Solid fuel refers to solid materials — such as biomass, coal, peat and coke — that can be burned to create energy, providing light and heat through the combustion process.
Humans have used solid fuels to create fire and power machinery throughout history. Coal facilitated the Industrial Revolution, from running steam engines to firing furnaces. Historically, people have also used coal and peat to generate electricity. Solid fuels are also used extensively in rocketry, with the earliest solid fuel-powered rockets dating back to the 13th century.
Today, solid fuels are typically used for household applications like cooking and heating. At McCreath Laboratories, we provide solid fuel testing to ensure your inventory’s quality. Our typical solid fuel analyses include proximate analysis (moisture, volatile matter, fixed carbon and ash contents) and ultimate analysis (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, ash and hydrogen contents).
Coal and Coke
At McCreath Laboratories, we frequently test coal — the most common fossil fuel for utility and power generation. Coal is formed through a process known as coalification, which gives rise to different coal ranks that depend on how long the process continues.
We also test different forms of coke. Metallurgical coke is produced by heating bituminous coking coals in industrial coke ovens. The result is a hard, carbonaceous, finely cellular mass that can be used as fuel in foundries and other industries to produce ferroalloys.
Petroleum coke — also known as petcoke — is a byproduct created from refining heavy crude oil. Petcoke produced in modern refineries is often known as green petroleum coke, sometimes in the form of sponge coke. Most petcoke produced in the United States is exported to foreign countries for use in cement kilns and power stations.
Other Solid Fuels
Biomass is renewable organic material from animals or plants. Biomass materials include wood, wood processing wastes, agricultural crops and solid wastes from municipal recycling. All biomass can be used to produce heat or generate electricity in industrial applications.
Other types of solid fuels include:
- Anthracite.
- Long-lasting ovals.
- Smokeless fuel.
- Peat.
Why Work With McCreath Laboratories?
McCreath Laboratories is one of the most recognized analytical labs around the country. We provide clients with the most accurate, precise results in the industry using state-of-the-art instrumentation. We conduct all of our testing according to internationally recognized standard methods.
When you work with us, you’ll benefit from our:
- Experience: We’ve provided quality testing services to the solid fuels industry for over 140 years.
- Accreditation: As an International Organization for Standardization (ISO)/International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 17025:2017-accredited lab, we strive to exceed stringent quality requirements.
- Unbiased results: We’re a privately owned, third-party company with no interest or investment in our clients’ results. You can trust that our opinion is independent and reliable.
- Location: We have numerous locations throughout the U.S., allowing us to respond promptly to any service request.
Contact Us Today
Contact McCreath Laboratories today to learn more about our services. You can also complete our online sample submission form to submit your solid fuel sample for analysis.