Recent Coal Acquisition

Half or less.
The coals specs are
LbSo2: 1.21
Ash: 8.67
BTU: 12461

Interested?

mrroberts wrote:Half or less.
The coals specs are
LbSo2: 1.21
Ash: 8.67
BTU: 12461

Interested?

Ash is good and BTU is good.

Is it Anthracite or bituminous?

What is the sizing?

Paul

A few other questions:

Were your test results done on the coal only, or combined with the biomass.

Is the 50% of biomass by weight or volume.

Is the biomass wood fiber, or plant?

Is it loose flake, or pellet form?

Paulie

x2 on the question about the sizing.

Still trying to figure out how Pauliewog knew to ask about biomass. I would have expected blending to occur in the fuel intake stream from a separate pile, but I'm no expert.

Mike

Half or less what?? Half a TON .... half a PALLET .... half of a 30 ton load .... ???

It is never easy to get to the bottom line.......and have all the answers you need. Any way you look at it, there is a LOT of labor and machine time involved.....then the transportation. Sounds like a great deal for someone who has the missing pieces covered. Interesting to follow this thread.

Paulie asks the right questions and follows his gut.....that is how he stays in front of 'events'......and they say he is like a 'Wolverine' who is REALLY hungry. lol

I'm Impressed with Paulie's questions. Correct....what is the other half? So it looks like half is an unknown coal and the other half is unknown substance?

Pacowy wrote:x2 on the question about the sizing.

Still trying to figure out how Pauliewog knew to ask about biomass. I would have expected blending to occur in the fuel intake stream from a separate pile, but I'm no expert.

Mike

Mike

In my previous life I was responsible for mining, screening, blending, testing and purchasing between 2,500 and 3,000 ton per day to supply two power plants.

Another clue is the amount of vegetation growing on the pile

Paulie

It's bituminous. Test results were on the coal only. The biomass is loose agriculture bi-product (corn stalk, etc.). I am supposed to be getting the full test results on the biomass at some point this afternoon. It is a little shy of 50% of the overall weight which is approximately 800 tons total.

We're now trying to develop a per ton price point in order to start marketing it. We have a few companies that seem interested, depending on what the results of the biomass testing are.

When my business partner originally purchased the lot he was under the impression that all 800 tons were coal. It was not until after the purchase that he found out it contained biomass. I imagine it is not worth as much as pure 800 tons of coal would be, but I have to assume that the biomass still adds some sort of value since it is a fuel source. But, then again, we aren't exactly sure, as we are fairly new to this whole industry.

So with the biomass we are talking about 1500 tons total... or what? 800 tons of whatever it is total?

mrroberts wrote:It's bituminous. Test results were on the coal only. The biomass is loose agriculture bi-product (corn stalk, etc.). I am supposed to be getting the full test results on the biomass at some point this afternoon. It is a little shy of 50% of the overall weight which is approximately 800 tons total.

We're now trying to develop a per ton price point in order to start marketing it. We have a few companies that seem interested, depending on what the results of the biomass testing are.

When my business partner originally purchased the lot he was under the impression that all 800 tons were coal. It was not until after the purchase that he found out it contained biomass. I imagine it is not worth as much as pure 800 tons of coal would be, but I have to assume that the biomass still adds some sort of value since it is a fuel source. But, then again, we aren't exactly sure, as we are fairly new to this whole industry.

OK, it sounds like you making some progress . In my opinion,........... again depending on the sizing, ............ in order to get the maximum dollar return on your investment, and a larger market interest in purchasing it, would be to screen out the biomass and market it as a separate commodity.

The problem is ........ We don't have a clue of the sizing. . Do you have any idea if let's say ......... More of the coal is over 1/2 " in size?

Is all of the biomass possibly under 1/2" in size?

If so I would suggest looking into bringing in a sma,ll screening plant similar to a Reed Screen-All and a small 2 yd. rubber tire loader and spend a day screening it.

If it was Anthracite , with the bulk being over 3/8", and knowing what you paid for it, I would already be in Illinois making you an offer.

Paulie

One other thing, and I am only guessing..........
The 800 ton figure. Was that calculated using company shipping records?

If so I I'm sure the moisture content in the loose biomass is extremely high and makes a big difference when attempting to market it by weight.. Water in our area is only about a penny a gallon, I would prefer, like most other people, to add my own water when selling it, than to pay top dollar for it in Illinois, and pay the additional shipping costs to bring it home.

This is another good reason for you to separate it.

As Mike mentioned, it's preferred that biomass is protected from the weather and blended in the intake stream.

As far as its value after the sizing is established, and screening out the biomass, I will leave that up to our other members who are familiar with bituminous specifications and current market pricing.

You supplied almost everything required, but like most others, I am anxious to hear about sizing.

Paulie

I wish mrroberts and all interested parties well but is not this item becoming commonplace as coal plants either shut down or become moribund. I just learned of one near Painesville OH. Logistics are a bitch but the thread is fascinating.

Thanks Paulie for bringing your expertise to this.

I'm a little torn on the blend. With reasonable sizing, I think EFM people generally have had good experiences burning anthracite/bio blends. I don't know how that would translate with bituminous. It seems like high moisture content in the corn stalks could drive the A.R. BTU's way down, and maybe tend to eat the pot end of the pot auger tube.

Mike