bituminous coal

Thân thiện

A miner holds a large piece of bituminous coal in a deep underground tunnel.

Definition

Noun: A type of coal that is relatively soft and contains a high amount of bitumen (a tarry hydrocarbon substance). It burns readily with a smoky, yellow flame and is an important fuel and raw material for coke production.

Examples

• The power plant primarily uses bituminous coal to generate electricity.
• Bituminous coal is often called "soft coal" to distinguish it from harder anthracite.
• When burned, bituminous coal produces more smoke and soot than anthracite.

Advanced Usage

• Industrial Context: In metallurgy, bituminous coal is a key ingredient in the production of coke, which is essential for smelting iron ore in blast furnaces.
  • Example: The steel mill requires a steady supply of high-grade bituminous coal for its coking ovens.

Variants and Related Words

• Soft Coal: A common synonym for bituminous coal.
• Bitumen: The viscous, tarry hydrocarbon substance present in this type of coal and in natural asphalt.
• Sub-bituminous Coal: A grade of coal that ranks between lignite and bituminous coal, with lower carbon content and heating value.
• Coking Coal: A specific grade of bituminous coal suitable for producing high-quality coke.

Synonyms

• Soft coal

Related Phrases

• "Steam coal": Sometimes used to refer to bituminous coal used for steam generation in power plants and locomotives.

Học thuật

Noun

1. rich in tarry hydrocarbons; burns readily with a smoky yellow flame

Từ đồng nghĩa

• soft coal