COKING OF PEAT BRIQUETTES IN HUNGARY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700030527-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 17, 2011
• Sequence Number: 527
• Publication Date: January 4, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

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LANGUAGE
COUNTRY Hungary DATE OF
INFORMATION 1951
I SUBJECT Economic - Industry, chemical, fuel
HOW DATE DIST. $12419%,
PUBLISHED Monthly periodical
WHERE
PUBLISHED Budapest NO. OF PAGES 6
DATE
PUBLISHED Apr 1951
CLASSIFICATION RESTRICTED RESTRICTED
SECURITY INFORMATION
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS CD NO,
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Hungary's peat supply consists of approximately 25 percent fibrous and
75 percent compact peat. The ash content is generally high and, therefore,
only a fraction of the supply is suitable for coking. The fraction is large
enough, however, to provide ample raw materials for decades to come for a
peat-charcoal industry, should one be established.
Peat samples from various parts of the country were collected and these
distilled at 500 degrees centigrade in a Fischer-Schader type 200 cubic centi-
meter aluminum apparatus. The samples were examined for water, ash, tar, and
coke content, loss of gasses, and water of decomposition. At the same time, it
was necessary to determine the water content and the ash content of the peat to
be coked. The results are shown in the following table:
Water of
Decom-
Peat Deposit
Moi
stu
re
Ash
position
Tar
Coke
G
as Loss
Os
1
4.0
7 4
17.1
9 1
44.0
15.8
Lengyeltoti
l
e.9
23.1
13.9
7.0
49.5
17.5
Kalocsa
1
2.9
8.8
14.1
12.0
42.0
19.0
Feketeberzseny I
1
7.6
8.0
16.4
10.0
39.0
17.0
Feketeberzseny II
1
6.3
13.8
14.7
10.0
43.0
16.0
Izsak
5.5
56.8
9.5
5.6
71.1
8.3
Kisvarda
4.9
33.8
9.6
5.1
63.0
17.1
Kece2
1
1.9
26.6
10.1
8.7
55.0
14.3
Fonyoliget
1
0.3
16.9
6.1
9.5
50.0
24.9
Somogyszentpal
4.7
48.3
6.3
4.0
73.2
11.8
Oates
8.2
39.5
9.3
5.0
63.0
14.5
Balatonlelle
5.4
41.0
9.6
4.5
66.5
14.0
Madasladany
8.5
36.6
10.5
4.3
65.0
11.7
STATE NAVY
ARMY AIR
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According to Puchner (Der Torf, Stuttgart, 1920, p 251), peat which contains
more than 10-percent ash is not suitable for coking. After coking, the ash con-
tent increases to such an extent that the coke loses most of its strength. In
practice, the disadvantage of this type of peat does not lie in the fact that it
yields little heat, but rather in the fact that coke containing a large proportion
of inert material cannot retain its shone. Experiments have shown that peat con-
taining 50 to 60 percent of inert material is extremely brittle.
Experiments have also shown that some domestic peat contains less than 10 per-
cent of ash when air dried. Peat originati:.,; from Kalocsa, Os, and Feketebezseny
Is of this type.
Up to now, explorers have consistently neglected to look for peat deposits of
the low ash-content variety. This has been the reason for obtaining results which
fell below expectations.
To obtain shape-retaining, strong briquettes, the raw peat has to be shaped
before coking. It may be formed into briquettes with or without, the application
of mechanical power.
It was shown during experiments that a strong, shape-retaining coke can be
produced from peat briquettes in spite of Puchner's statement to the contrary.
During the course of the experiments, Professor Gusztav Tarjan acted as con-
sultant to determine how a peat briquette of excellent quality coald be produced.
Two factors are very important in the production of high-quality briquettes: the
size of the particles and the water content which produces the best possible
cohesion. This water content is called the optimum water content.
The peat from Os had an optimum water content of 16.86 percent when it was
briquetted. The following chart compiled by Gusztav Tartan shows the strength
of briquettes of various lengths under a pressure of 820 atmospheres in each
case:
Specific
Pressure Length Diameter Wel t Volume Gravity Strength
atm F (mm) (mm) Tgr l cu cm) kg cu cm)
820 16.5 50 35.5 32.4 1,094 500
820 22.0 50 48.0 43.1 1,112 244
820 27.5 50 59.0 54.o 1,092 167
The following chart was prepared on the basis of different pressures on
briquettes of more or less equal size.
Specific
Pressure Len th Diameter Wei ht Volume Gravity Strength
-Fat-m7- T cu cm) kg cu cm,
820 27.5 50 59.1 54.0 1,093 167
510 29.5 50 57.5 57.9 994 69
385 31.5 50 55.9 61.8 94 23
The experimental data show that in the case of peat briquettes of identical
dimensions the breaking strength per cubic centimeter increases with increased
pressure. This is not true of Kalocsa peat. Briquettes were prepa:?:i which
seemed to be of excellent composition, but began to crack after a few minutes and
finally crumbled.
