).
www.fuelrst.com
Fuel 86 (2007) 21592166
the estimation of CSR by application of the additivity rule
is not very accurate, while others [5,6] believe that it is. The
aim of the present work was to apply the additivity law to
predict the quality of the cokes produced from blends,
assuming that the CSR of a coke produced from a blend
of coals can be predicted from the CSR obtained from
the cokes of the individual coals. At the same time this
additivity law was applied to coke cold mechanical strength
determined by the Irsid test.
2. Experimental
2.1. Materials
In the present work 22 bituminous coals with a volatile
matter content between 17 and 33 wt% were chosen from
those commonly used in the coking industry. The coals
were carbonized individually and then the cokes were
characterized. Afterwards the coals were mixed in order
to prepared binary, ternary and quaternary blends. In addi-
tion, four industrial coal blends provided by the Steel
Industry in Spain were selected. Proximate analyses were
performed following the ISO 562 and ISO 1171 standard
procedures for volatile matter and ash content, respec-
tively. The thermoplastic properties of the coals were tested
by the Gieseler method in a R.B. Automazione Gieseler
plastometer PL2000, following the ASTM D2639-74 stan-
dard procedure.
2.2. Carbonization tests at semi-industrial scale
Carbonization tests to semi-industrial scale were carried
out in the 6 t capacity oven of the INCAR Experimental
Coking Plant with a mean bulk density of 705 25 kg/
m
3
db. The dimensions of the oven are: 2.8 m height,
6.5 m length and 0.45 m width. The coking time was 18 h
and the mean ue temperature was around 1250 20 C.
The coke was pushed from the oven and quenched with
water. The results obtained from semi-industrial scale car-
bonizations can be applied directly to industrial scale.
2.3. Coke quality
Coke samples were taken at the coking plant wharf, with
minimum handling. Coke cold mechanical strength was
evaluated by the Irsid test according to the ISO 556 [7]
standard procedure. In this test, 50 kg of coke unable to
pass through a round-hole sieve of 20 mm was subjected
to 500 revolutions in a standardised drum and afterwards
sieved. Two indices, I20 and I10, were obtained from this
test. The I20 index was the weight per cent of coke remain-
ing above 20 mm in size and gives the extent of coke cohe-
sion, while the I10 index, which was the weight per cent of
coke obtained below 10 mm in size, was used to assess the
abrasion resistance of the resultant cokes. I40 was calcu-
lated, taking the initial grain size of the coke sample as
the weight per cent of coke remaining above 40 mm in size.
As is well known, the higher the I20 and I40 are and the
lower the I10, the better the coke quality. The three Irsid
indices are widely used to indicate the cold mechanical
strength of coke from full-size coke ovens. I20 and I10 indi-
ces are linearly related [8,9] showing that resistance to
cohesion and abrasion have the same signicance i.e. loss
of cohesion that is reected in the production of nes.
Coke reactivity towards CO
2
(CRI index) and coke
strength after reaction (CSR index) were assessed by the
test developed by the Nippon Steel Corporation (NSC)
and standardized afterwards by ASTM [10]. Briey, a sam-
ple of coke (200 g) with a particle size between 19 and
22.4 mm was made to react at 1100 5 C for 2 h with
CO
2
at a ow rate of 5 l/min. The partially gasied coke
was weighed and subjected to the tumbler test. The CRI
was calculated as the percentage of weight loss. The
mechanical degradation of the coke after CO
2
reaction
(CSR) was measured as the weight per cent of coke larger
than 9.5 mm in size after the drum had been rotated 600
times at 20 rpm and the coke sieved through a 9.5 mm
sieve. The lower the CRI and the higher the CSR, the better
the quality of the coke.
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Single coals and simple coal blends
Table 1 presents the most relevant characteristics of the
coals used to prepare binary, ternary and quaternary
blends. The coals are listed in increasing order of volatile
matter content. It is clear that there are two main groups
of coals; on the one hand the lower volatile coals with a
Gieseler maximum uidity lower than 500 ddpm and on
the other, highly uid coals with a volatile matter content
around 32 wt%. The characteristics of the cokes produced
from the coals have also been included in Table 1. The Irsid
index I10 which indicates resistance to abrasion varies from
20.6 for coke A to 25.9 for coke F1, while I20 which
denotes cohesion varies from 76.6 for coke PD to 67.8
for coke B. At the same time I40 which indicates resistance
to ssuring ranges from 24.9 for coke B to 58.4 for coke
PD. In general the mechanical strength measured by means
of the Irsid test is better in the case of cokes produced from
the coals with a volatile matter content between 17.9 (coal
H) and 24 wt% (coal F1). The worst indices correspond to
coals with a volatile matter content of around 32 wt% and
a Gieseler maximum uidity of around 30,000 ddpm.
Six binary, two ternary and a quaternary blends were
prepared with the coals presented in Table 1 with the aim
of improving the coke characteristics produced from the
highly uid coals. As was to be expected coal blend charac-
teristics (i.e. ash, volatile matter and sulphur) were additive
except for Gieseler maximum uidity which is known to
behave like a non-additive property [11] (Table 2). The big-
gest dierences between the experimental and calculated
values assuming additivity (Table 2) for the three Irsid indi-
ces, correspond to coal blends CB1, CB2, CB7 and CB9, all
2160 R. A

