Letters to the Editor
Classification of coals according to degree of coalification by reflectance of the
vitrinite component: a clarification
James T. McCartney and Marlies Teichmiiller*
Pittsburgh Energy Research Center, Bureau of Mines,
Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15213, USA
(Received 20 August 1973)
Some confusion has arisen in interpretations of our paper
‘Classification of coals according to degree of coalitkation
by reflectance of the vitrinite component’, in the January
1972 issue of Fuel (p 64), involving the use of mean (or
random or average) reflectance and maximum reflectance
by the several investigators referred to. A statement on
p 65 indicates which value was reported in the different
references and is used in the comparisons in our Figures.
* Geologisches Landesamt Nordrhein-Westfalen, Krefeld, German
Federal Republic
Overseas Correspondents’
France: G. Delannoy (July 1973)
Electricity
The production of Electricite de France (EDF) in 1972
was 163.2 TW h, of which 48.6 was from hydraulic power
and 114.6 from thermal stations (conventional 100.8 and
nuclear 13.8 TW h). The production of colliery generating
plants amounted to 12.9 TW h.
A set for combined gas turbine-steam turbine cycle is
being installed by Charbonnages de France at the Emile
Huchet power station in Lorraine; it will be put into opera-
tion in 1973. It will use slurry and coke-oven gas. It will
comprise three gas turbines totalling 49 MW and a 294 MW
turbo-alternator unit. The maximum power of the whole
will be 343 MW. The turbine exhaust gas having a high
oxygen content and temperatures of 55O’C will be used as
combustion air and delivered to the boiler.
On January 1, 1973 plans were in hand for increasing
EDF’s thermal stations by 4274 MW in 12 units.
The French government is considering a policy directed
towards prevention and control of pollution from power
stations. The decisions on the thermal development of the
future Fos power plant, which will include a nuclear unit,
will depend on the results of the studies in progress.
Plans in hand for nuclear stations total 4305 MW (5
units, 1975-7).
It is planned by EDF to install a major nuclear station at
Paluel (Seine Maritime). It will comprise four sets of
US Department of the Interior, 4800 Forbes
However, it should be again emphasized that the data in
our F&we 2 represent R,, for the European work and
R mau for the United States work. The suggested reflec-
tance class limits on p 68 apply strictly to Rmean, although
the limits for the bituminous coal classes apply well to
R ,,-,= also, as Figure 2 indicates. However, the value
250% is too low for maximum reflectance of American
coals of 8% volatile matter. Insufficient data are available
to estimate what value of maximum reflectance should
represent this limit.
Notes
3000 MW total installed power. Construction work is to
begin in 1974 and the first set would be put into operation
in 1982. A nuclear station is also planned at Dunkirk by
EDF.
Various agreements with France’s neighbouring countries
have been reached for utilization of nuclear dispositions.
Gas
In 1972, Gaz de France and its subsidiaries supplied
5.0 X 105 TJ (120 X IO9 thermies): domestic use 10.2% up;
commercial use 29.1% up; and industrial use 57.2% up.
The indigenous production of natural gas was 2.95 X
105 TJ; 0.32 X 105 TJ and 2.26 X 105 TJ were Imported
from Algeria and the Netherlands respectively.
The contracts in course of execution will allow a
demand of about 8.35 X 105 TJ to be met in 1975. For the
more distant future various supply contracts have been
passed.
Such agreements bring a new concept to light, thaL of
consortia of purchase permitting the reduction of long-
distance transportation costs for large quantities of gas.
Coal
The national production of coal in 1972 amounted to
32.7 Mt, a decrease of 9%. The production of coke was
1 l-5 Mt. 3.1 Mt of coke has been imported.
The Coaltek process developed by Cerchar and Allied
Chemical for coke production from preheated coal has led
to increased oven productivity up to 40%.
FUEL, 1974, Vol 53, January 63