The working condition of fuel (top index ^r) - condition of fuel with such moisture and ash content, with which it is produced, shipped or used.

The analytical condition of fuel (top index ^a) - condition of fuel characterized by the sample preparation, which includes grinding with the grain size of less than 0.2 mm (or other sizes stipulated by special methods of analysis) and bringing it to equilibrium with the laboratory space conditions.

The dry condition of fuel (top index ^d) - condition of fuel without the total moisture content (except hydrate).

The dry ash-free condition of fuel (top index ^daf) – conditional state of fuel without the moisture and mineral mass content.

The moist ash-free condition of fuel (top index ^af) – conditional state of fuel without the ash content but with the moisture (moisture capacity) appropriate for this fuel state.

The following classification parameters are established as those basic:

Kuznetsky basin coals, GOST 25543-88

 Notes

1. Volatile substances yield for anthracite – below 220 cm 3/g.

2. In the designation of groups, digits located before letters, are to indicate the sequence number; digits located after letters – the lower limit of the coal baking capacity expressed by the plastic layer thickness.

3.With the plastic layer thickness of below 6 mm and a baked non-volatile residue, coals are to be referred correspondingly to grades G (G6), GF (GZh), KF (KZh6), K2 and St; and with a powder-like and conglutination-type, poorly caking non-volatile residue - correspondingly to grades K2, St (OS), PC (SS) and L (T), which at the plastic layer thickness of below 6 mm is to be additionally specified by the ROGA index (RI 2:4) with a ratio of the coal versus anthracite admixture - 2:4. For grade K2, the ROGA index should be 18 and more, for grade St (OS) – 16 and more, for grade PC (SS) – 17 and less, for grade L (T) – 15 and less.

Coarseness classification

The following coarseness classification (GOST 19242-73) has been adopted in this country:

Classes are to be allowed changing correspondingly the upper and lower limits of coarseness from 100 mm to 80 mm, 50 mm to 40 mm, 25 mm to 20 mm, 13 mm to 10 mm and 6 mm to 5(8) mm as well as combination classes LmC (PK), CN (KO), NS (OM), SFs (MS) provided the ratio between the lower and upper limits is not over 1:4, and also classes NSFsD (OMSSh), SFsD (MSSh) and FsD (SSh).

The upper limit of 300 mm of the Pl and raw coals is to cover only open production enterprises. Certain classes should be established per cob size and fines content therein by standards of specifications in regard to types of consumption.

Grades of black coal and anthracite produced in coal basins of the former USSR:

ES – Eastern Siberia
FE – The Far East
C – The Caucasus
KarB – Karaganda basin
LVB – Lvov-Volhynia basin
NCA – Norilsky coal-bearing basin
PB – Pechora basin
CA – Central Asia
U – Urals
DB – Donetsk basin
Sakh – Sakhalin
SYB – South-Yakutsky basin

Breakdown of coals into types

Note

Coals with the index of reflecting vitrinite R of below 0.5% and heat of combustion Q af s of over 23.87 Mjoule/kg are to be referred to as black ones; coals with a reflecting ability of vitrinite equal to 0.5% and more and heat of combustion Q af s equal to 23.87 Mjoule/kg and less, are to be referred to as those brown.

Grades of brown coals

• Brown easy BE (BM)
• Brown compact vitrinite BCV (BPV)
• Brown compact fusinite BCF (BPF)
• Brown solid vitrinite BSV (BTV)
• Brown solid fusinite BSF (BTF)

Grades of black coals:

Vitrain is among the predominant coal ingredients. It is a carrier of their basic properties and occurs in the form of lenses, layers and sometimes – of whole coal-seam units. Characteristic features: intense glitter, makeup homogeneity, solid vitreous structure, conchoidal or leveled fracture, fissuring across stratification. Vitrain in comparison with other ingredients is usually less ashy.

Fusain has a distinctive silky glitter and fibrous or soot composition. It is observed in the form of lenses, pockets, and sheets. Porous, soft and friable fusain by its appearance reminds one of wood charcoal and usually contains a great amount of mineral admixtures.

Coal heated to high temperatures without air access, gets decomposed generating liquid and gaseous products (hydrocarbons, mainly), referred to as volatile substances. This is a parameter characterizing a metamorphism stage and coal grade.

A solid product obtained as a result of thermal decomposition, is to be referred to as coke residue – buckshot (myrica bead).

Rate of natural diminution as follows:

• During coal transportation up to 750 km – 0.6% of the weight;

  751-1500 km – 0.7% of the weight;

over 1500 km – 0.8% of the weight.

• During transshipment of coal in a port: railcar/vessel – 0.85% of the weight;

railcar-to-railcar – 0.80% of the weight.

• During transportation of coke – 0.7% of the weight.
• During transshipment of coke in a port: railcar/vessel – 1.0% of the weight;

  railcar-to-railcar – 0.8% of the weight.