lvarez et al. / Fuel 86 (2007) 21592166

of which contain either coal B or coal Pf. Both coals which
have a volatile matter content of around 33 wt% present
very low I20 and I40 indices and high I10 index. Therefore,
if a coal that produces a coke of low mechanical strength
i.e. coals B and Pf is blended 1:1 with a prime coking coal
i.e. coals H and PD, the Irsid indices of the coke from the
blend (CB1 and CB2) will be similar to those of the good
quality coke. For all the blends presented in Table 2 the
experimental values are better than those calculated assum-
ing additivity.
Coke reactivity to CO
2
(CRI index) and post-reaction
strength (CSR index) were also measured for all the cokes
obtained from the blends. Generally speaking, the dier-
ences between the experimental values and those calculated
assuming additivity are low and always fall within the mar-
gin of experimental error for the test.
3.2. Industrial complex blend
Because of the satisfactory results obtained for cokes
produced from coals blends with two to four dierent
coals, a complex blend M1 composed of 10 coals of dier-
ent rank and geographical origin was selected (Table 3). To
check the degree of additivity of the parameters used to
dene coke quality in the case of a complex industrial
blend, the coals that integrated the blend were carbonized
and characterized in the same way as the industrial blend
(Table 3). The numbers in brackets correspond to those
calculated from the corresponding values of the coals that
integrate the blend. The cokes produced from the individ-
ual coals that integrate the blend vary greatly in their qual-
ity characteristics, together with cokes of high quality like
those produced from coals S, OG2 or PD, others present
a high reactivity like W4 or a low mechanical strength like
Lo. The comparison between the experimental and calcu-
lated parameters that dene the quality of the coke pro-
duced from the blend indicate that the deviation is low
for all the indices measured. These results appear very
promising for applying the additivity law to predict the
coke quality resulting from a complex blend of coals, which
is common practice in the coking industry, as long as the
values of the quality indexes of the cokes that integrate
the blend are known.
3.3. Addition of low-volatile coals to industrial blends
For the production of metallurgical coke, industrial cok-
ing plants use in their coke ovens blends of coals of dier-
ent rank (volatile matter content between 17 and 33 wt%)
and origin e.g. Australian, American and Chinese. The
introduction of minor quantities of inerts as a source of
carbon (coke breeze, anthracite) is also common in many
cases, with the aim of preparing similar blends using coals
that are available in the market. In the present work three
industrial coal blends, M2, M3 and M4, containing from 9
to 12 dierent coals, were selected. Their characteristics are
similar to those of coal blend M1: volatile matter content
of around 2526 wt%, an ash content of around 8 wt%
and a sulphur content lower than 0.8 wt% (Tables 46).
The blends were also carbonized in the 6 t oven of the
INCAR semi-industrial coke oven battery and the cokes
were characterized in terms of mechanical strength and
reactivity to CO
2
. Amounts between 10 and 40 wt% of
low volatile coals were added to the three industrial blends
in order to increase the coke yield due to the decrease in the
total volatile matter content of the blend to be carbonized.
The resulting blends were carbonized and characterized in
the same way as the industrial blends (Tables 46, the val-
ues in brackets are those calculated assuming the additivity
law). The cokes produced from the industrial blends pres-
ent similar values of cold mechanical strength indices, I20
at around 75, I10 at around 22 and I40 at around 45. Coke
reactivity to CO
2
(CRI) is around 26 for the three industrial
coal blends and post-reaction strength (CSR) is similar for
all the industrial blends with values of around 62 (Tables
46). The addition of 10, 20 and 30 wt% of a good quality
coal, OG2 (VM = 19.9 wt%) to the industrial coal blend
M2 (Table 4), produces a coke with Irsid indices better
Table 1
Coal characteristics and coke data
H W1 PD A F1 N C B Pf
Coal
Moisture (wt%) 6.7 10.4 8.0 10.0 7.3 8.6 8.5 8.9 7.3
Ash (wt% db) 5.0 6.9 9.2 5.6 9.1 7.0 6.0 6.1 5.5
Volatile matter (wt% db) 17.9 18.5 20.7 22.4 24.0 30.2 31.3 32.8 33.1
Sulphur (wt% db) 0.72 0.70 0.59 0.75 0.54 0.78 0.77 0.75 0.77
MF
a
(ddpm) 31 107 243 244 10 29,972 24,643 29,990 29,927
Coke
I20 76.0 74.9 76.6 76.3 71.4 74.9 73.6 67.8 67.9
I10 21.5 21.9 21.7 20.6 25.9 21.3 21.6 24.0 24.1
I40 49.8 40.5 58.4 44.7 43.1 40.3 36.7 24.9 26.1
CRI 60.3 39.9 15.2 40.0 19.7 26.7 21.7 19.1 17.7
CSR 23.9 49.5 73.6 46.5 66.7 61.0 65.7 65.0 67.3
Carbonizations carried out at INCARs 6 t oven.
a
Gieseler maximum uidity.
R. A

