Coal utilization research in India

One of the major factors of concern to the Indian coal industry is the increasing ash content of coal mined as well as the fluctuation in its quality. Coal beneficiation and preparation and expansion of washery capacity will therefore be a major effort of the coal industry. This is essential for the export of coal. Conservation of coking coal, development of briquetting, pelletization, and formed coke technologies, improved methods of preparation of coal for carbonization, and production of solid smokeless domestic fuel will be the other important objectives of the coal industry. Total gasification of coal to supply fuel gas to industries is likely to be applied on a commercial scale. Improvements in combustion systems are also expected to be commercialized. Considering these industrial trends, the thrust of R and D at the CFRI during the next five to ten years will be mainly in two directions: 1. use of technologies already developed in India to establish demonstration or commercial-scale plants; 2. development of technologies for better and more convenient and rational usage of coal. In addition, improving capabilities in design and engineering of coal processing technologies and equipment, basic coal science and process development including catalysts to enable easiermore » processing and conversion of coal, and establishment of data collection and technology transfer banks on coal resources and their potential uses will be emphasized.« less