Processes of producing cokes of large lump size and improved strength from bituminous coals

Abstract

Improvements in the process of producing coke from bituminous coal in high-efficiency coking ovens, whereby the size of the lumps of coke and their strength are both increased, which comprises maintaining a coking rate between 1.2 and 2.8, and preferably between 1.44 and 2.0, inches per hour, based upon the width in inches of the coking chamber and the time required to complete the coking operation, and maintaining a rate of temperature increase between 1.6 and 3.3 centigrade degrees per minute during the heating of the coal while it is in the plastic range. The coal preferably is also preliminarily heated to a temperature between 160.degree. and 250.degree.C, preferably between 180.degree. and 200.degree.C, before being charged to the high-efficiency coking oven, and the width of the coking chamber of the high-efficiency oven that is used is at least 500 millimeters (19.7 inches).

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