A Practical Guide to Ash Content in Coal Briquettes and Its Solutions

Coal briquettes are primarily made from coal powder, which is compressed and formed into solid blocks. These briquettes play a crucial role in various industries, including steel production, energy generation, and even environmental applications. However, many producers face challenges with the quality of their coal briquettes, particularly when it comes to high ash content. This factor not only affect the performance of the briquettes but also influence combustion efficiency, fuel economy, and overall product quality. In this guide, we’ll break down what ash content is , why It is matter, and how to tackle this issues effectively.

We’ll also touch on how the right binder, like Jianjie’s advanced binder solutions, can make a significant difference in optimizing your coal briquettes’ quality.

Coal briquttes

What is Ash Content in Coal Briquettes?

Ash content refers to the inorganic residue left behind after coal has been fully combusted. This residue primarily consists of mineral components such as clay, oxides, and salts, all of which are non-combustible. During the combustion process, ash forms two main byproducts:

Fly Ash (fine particles, <90μm, carried by flue gases) (This data is based on the “Emissions Standards for Air Pollutants from Thermal Power Plants” (GB13223-2011) and common standards in coal combustion processes)

Bottom Ash (coarser, molten or solid remnants expelled from the furnace bottom)

Chemically, ash is composed of metal and non-metal oxides, including SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, and CaO, all of which originate from the coal’s natural mineral matter.

In terms of coal quality, ash content is an essential indicator. High-quality coal or washed coal typically contains less ash (e.g., 5–10% for washed anthracite), while raw or poorly processed coal can have ash levels exceeding 15%. A high ash content not only reduces the coal’s energy value but also leads to equipment wear, lower combustion efficiency, and increased pollutant emissions, creating environmental concerns.

Root Causes of High Ash Content

Low-Quality Raw Materials:

Coal types like lignite or sub-bituminous coal, especially when unprocessed, naturally have higher ash content, which can severely affect briquette quality. Poor-quality coal leads to inefficient combustion and compromised product performance.

Inadequate Preprocessing:

Insufficient washing or screening processes fail to remove mineral impurities. For example, improper crushing or washing can leave clay and silt particles mixed with the coal powder, resulting in higher ash content.

Binder-Related Issues:

Some low-quality المجلدات can introduce additional inorganic elements or fail to adequately bind the coal particles. This results in poor impurity separation during the briquetting process, allowing ash-forming minerals to remain in the final product.

Suboptimal Briquetting Parameters:

Inconsistent mixing of coal and binder or insufficient compression pressure can lead to uneven distribution of ash-forming minerals. This concentration of minerals in certain areas of the briquette lowers its overall quality.

Raw material wet test

Why Ash Content Matters: Its Impacts on Industrial Processes

Reduced Combustion Efficiency:

Ash content doesn’t contribute to heat generation; instead, it absorbs and dissipates heat. When the ash content in coal briquettes increases, the gross calorific value (GCV) in coal decreases, and the furnace temperature decreases, leading to higher fuel consumption and increased operational costs.

Equipment Damage and Downtime:

At high temperatures, ash can fuse and form slag, which clogs furnaces, boilers, and gasifiers. This slagging disrupts heat distribution, accelerates metal corrosion, and necessitates frequent maintenance or shutdowns for cleaning.

Quality Contamination:

In metallurgical processes, such as steelmaking, high ash content in coal briquettes can introduce impurities into molten steel, compromising product quality and raising waste rates.

Improve the Quality Coal Briquettes by Managing Ash Content

Managing the levels of ash content in coal powder briquettes is crucial for ensuring high-quality, efficient, and environmentally-friendly products. While raw material selection and process adjustments play a big role, using the right binder can make a world of difference. Jianjie’s binder solutions provide the perfect balance between performance and sustainability, helping producers improve briquette quality, enhance combustion efficiency, and reduce environmental impact.

How to Reduce Ash Content in Coal Briquettes

Selecting Low-Ash Coal:

Prioritize coals with naturally low ash content, such as anthracite or washed coal. By selecting the right raw materials, you can effectively reduce the ash content in the coal briquettes and minimize the residual ash after combustion.

Washing Process:

In some cases, coal washing can effectively remove mineral impurities and further reduce ash content. Investing in advanced washing and screening equipment ensures that the raw materials meet process requirements and are free from unwanted mineral matter.

Optimizing Coal Briquetting Conditions:

Optimizing parameters such as temperature, pressure, and humidity during the briquetting process can help reduce the ash content in the final product. For example, applying high pressure (80–150 MPa) during briquetting tightly compacts coal particles, minimizing voids where ash-forming minerals might accumulate.

Using High-Quality Binders:

Selecting the right binder, like Jianjie’s advanced binder solutions, helps improve the overall quality of coal briquettes. These binders not only improve coal-binder adhesion but also prevent the introduction of inorganic contaminants, reducing ash-related issues and ensuring an even distribution of coal particles.

How Jianjie’s Binder Optimize Coal Briquette Quality

في جيانجي, we specialize in providing innovative binder solutions that address the challenges faced in coal powder briquette production. Our binders are carefully formulated to enhance the performance of briquettes, especially when using raw materials with high volatile matter or low quality. Here’s how our binders make a difference:

Improved Coal Fine Briquette Durability:

Jianjie’s binders strengthen the cohesion between coal particles, reducing breakage and improving handling during transportation and storage.

Enhanced Combustion Stability:

Jianjie’s binders stabilize briquettes, ensuring consistent combustion even when volatile content is high, thus improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions.

Minimized Ash Impact:

With Jianjie’s binders and technical support, coal particles are more evenly distributed, which helps mitigate the negative effects of high ash content, ensuring better performance and higher product quality.