Small briquettes were first coked in the laboratory and, after obtaining
favorable results, systematic experiments were initiated.
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When preparing small briquettes in the laboratory, it was not possible to
determine the amount of pressure used. Before preparing large briquettes, how-
eve- , it was necessary to determine the approximate amount of pressure required.
It was hoped that by applying the same pressure, a product similar to the small
laboratory briquettes oould be obtained.
Residue on the No 100 mesh sieve
12.5
Passed through the No 100 mesh sieve
8.6
Passed through the No 300 mesh sieve
23.6
Passed through the No 560 mesh sieve
12.3
Passed through the No 900 mesh sieve
41.9
Ten small laboratory briquettes were prepared from the above material. The
briquettes were weighed, their volumes were established, and it was determined
that 1.073 grams of peat were compressed in one cubic centimeter of material. In
every case briquettes, 35.6 millimeters in diameter, were prepared from 70 cubic
centimeters of ground peat. Various pressures were applied and the amount of
peat compressed per cubic centimeter was calculated.
The following data were obtained:
Pressure (atm)
Diameter (mm)
Surface (sq cm)
Height (mm)
volume (cu cm)
Weight (gr)
300
250
200
150
100
50
35.65
35.60
35.90
35.90
35.90
35.90
9.95
9.90
10.13
10.13
10.13
10.13
23.00
24.60
25.00
25.10
26.40
29.20
22.90
24.30
25.30
25.35
26.80
49.58
28.34
29.80
29.25
27.66
26.98
24.84
Pressure,(kg/sq
cm) 1,450 1,210 950 710 475 238
Peat in 1 cubic
centimeter of
briquette (gr) 1,235 1,223 1,255 1,093 1,004 0.842
The above table shows that. the 1.073 grams per cubic centimeter of peat,
present in the small laboratory briquettes, was also present in the large briquettes
which were prepared under a pressure of about 700 kilograms per square centimeter.
This led to the conclusion that the laboratory briquettes most have been prepared
under the same or at e. somewhat lower pressure. The above chart shows that it is
necessary to apply a pressure of 700 kilograms per square centimeter in the prepara-
tion of large laboratory briquettes.
Peat briquettes, 36 x 25 millimeters, were prepared for coking from Os peat
of low ash content. The weight of one briquette was approximately 29 grams.
The cater content of the peat used was 17 percent and the ash content was 5.9 per-
cent. The pressure applied was 1,200 kilograms per square centimeter.
During experiments, the briquettes were coked in a vacuum at a'temperature
of about 800 degrees centigrade. It was found that at this temperature the
briquettes obtained retained their shape, were strong and similar to coke.
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An iron-alloy retort, 150 x 80 x 260 millimeters, was used for coking the
peat briquettes. A steam and gas cutlet tube, approximately 60 centimeters long,
was m.unted on the closely fitting lid of the retort. A t..o-holed cork stopper
was put on the gas outlet tube on which a wide-necked flask was placed to receive
the condensed yield. A U-shaped gas outlet tube was placed in the other opening
of the stopper and a cork stopper with one hole was placed on its other end. A
cooling column was placed in the other opening of the cork and another flask was
attached to receive the cooled-off liquid yield. A T-shaped tube was led through
a stopper on for of the cooling column. One end of the tube was led into a man-
ometer and the other into a gas meter. A pyrometer was installed in the lid of
the metal retort. A Hoskins heat element pyrometer filament was placed in it to
control the coking temperature and the heat in the retort. The collection flasks
were submerged in iced water to achieve more perfect cooling.
There e no da .. _availoblc .cgurd' ng t".-- opt....,.... ,._mperaturv coking, sv
that, at the start of the experiments, 800 degrees centigrade was selected arbi-
trarily, together with 3 hours of coking tine. Later it was found that this long
period of time is not required for coking, since the coking process requires only
a few minutes once the optimum temperature is reached.
It was found experimentally that the optimum temperature for coking 0s peat
briquettes is 765-775 degrees centigrade. If the temperature is raised above
b
h
l
d
t
is range, no additional yield or products ale o
tained. TUis can be exp
aine
by the fact that, once the volatile substances have left., which occurs at lower
temperatures, the coke does not undergo any further deccmnpositioi. The surface
of the coke obtained is slightly .:hint', its color is metallic grey, and its inner
breaking surface is dark grey or black. The prat briquette retai..ed its shape un-
changed after coking although it shrank 50 percent in the proce_c. The coked peat
briquette is a solid material and breaks only under higl.er pressure. After coking
cracks appeared or. the surface of the cylindric_' briquettes.
