Impact of large sized inertinite particles on thermo-swelling and volatile release of coking coals

A reflux classifier system was employed to concentrate large sized inertinite-rich particles (1.6–2.0 mm) from two different ranked coking coals A and B. The impact of these concentrates on swelling, permeability and volatile evolution rates of another two coking coals C and D was investigated using the Computer Aided Thermal Analysis (CATA) and Dynamic Elemental Thermal Analysis (DETA) techniques. The results indicated that the concentrated inertinite-rich particles contained inertinite up to 75% for both coals A and B. When 25% inertinite particles were blended with 75% coal C or D by mass, the low rank inertinite concentrates A caused higher extents of effect on swelling and permeability than the high rank inertinite concentrates B, leading to higher softening temperatures with smaller plastic ranges. During swelling, inertinite concentrates B can compress volatile evolution rates of both coals C and D, however, inertinite concentrates A promoted volatile evolution rate of coal C. Concentrates from both coals A and B can compress the utilization of volatiles for driving swelling, the blend containing concentrate A used nearly half of volatiles that coals C and D themselves used for driving swelling. This study suggested that the additive internite concentrates not only provided a pathway for gas diffusion, but also interacted with the blended coals, which affected thermoplasticity of the whole blends. •Large sized inertinite concentrates was separated by reflux classifier.•Effect of inertinite particles on coking of other coals was studied.•Inertinite concentrates led to less volatiles for driving swelling of blends.