Method and apparatus for compacting coal for a coal coking process

A coal compacting and coke oven charging apparatus comprising:

• a coal bed charge car comprising a transfer plate having side walls, at least one movable end wall, and a transfer plate translating mechanism for transportation compacted coal into the coke oven;
• and
• a coal compaction device comprising:
• a pressure plate for applying pressure to an upper surface of a dry, uncompacted bed of coal deposited on the transfer plate;
• and
• a vacuum source for degassing the uncompacted bed of coal to provide a dry, compacted coal bed having a bulk density ranging from about 960 to about 1200 kilograms per cubic meter.

A method for operating a horizontal non-recovery coke oven using a relatively low quality coal source, the method comprising the steps of:

• depositing coal particles on a transfer plate device to provide an uncompacted bed of coal, the transfer plate device having a translatable spatula, side walls and at least one movable end wall;
• applying pressure to an upper surface of the uncompacted coal bed while degassing the coal bed to provide a dry, compacted coal bed having a bulk density ranging from about 960 to about 1200 kilograms per cubic meter, wherein degassing the coal bed is selected from the group consisting of applying a vacuum source to one or more probes inserted in the uncompated coal bed and venting air through one or more probes inserted into the uncompated coal bed;
• translating the spatula containing compacted coal into the coke oven;
• removing the spatula from the coke oven while retaining the compacted coal in the coke oven;
• and
• conducting a coking process on the compacted coal in the coke oven.