Low volatile PCI coal
Coal can be used in two ways in the production of steel.
Non-coking PCI coal is crushed and injected into the blast furnace. PCI coal provides further carbon (over that derived solely from the coke) for iron-making.
As a result of the extra carbon introduced by PCI coal, steel makers can reduce the amount of coke necessary for steel making. PCI coals range from low volatile to high volatile. Low volatile PCI (LV PCI) coal is increasingly sought by steel mills in preference to higher volatile coal because it provides superior performance in the blast furnace due to its higher carbon and energy content.
The replacement ratio of LV PCI coal to coke varies according to the requirements of each blast furnace. Typically, 1.0 tonne of LV PCI coal can replace 1.3 tonnes of more expensive coking coal. Consequently, LV PCI coal has proven to be effective in lowering the cost of steel making and has established a niche in the market for metallurgical coal.
