Posted on 02/27/2009 8:53:00 AM PST by RS_Rider
U.S. Steel Corp. will soon idle three coke oven batteries at its Clairton Works, the result of the steelmaking slowdown and current economic conditions, the company said today. The batteries will be kept in what's called hot-idle status, meaning they will remain hot to maintain structural integrity, but won't be making coke, a major ingredient in making steel. U.S. Steel spokeswoman Erin DiPietro said the company is "adjusting its production according to customer demand."
(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghlive.com ...
Surely the article author meant to describe the furnaces consuming coke, not producing coke. Coke is actually a product of refining heavy, tarlike petroleum after the crude oil distillation process where the bottoms are heated to 900F-920F and subsequently cooled in a drum. When the material cools, it solidifies into coke. The coke can be used as a fuel or in steel production. We’ve actually used coke as a conductor for anode beds in cathodic protection systems.
No, producing coke from coal.
Hank Rearden cutting back? The end is near.
Now all we need is for the CIA to start cutting back their Colombian coke operations and our cities will be much nicer to live in.
You are correct, but that is only one form of coke production.
Here in Pittsburgh we make coke from bituminous coal. Pennsylvania metallurgical grade coal is the creme de le creme of bituminous coal. Just the right amount of volatiles.
It goes in the oven, bakes for about 24 hours and voila - coke. And by-products. Sulfur, ammonium sulfate, light oil, cumene, pitch, carbon black are all recoverable. Also, the gas is used to fire the stoves at the ET works blast furnaces (along with natural gas).
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