The development of small scale techniques used to study coking pressure generation

The production of metallurgical coke is complicated by the tendency for many coking coals to generate high and potentially excessive pressures on the walls of the coke ovens used, which can cause those walls to flex, and ultimately results in their irreparable damage. The coal properties that are thought to be responsible are also linked with coke quality, and so the generation of some coking pressure is unavoidable. It has to be kept below an acceptable limit by the careful screening of potential coking blends, but the magnitude of the pressure that a particular charge might generate can currently only be safely determined by carrying out pilot carbonizations in a movable wall oven, using upwards of 180kg of coal. The scale of the test greatly impedes its practical application. [Continues.]