lvarez et al. / Fuel 86 (2007) 21592166 2161

Table 2
Blend characteristics and coke data of binary, ternary and quaternary blends. Carbonizations carried out at INCARs 6 t oven
CB1 CB2 CB3 CB4 CB5 CB6 CB7 CB8 CB9
50H + 50B 50PD + 50B 25PD + 75C 75W1 + 25N 50W1 + 50N 25W1 + 75N 50PD + 25B + 25A 25PD + 25W1 + 50C 25PD + 25F1 + 25A + 25Pf
Blend composition
Moisture (wt%) 5.7 12.6 6.5 8.8 8.8 7.9 8.3 5.9 7.7
Ash (wt% db) 6.1 7.8 6.6 6.3 6.8 6.7 8.2 7.2 7.5
Volatile matter (wt% db) 25.8 26.1 29.5 21.4 24.7 26.7 23.6 24.9 24.5
Sulphur (wt% db) n.d. n.d. 0.78 0.72 0.76 0.75 0.73 0.72 0.70
MF
a
(ddpm) 1276 625 5360 279 1383 12528 215 566 190
Coke
I20 75.6 77.5 76.4 76.8 76.8 75.3 78.4 77.0 77.6
(71.9) (72.2) (74.4) (74.9) (74.9) (74.9) (74.3) (74.7) (73.1)
I10 19.9 20.6 21.2 20.5 20.9 22.0 20.0 21.2 20.6
(22.8) (22.9) (21.6) (21.8) (21.6) (21.5) (22.0) (21.7) (23.1)
I40 52.4 60.1 50.0 45.7 48.0 48.5 59.5 58.7 55.3
(37.4) (41.7) (42.1) (40.5) (40.4) (40.4) (46.6) (43.1) (43.1)
CRI 39.1 19.6 19.1 35.8 34.0 29.6 21.6 24.2 22.4
(39.7) (17.1) (20.0) (36.6) (33.3) (30.0) (22.2) (24.6) (23.1)
CSR 46.9 68.2 67.2 53.1 53.2 55.7 66.3 63.3 65.7
(44.5) (69.9) (68.0) (52.4) (55.3) (58.1) (65.2) (63.6) (63.5)
a
Gieseler maximum uidity. Numbers in brackets have been calculated assuming the additivity law.
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than expected assuming the additivity law. However, the
dierences are not as high as in the case of the binary, ter-
nary or quaternary blends presented above. In the case of
the CRI and CSR indices the calculated values are similar
to the experimental ones.
By applying the additivity law, it is possible to estimate
the maximum amount of coal Bu (VM = 21.1 wt%) that
needs to be added to blend M3 while keeping the Irsid
and CRI/CSR indices in the range that denes a good qual-
ity coke i.e. I20 > 74, CRI < 30 and CSR > 55 (Table 5).
This coal presents a coke with a high cold mechanical
strength (Irsid indices). However, the extremely high reac-
tivity to CO
2
(CRI = 47) which implies a very low post-
reaction strength (CSR = 39) makes this coke not suitable
for steel production in the blast furnace. Again, the Irsid
indices are better than expected while the experimental
