LABORATORY OF SOLID FUELS

The main activities of the solid fuels laboratory is the testing of solid fuels and their byproducts, these tests are conducted according to the national and international standardized methods and are part of the accreditation scope of the laboratory. In this manner the laboratory satisfi es the greatest part of the demands of the market of Serbia and the region. In the scope of its activities, the laboratory also tests minerals and ores for the purpose of determining their physical-chemical characteristics.

Hugh associate expertise, team work and being well equipped assure the quality of the laboratory results from the laboratory. Tuned, regularly serviced and functional laboratory equipment, handled by trained analysts (chemists and chemical technicians) secure the effi ciency and work reliability. Through internal quality control of laboratory tests a constant surveillance of work conditions is secured, the expertise of associates and working condition of the equipment in the laboratory. Through external quality control, the laboratory compares the results of its tests with the results in the world. These comparisons showcase a high correlation and reliability of our measurements.

Testing of the quality of solid fuels encompasses: • Coal, coke, flying and bottom ash sampling; • Sample preparation; • Technical analysis (content – moisture, ash, sulfur, evaporating matters and heat value); • Elementary analysis (content – carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen); • The chemical compound of ash and solid fuel (oxide content – silicone, iron, aluminum, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, titan, phosphorous and manganese); • Melting levels of ash and solid fuels; • Granulometric coal composition; • Grinding index of coal etc.

The results of the tests of the physical – chemical characteristics of solid fuels are used in evaluation of coal for household uses, thermal plants, industry and other purposes. They are of great signifi cance in mine designing and defi ning of the spatial changes in coal quality, they are necessary in technical-economical, technological and technical analysis, making of investment programs, feasibility studies, geological elaboration of the quality and coal basin reserves, during measurements and analysis of the emissions of air pollutants from thermal plants and coal heating plants, during determination of fl ying and bottom ash applications in construction, when determining the homogenization and coal quality management in mines, when defining and choosing the transport technology and the manner of flying and bottom ash depositing from thermal plants, when assessing and analyzing the exploitation influences and heat conversion of coal on the environment etc.

With a professional approach to assignments, efficient operation and reliable results of laboratory tests, the Solid fuels laboratory had gained the trust of a wide array of prominent users which are: coal mines with surface and underground exploitation from Serbia and regional countries (former Yugoslavian republics), thermal plants of the Electric industry of Serbia, electrical industries in the region, institutions and enterprises whose activities are tied to solid fuels.

The key factor of the successful business of the laboratory are the associates and being well equipped, and the carefully defi ned and maintained scope of accreditation is an attribute of competitiveness, difference and reference point in the market.

The laboratory is accredited according to the SRPS ISO/IEC17025 standard for solid fuel testing (coal and coke) and their byproducts.