What next with coal?

[andyhigham]

Why does it need to be stored under water?

[Geoff]

It just crumbles into fines quite quickly - I'm not sure if it combusts spontaneously as well.

[theflyingscotsman]

so my mrs told me today theyre opening/reopening a coal mine, she saw it on the news on her phone. Not sure how true it is or where abouts but i imagine its to power the power stations rqther than anything else

[millman]

It’s been on the news this morning, the mine will be at Whitehaven in Cumbria and will supply coking coal for the steel works.

[smallbrother]

Dec 7, 2022 23:16:20 GMT theflyingscotsman said:

so my mrs told me today theyre opening/reopening a coal mine, she saw it on the news on her phone. Not sure how true it is or where abouts but i imagine its to power the power stations rqther than anything else

It's coking coal so not for generating power.

What a strange decision after all the negatives regarding coal.

As an ex-NCB engineer I have mixed feelings about this. I absolutely detested the decision to close this British industry in the 80s. It wasn't a money maker for sure, but those of us who warned of the dire consequences have been proven correct. Much of the world remains powered by coal and we sit on millions of tonnes of the stuff. But we prefer to import gas from elsewhere and burn that. Anyway, hundreds of well paid jobs in an area crying our for them is a positive.

Also it took some bizarre political maneuvering from within the government's own ranks recently to get onshore wind farms back on the table.

I gave up looking for logic in the matter of UK energy policy decades ago.

Pete.

[andyhigham]

This sh1te they are selling for home fires is bloody useless.
It glows a bit, no flame, it burns for half the time and produces 4 times as much ash

[ettingtonliam]

Having opened up the fireplace for winter, I usually start the fire with the usual paper, sticks and layer of house coal, followed by smokeless to get a good hot firebed, then go onto ash logs. I used to use peat briquettes, but Bord Na Mona in Ireland has stopped production. I'd got a supply of coal left over from last year, but when I went to order some more, all the coal merchants round here in the UK Midlands tell me that they are forbidden to sell it any more, so don't have any. How are you guys getting coal for your locos if coal sale is forbidden - or is anthracite exempt?

[melaser]

Here's the thing, you can buy bulk, but not bagged. Not for much longer though, then the "Smokeless" pressed briquettes take over

[Oily Rag]

Nov 18, 2022 12:27:47 GMT andyhigham said:

Why does it need to be stored under water?

Because it perishes, oxidises. The gases liberate and it degrades. So often long term storage is done underwater. Aussie bituminous coals are most often like that. When firing a full size loco one knows when you get into the perished coal in the tender. How long does coal take to perish ? I have no idea but we do not want to store it for than 6 months at the Rattler.

[NickM]

Dec 18, 2022 21:48:51 GMT melaser said:

Here's the thing, you can buy bulk, but not bagged. Not for much longer though, then the "Smokeless" pressed briquettes take over

Not true, our coal merchant is selling both Anthracite and Dry Welsh Steam in 25kg bags.

[chris vine]

Hi Nick
Which coal merchant is that? Or is it your secret??!!

Happy Christmas
Chris.

[smallbrother]

Dec 25, 2022 19:06:46 GMT chris vine said:

Hi Nick
Which coal merchant is that? Or is it your secret??!!

Happy Christmas
Chris.

I believe Nick uses the same one as me.

Supaheat Fuels, Swansea.

Pete.

[chris vine]

Thanks, I’ve been looking at them…
Chris

[melaser]

Dec 25, 2022 13:15:26 GMT NickM said:

Dec 18, 2022 21:48:51 GMT melaser said:

Here's the thing, you can buy bulk, but not bagged. Not for much longer though, then the "Smokeless" pressed briquettes take over

Not true, our coal merchant is selling both Anthracite and Dry Welsh Steam in 25kg bags.

Ask him for bagged house coal and see what he says.  As of a date very soon that I can't remember off the tio of my head, the sale of bagged housecoal is outlawed, which is what I was refering to

[smallbrother]

I'm pretty sure the stuff labelled Dry Welsh Steam would be suitable for an open fire.

It will almost certainly be from some of the better seams at Ffos y Fran. The mine is 100% bituminous coal so should burn well on an open fire.

Pete.

[britannia]

Dec 8, 2022 11:15:57 GMT smallbrother said:

Dec 7, 2022 23:16:20 GMT theflyingscotsman said:

so my mrs told me today theyre opening/reopening a coal mine, she saw it on the news on her phone. Not sure how true it is or where abouts but i imagine its to power the power stations rqther than anything else

It's coking coal so not for generating power.

What a strange decision after all the negatives regarding coal.

As an ex-NCB engineer I have mixed feelings about this. I absolutely detested the decision to close this British industry in the 80s. It wasn't a money maker for sure, but those of us who warned of the dire consequences have been proven correct. Much of the world remains powered by coal and we sit on millions of tonnes of the stuff. But we prefer to import gas from elsewhere and burn that. Anyway, hundreds of well paid jobs in an area crying our for them is a positive.

Also it took some bizarre political maneuvering from within the government's own ranks recently to get onshore wind farms back on the table.

I gave up looking for logic in the matter of UK energy policy decades ago.

Pete.


Sadly the Climate Alarmists are saying the mine will never get opened.  Thinking being that the government will have changed colour before a foundation stone is laid, and so will be cancelled