Where Coal Is Used: Spheres and Areas of Application

Where is coal used? Spheres and areas of coal application

Coal has been one of the best-known sources of heat for several thousand years. The unique features of this raw material allow it to remain in demand today, so the modern coal industry continues to develop actively. It is clear that such a well-known material has found application in many areas, which are discussed below.

What is coal and how is it mined?

Coal is a solid black combustible fossil. It forms from plant organic remains that, under high pressure and environmental influence, are transformed into rock. This process is called coal metamorphism. Coal consists mainly of carbon (80-90%), with small amounts of hydrogen and oxygen. The characteristics that determine coal quality include coking capacity and caking ability.

The coal industry occupies an important place among extractive industries. Coal mining methods vary and depend on the depth of the deposit. Coal is mined in open pits when the seam lies near the surface, and in mines when the raw material is located at a depth of more than 100 meters. Modern methods are also used, including hydraulic coal mining.

Types and Grades of Coal

Coal is divided into types according to many criteria: color, size, structural and genetic features, processing technology and other factors.

There is a generally accepted marking system for coal mined and used in production. Coal may be long-flame (D), gas coal (G), fat coal (Zh), coking coal (K), lean coal (T) and so on. Some mined coal is also classified as intermediate, for example gas-fat coal. Separate countries also use their own classification systems, including the United States and Japan.

In Which Areas Is Coal Used?

Thanks to its unique properties, coal is actively used in various fields and industries. Most areas of coal application became possible because of coking, which is the thermal treatment of coal without oxygen. To understand how it is used, let us look at these areas in more detail:

1. Fuel industry. Despite the presence of alternative energy sources, it is still impossible to completely abandon coal as an energy raw material. There is also a technology for producing liquid fuel from coal, known as coal liquefaction.
2. Metallurgy. Coal is a main fuel in foundry production, and coke is used in cast iron production and in work with iron ore.
3. Chemical industry. Coal processing products are used to obtain pitch, naphthalene and phenol. These materials are then used to produce varnishes, paints and plastics. In general, up to two hundred substances can be obtained from coal during coking.
4. Agriculture. Coal processing can produce fertilizers used in the agricultural industry. This is related to the organic origin of coal.
5. Transport sector. Coal is used in railway maintenance and road construction.

As can be seen, coal is actively used in many industrial sectors. Having proven its usefulness over many years, it remains a promising mineral resource. It is safe to say that coal will not lose its relevance for a long time.