[Stoves] Water in coal

[Kevin Chisholm]

Dear Crispin

*What is the approximate size of the coal that is shipped to the Customer?
*Is it screened to eliminate fines, or are fines included?
*What temperature is necessary to eliminate the water?
*Will other products be driven off, in addition to water, at these 
temperatures?
*Do the physical properties of the coal change at a critical moisture 
level? (dusting, cracking, size degradation, combustion,etc.)
*What scale of operation would you guess as being appropriate?

* How much more would the Customer pay per kg for "dry coal?"
* What margin would be necessary for a local Entrepreneur to set up a 
coal drying operation, so that the Coal Merchant could sell either wet 
coal or dry coal?
These last two questions are critical.

Best wishes,

Kevin




Crispin Pemberton-Pigott wrote:
> 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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