The best quality coke was obtained by coking the material at 775 degrees
centigrade. The ash content of peat briquettes coke= at this temperature is 16.45
percent and heating value is 6,735 calories at a temperature above 775 degrees
centigrade. Material coked at a temperature lower than 775 degrees centigrade
shows less strength. It is noteworthy that this temperature was established through
arbitrary estimates, since the material available was insufficient for the exact
determination of strength data.
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At 775 degrees centigrade, the peat coke yield was 37.9 percent which means
that, in practice, 270 kilograms of peat briquettes yield 100 kilograms of coked
peat briquettes. At 750 degrees centigrade, the yield is 43.4 percent, but the
coke is very brittle and weak. When coked at a temperature of more than 750 de-
grees centigrade, the yield is not reduced significantly. It is not desirable to
coke at a temperature higher than 775 degrees centigrade, because the resulting
improvement in quality would not warrant the added strain on coking facilities.
The coked peat briquette prepared from Os peat briquettes contains a large
quantity of sulfur.' It appears from the analysis that approximately 40 percent
of the sulfur present in the peat can be detected in the coke. As a result of
moist air, the coked peat briquettes produce an unpleasant odor, due to the action
of water on the sulfur and hydrogen. This leads to the conclusion that the sulfur,
present in the coke, is bound to the calcium in the ash in the form of a sulfide.
It is a well-known fact that sulfide is decomposed by the action of water.
The following table sho-is the approximate decomposition of the coked Os peat
briquette ash:
Percent
Moisture
0.16
Si02
26.94
Ti02
0.55
A1203
19.30
Fe203
9.06
Cao
31.65
MgO
6.07
K20
1.01
Na20
0.69
P205
0.21
Total sulfur
2.48
Loss in weight due to heat
1.25
The above analysis indicates that the ash is composed for the most part of
calcium, magnesium, silicon, iron, and aluminum oxides.
Among the by-products of the coking process, the quantity of tar is hardly
greater than that produced in the aluminum retort. In the case of water, it was
found that the moisture content, plus the water of decomposition, was smaller
than the quantity of water obtained in the aluminum retort. The reason for this
is that the larger laboratory coking retort is lined with an asbestos material
which absorbs and retains a conoiderable quancity of water.
Experiments were conducted to determine the reasons for the cracks on the
surface of the cylindrical coke briquettes. Perfect peat briquettes were heated
in a retort to the point of dryness and after -oking, they were removed and ex-
amined. At 100 to 130 degrees centigrade, witnout exception, these briquettes
cracked. Moreover, the openings of the cracks were much larger than those ob-
served on the -oked briquettes. This is explained by the fact that during coking,
as a result of the reduction of volume, a constriction of the openings takes
place. It may be assumed, therefore, that the chances for preparing crack-free
coked briquettes from air-dry peat briquettes are very poor. If completely dry
peat is used, the belief is justified that the number of cracks will be reduced.
Puchner's statements concerning the coking of peat briquettes are not valid
in the case of the Os peat briquettes, since experiments prove that shape-retain-
ing coked peat briquettes of good strength can be obtained.
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The question of cohesion is an important one. It is the opinion of the writer
that the cohesion of the Os peat briquettes can be ascribed to the coking process.
It was found that if small laboratory briquettes were coked at 350 to 500 degrees
centigrade, the semicoked peat briquettes retained their shape, but their strength
was so unsatisfactory that they crumbled under the least force. The briquettes
are black and there is no indication on their surface of any incipient coking
process. On the contrary, the peat briquette coked at 750 degrees centigrade is
shiny grey and its strength is greatly increased. At this temperature, the trans-
formation into coke takes place at a very rapid rate, almost in a matter of
seconds. When processed under 750 degrees centigrade, the coke is noticeably
weaker.
In the above experiment, great care was taken not to introduce any foreign
matter which would have facilitated the coking process or increased the strength
of the coke. Yet, it was thought interesting to observe the effects of a binder
on the coking process. Prior to briquetting the peat, 1, 2, and 3 percent of
coal tar was added. The peat was then briquetted and processed for coke at 775
degrees centigrade for 5 minutes. The surface of the briquettes was covered with
small cracks.. The openings were perhaps slightly smaller, but the results were
not sufficiently rewarding to warrant any further investigation of this matter.
A separate series of experiments were conducted to determine the change in
pt.t briquettes kept at room temperature, when they were placed in an oven, pre-
heated to 800 degrees centigrade. The peat briquettes crumbled without excep-
tion and the pieces were coked. It was surprising that even under such rough
treatment no dust was formed. It was necessary to conduct these experiments to
find out what would happen if industrial experiments involving coke briquettes had
to be conducted in a retort distillation apparatus.
The coking of peat briquettes can be done only under certain conditions. It
can be done only if the material involved does not tend to change its shape after
briquetting. This question led to the investigating of the possibility of apply-
ing mechanical power to the manufacture of peat. Another series of experiments
.,as initiated to study this question and its results will be published in a
separate article.
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