and calculated CRI and CSR are similar. The exception
being the coke obtained from 30 wt% addition which
exhibits a CSR 4 points higher than was expected.
The next example also illustrates the inuence of a low-
volatile coal with poor quality parameters when it is added
to an industrial coal blend (Table 6). The Irsid values of the
cokes derived from the blends are better than those of the
carbonized coal or the industrial blend, while the CRI and
CSR values of the blends are in between those of the indus-
trial blend and the coal.
Table 3
Coal characteristics and coke data for individual coals and complex blend M1. Carbonizations carried out at INCARs 6 t oven
W4 S OG2 PD R F2 J N Rf Lo M1
b
Coal
Moisture (wt%) 7.9 10.4 7.2 8.0 7.3 10.7 9.9 8.6 9.3 9.0 9.5
Ash (wt% db) 6.0 9.6 9.3 9.2 9.8 9.1 6.4 7.0 6.1 6.2 7.9
Volatile matter (wt% db) 17.8 19.2 19.9 20.7 23.1 23.4 24.7 30.2 32.3 32.4 25.0
Sulphur (wt% db) 0.61 0.62 0.53 0.59 0.60 0.53 0.70 0.78 0.89 0.78 0.65
MF
a
(ddpm) 45 102 633 243 461 23 637 29,972 27,950 20,255 686
Coke
I20 74.7 75.5 76.9 76.6 73.9 71.0 77.5 74.9 70.7 66.9 75.0
(73.7)
I10 22.8 23.0 20.7 21.7 24.5 26.6 20.3 21.3 24.1 25.9 22.1
(23.1)
I40 44.6 60.0 49.6 58.4 54.1 39.4 49.8 40.3 34.9 20.6 45.2
(44.0)
CRI 47.3 17.9 23.6 15.2 18.6 26.0 29.4 26.7 21.3 26.0 25.4
(25.3)
CSR 36.8 72.6 69.3 73.6 71.8 57.4 60.4 61.0 65.0 58.0 63.0
(62.5)
a
Gieseler maximum uidity.
b
Blend composition, 9W4 + 7S + 9OG2 + 6PD + 15R + 7.5F2 + 6.5J + 20N + 9.5Rf + 10.5Lo. Numbers in brackets have been calculated assuming
the additivity law.
Table 4
Coal characteristics and coke data of complex blend M2 with coal OG2. Carbonizations carried out at INCARs 6 t oven
M2 OG2 90M2 + 10OG2 80M2 + 20OG2 70M2 + 30OG2
Coal
Moisture (wt%) 9.2 7.2 9.4 8.8 8.0
Ash (wt% db) 8.2 9.3 8.4 8.5 8.8
Volatile matter (wt% db) 25.1 19.9 24.2 24.0 23.4
Sulphur (wt% db) 0.72 0.53 0.70 0.69 0.66
MF
a
(ddpm) 638 633 622 460 484
Coke
I20 74.8 76.9 76.4 75.2 77.0
(75.0) (75.2) (75.4)
I10 22.4 20.7 21.0 22.0 20.6
(22.2) (22.1) (21.9)
I40 47.3 49.6 46.8 48.7 51.0
(47.5) (47.8) (48.0)
CRI 25.3 23.6 25.5 25.0 24.2
(25.1) (25.0) (24.8)
CSR 62.4 69.3 63.7 64.2 65.5
(63.1) (63.8) (64.5)
Numbers in brackets have been calculated assuming the additivity law.
a
Gieseler maximum uidity.
R. A

