A method and apparatus for estimating a heating value of a biological material. The method includes irradiating of the biological material with X-ray radiation of at least two different energy levels, measuring of an amount of radiation transmitted through the biological material at these energy levels, and measuring fluorescent radiation emitted by the biological material when irradiated at these energy levels. A final estimate of the heating value is then determined based on a preliminary estimate of the heating value of the biological material based on the measured transmitted radiation and a correction value based on the fluorescent radiation.

A method for online monitoring and determining the calorific value of a solid fuel that is currently combusted in a boiler, that includes: on-line measuring the operational data of the boiler and of at least one mill during the operation 10 of the boiler; collecting the historical data; calculating the energy balances of the steam production system; iteratively determining the efficiency of the boiler by: determining sets of mill characteristics, the fuel mass flux, and the actual calorific value of the fuel for the historical data; training a model based on artificial intelligence algorithms to predict the calorific value using the historical data and measured operational data; determining in real time, using the trained model, the calorific value of the solid fuel that is currently combusted.

Provided is a method for preparing a coal mixture used for the purpose of producing coke with desired strength by taking into account the compatibility between coals for cokemaking. In the case of preparing a coal mixture, used as at least one portion of a coal blend for cokemaking, containing two or more types of coals with different surface tensions, the blending ratio of each of the coals is adjusted using the surface tension of a semicoke mixture obtained from the coal mixture as an indicator.

An automatic method for thermogravimetric analysis of multiple samples of coal or coke for volatile matter in a thermogravimetric analyzer of the type including an auto-loading delivery system, a furnace, a movable platform within said furnace, an external balance and an internal balance for measuring the weights of sample holders, lids and samples before and after treatment in the furnace. Coal or coke samples are placed in the sample holders and weighed in the external balance and are auto-loaded into the furnace at 950 C. All sample holders are weighed sequentially on the internal balance at exactly 7 minutes from introduction time with space time 14-20 seconds in between them and the weight of the sample holder prior to being placed in the furnace is compared with the weight of the sample holder after it has been treated in the furnace to determine the amount of volatile material.

Coal blends used to produce foundry coke products are disclosed herein. Coal blends can include first coals having a first volatile matter mass fraction less than or equal to a first threshold, and second coals having a second volatile mass fraction greater than or equal to a second threshold that is less than the second threshold. The coal blend can have an ash fusion temperature less than 2600? F. and an aggregated volatile matter mass fraction between 15% and 25%.

A method of estimating a surface tension of coal inert material includes determining in advance a first relational expression representing a relationship between a surface tension of coal inert material and a physical property value representing a coal rank; and measuring the physical property value representing the coal rank of a coal for which the surface tension of coal inert material is to be estimated, and calculating the surface tension of the coal inert material by using the measured physical property value representing the coal rank and the first relational expression.

A method of testing the coking qualities of sample quantities of coal in a test container and the structure of the test container are disclosed. A test container which is ideally reusable is adapted to receive one or more samples of coal to be tested and then the test container is inserted into a coking oven along with additional, conventional coal during a conventional coking operation. Following the completion or substantial completion of the coking operation, the test container is recovered and from the conventional converted coke and the sample(s) of coke are removed from the container for testing and evaluation. The container is recharged with one or more additional samples of coke and reused in another conventional coking operation.

A method may include positioning at least one calibration disk in a computed tomography (CT) scanner and positioning a pellet in the CT scanner. The at least one calibration disk and the pellet may both be made of a same powder exhibiting a known density. The method may further include scanning the at least one calibration disk and the pellet using the CT scanner to obtain one or more CT images of the pellet and the at least one calibration disk, and comparing a density of the pellet with the known density of the at least one calibration disk based on the one or more CT images.

A method of analyzing influencing factors of a contribution rate of elastic energy of a top plate during catastrophe of a coal body; the specific steps are: obtaining coal seam gas pressure; according to a drilling histogram, obtaining coal seam thickness and top plate thickness; taking a core on site and processing the core into a standard test piece; obtaining, by means of an indoor mechanical test, elastic moduli of the top plate and of gas-containing coal, respectively; substituting the obtained elastic moduli and thicknesses of the top plate and of the gas-containing coal into a calculation formula so as to obtain the contribution rate of the elastic energy of the top plate; and analyzing the influence of the contribution rate of the elastic energy of the top plate in the two situations of configuring the same thickness ratio and a different elastic modulus ratio and the same elastic modulus ratio and a different thickness ratio. In the described method, the role of the elastic energy of the top plate in a coal-gas dynamic disaster is fully considered while the influencing factors of the contribution rate of the elastic energy are analyzed. The method has important theoretical significance and practical engineering value. Moreover, the method has positive significance for the prediction and prevention of mining-induced rock burst-coal and gas outburst and other complex dynamic mining disasters.

Provided are, by using an index with which the influence on the strength of coke can be evaluated, a method for evaluating a weathering degree of coal and a coking property of weathered coal within the ranges in which the weathering degree and coking property cannot be determined by using conventional methods, and a method for controlling the weathering degree of coal with which it is possible to add weathered coal to a coal blend to be used for producing coke without decreasing the strength of coke by using the index. The weathering degree of coal is evaluated by using the surface tension of semicoke which is prepared by performing a heat treatment on weathered coal as an index. The weathering degree of each brand of coal is controlled so that the interfacial tension ?.sub.inter of a semicoke blend which is prepared by blending the plural brands of semicoke in accordance with the proportions is 0.03 mN/m or lower.