[Stoves] Water in coal

[Crispin Pemberton-Pigott]

Dear AJ

>It's a fairly simple sum, if the bulk density is sufficient
>that the cost per tonne of transport doesn't change between the dry
>product and the wet product ...

Anticipating that, I asked and it is transported by mass, not volume.  Some
mines send it by rail car and they are full from a mass point of view.
Checking the cars I found the sides would need to he higher to hold much
more (I don't expect the coal to shrink when dried).  Discussing it with the
railways network consultant it seems higher sides are not going to appear
soon unless volumes are huge.

Further, people have to carry the coal home in quite small sacks of 18 kg
each. If they carried coal instead of water it would be worth paying more
for it because the cost per MJ would still drop.  Those who buy a whole
season's coal at once buy '5 tons' not x-many cubic metres, so it is worth
removing the water if it is not helping the combustion.

Regards
Crispin

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