lvarez et al. / Fuel 86 (2007) 21592166 2163

Generally speaking the addition of a coal of either good
or bad quality to industrial blends gives rise to a coke of bet-
ter cold mechanical strength than expected. On the other
hand the dierences between the experimental and calcu-
lated reactivity to CO
2
and post-reaction strength are low.
3.4. Additivity of coke quality parameters
In order to be able to appreciate the degree of additivity
of the dierent parameters normally used to measure the
quality of a coke used in a blast furnace, all the data pre-
sented in this work have been considered together. Fig. 1
presents a comparison of the experimental and the calcu-
lated values of the Irsid indices (I10, I20 and I40). In the
graphs three lines have been drawn, the one in the middle
representing the additivity line and the other two represent-
ing the repeatability limits for the 95% condence level
given in the standards [7]. When considering I10 and I20
(Fig. 1a and b), only four blends lie outside the band rep-
resenting the repeatability limits, which mostly correspond
(three out of four cases) to the simple blends shown in Sec-
tion 3.1. The dispersion in the case of the I40 index is
greater (Fig. 1c). In general, the I10 index lies below the
additivity line, while I20 and I40 lie above the line, which
implies that the cokes produced from blends present a bet-
ter cold mechanical strength (I10, I20 and I40 indices) than
that predicted from the composition of the blend and the
strength of their components. Coke reactivity to CO
2
(CRI index) and post-reaction strength (CSR index) are
mostly used when characterizing the quality of a coke for
its use in a blast furnace. All the cokes in the present work
have been subjected to this test and the relationships
between the experimental and calculated indices derived
from the test are presented in Fig. 2. The degree of additiv-
ity for these indices is high in all eighteen blends tested with
all the points lying on the band marked by the repeatability
limits given in the standard procedure [10], 2.8 points for
CRI and 5.4 for CSR.
In order to reproduce these results it is important that
all the carbonization conditions be kept constant. In addi-
tion the eect of weathering on coal and coal blends should
be avoided [1214], by making sure that the individual
coals and the complex blend are carbonized in the shortest
possible period of time.
Table 5
Coal characteristics and coke data of complex blend M3 with coal Bu
M3 Bu 90M3 + 10Bu 80M3 + 20Bu 70M3 + 30Bu
Coal
Moisture (wt%) 9.4 10.0 8.7 9.0 8.9
Ash (wt% db) 8.1 5.3 7.3 7.4 6.7
Volatile matter (wt% db) 25.1 21.1 24.2 23.8 22.3
Sulphur (wt% db) n.d. 0.82 n.d. n.d. n.d.
MF
a
(ddpm) 1000 165 599 373 289
Coke
I20 74.3 77.4 76.5 77.3 76.7
(74.6) (74.9) (75.2)
I10 23.0 20.7 20.4 20.6 21.0
(22.8) (22.8) (22.3)
I40 46.4 50.1 46.0 53.1 50.2
(46.8) (47.2) (47.5)
CRI 25.1 47.4 28.7 31.3 30.7
(27.3) (29.6) (31.8)
CSR 61.9 39.4 61.6 58.3 58.7
(59.7) (57.4) (55.2)
Carbonizations carried out at INCARs 6 t oven.
n.d.: not determined.
Numbers in brackets have been calculated assuming the additivity law.
a
Gieseler maximum uidity.
Table 6
Coal characteristics and coke data of complex blend M4 with coal W2
M4 W2 80M4 + 20W2 60M4 + 40W2
Coal
Moisture (wt%) 8.2 8.5 8.3 7.6
Ash (wt% db) 7.7 8.0 8.3 8.0
Volatile matter
(wt% db)
26.1 17.4 23.6 22.4
Sulphur (wt% db) 0.75 0.66 0.72 0.72
MF
a
(ddpm) 1224 124 435 331
Coke
I20 74.8 72.2 76.5 75.4
(74.3) (73.8)
I10 22.1 23.5 21.0 21.7
(22.4) (22.7)
I40 43.9 36.9 48.3 45.0
(42.5) (41.1)
CRI 25.7 33.3 26.9 27.6
(27.2) (28.7)
CSR 62.4 55.0 61.5 60.7
(60.9) (59.4)
Carbonizations carried out at INCARs 6 t oven.
Numbers in brackets have been calculated assuming the additivity law.
a
Gieseler maximum uidity.
2164 R. A

lvarez et al. / Fuel 86 (2007) 21592166

4. Conclusions
Coke reactivity to CO
2
(CRI) and post-reaction strength
(CSR) are additively dependent on the blend composition
and the CRI and CSR of the cokes obtained from the indi-
vidual coals used in the blend. The degree of additivity of
the Irsid indices is less clear, especially in the case of simple
blends. Nevertheless, cold mechanical strength is in general
better than expected assuming the additivity law. This
approach for predicting coke quality would be useful in
industrial practice where with a database of coke quality
characteristics, it ought to be possible to predict the quality
indices of a coal blend, especially if the additivity law can
be applied to cokes produced at smaller scale and the
results extrapolated to industrial scale. However, the
results shown here are based on experimental results and
a more thorough investigation is necessary to explain the
degree of interaction between coals and the eect on coke
properties.
Acknowledgement
The authors are grateful to European Coal Steel Com-
munity for the nancial support (Project 7220 - PR/068).
References
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[3] Abe Y, Nishi T, Suzuki S, Shiki Ch, Katahira H. Control of measure
of post reaction strength of coke with the same cold strength of coke.
Trans ISIJ 1983;23:PB272.
[4] Chiu YF. Study of coke petrography and factors aecting coke
reactivity. Ironmaking Steelmaking 1982;5:1969.
[5] Valia HS. Coke reactivity and its eect on blast furnace operation.
Iron Steel Soc 1990;49:10919. ISBN: 0-932897-51-7.
[6] Morishita N, Tsukada K, Suzuki N, Nemoto K. Development of
automatic coal/coke microscopic analyzer and its application in
cokemaking. ISS AIME Proc 1986;45:2039.
[7] ISO-556-1980. Coke (Dimension Superie`ure a` 20 mm), Determina-
tion de la cohesion; 1980.
18
20
22
24
18 20 22 24
I10 calculated
I
1
0

e
x
p
e
r
i
m
e
n
t
a
l
70
72
74
76
78
80
70 72 74 76 78 80
I20 calculated
I
2
0

e
x
p
e
r
i
m
e
n
t
a
l
35
40
45
50
55
35 40 45 50 55
I40 calculated
I
4
0

e
x
p
e
r
i
m
e
n
t
a
l
Fig. 1. Relationship between the experimental and calculated Irsid
indices.
10
20
30
40
50
10 20 30 40 50
CRI calculated
C
R
I

e
x
p
e
r
i
m
e
n
t
a
l
r = 0.983
40
50
60
70
80
40 50 60 70 80
CSR calculated
C
S
R

e
x
p
e
r
i
m
e
n
t
a
l
r = 0.966
Fig. 2. Relationship between the experimental and calculated CRI and
CSR indices.
R. A

lvarez et al. / Fuel 86 (2007) 21592166 2165

[8] Loison R, Foch P, Boyer A. Coke quality and production. Lon-
don: Butterworth; 1989.
[9] D ez MA, A

lvarez R, Radoslavov N, Barriocanal C, Canga CS,

Xiberta J. Desarrollo de un nuevo metodo a escala de laboratorio
para determinar la resistencia mecanica del coque. Rev Metal Madrid
2002;38:4108.
[10] ASTM D 5341-99. Test method for measuring coke reactivity index
(CRI) and coke strength after reaction (CSR); 1999.
[11] Sakurovs RR. Direct evidence that the thermoplastic properties of
blends are modied by interactions between the components coals.
Fuel 1997;76:61521.
[12] A

lvarez R, Barriocanal C, Casal MD, D ez MA, Gonzalez AI, Pis JJ,

Canga CS. Coal weathering studies. Ironmaking Conf Proc, Pittsburg
1996;55:26574.
[13] Cimadevilla JLG, A

lvarez R, Pis JJ. Eect of coal weathering on

technological properties of cokes produced at dierent scales. Fuel
Proc Technol 2005;86:80930.
[14] Cimadevilla JLG, A

lvarez R, Pis JJ. Photoacoustic FT-IR study of

weathered stockpiled coking coals. Vib Spectrosc 2003;31:13341.
2166 R. A

lvarez et al. / Fuel 86 (2007) 21592166