As a unit assigned by the Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Group (TKV) to appraise all coal consumed domestically and exported, Vinacomin Appraisal Joint Stock Company (Quacontrol) has invested in and modernized facilities, techniques and technology; improved the management system and enhanced the quality of human resources, to ensure the quality of coal and mineral appraisal.
According to the requirements of TKV and its customers, Quacontrol inspects an average of over 170 million tons of raw coal each year. To meet the increasing volume of coal and minerals being inspected, Quacontrol maintains 5 large centers, including 3 centers in the Hon Gai, Cam Pha, and Uong Bi regions; 1 center in Ba Ria - Vung Tau and 1 market exploitation service center.
"The company has invested in and upgraded the machinery and technology systems of the centers according to international standards. For example, the American AC600 thermal energy analyzer helps to accurately analyze the total heat value in coal using the bomb calorimeter method. Accordingly, the calorific value in coal is divided into two main types: low calorific value and high calorific value, measured in kcal/kg or cal/g. With the thermal energy analyzer system, the staff at the Villas laboratory can accurately measure the heat value of all types of domestic and imported coal. This is the basis for calculating the actual heat value in coal - the most important indicator to help classify coal quality" - Head of the Chemistry Department (Vinacomin Appraisal Joint Stock Company) Ngo Dung introduced.
Along with heat energy, ash content is also an important indicator for classifying and ranking coal quality. At high temperatures, coal is burned and becomes ash. The ash content of coal is denoted as A, in %, displayed in the form of minerals in the fuel. Large or small ash content has a direct impact on the heat energy in coal and the working process of the combustion equipment. Therefore, in the 5 main indicators for coal appraisal, ash content is ranked second in importance, after heat energy. "To accurately determine the ash content, the company also invested in a series of modern European equipment such as furnaces, drying cabinets, and ash heat flow analyzers. These systems of machinery and equipment give accurate results on the ash ratio in all coal samples appraised here" - Mr. Dung added.
As for imported coal, TKV often uses it to blend with domestic coal, supplying to thermal power plants, Quacontrol conducts strict inspection to ensure quality and technical characteristics, contributing to improving the operational efficiency of thermal power plants. Some indicators in imported coal are being inspected at the centers including: Humidity, ash content, volatile matter, calorific value, sulfur, grinding index HGI, CHN in coal and indicators in coal ash. In particular, the iron oxide index and melting point of coal ash are of most concern to thermal power plants.
Currently, Quacontrol can analyze 50-80 indicators in coal, according to the requirements of TKV and customers. By analyzing coal samples to determine impurities, particle size indicators, technological indicators, physical and chemical indicators, the appraisal work has fully met the criteria that customers need... To ensure the best service quality, Quacontrol has invested in the most modern machinery, equipment and appraisal technology system for the centers in all 3 regions, including: Electronic analytical balance, electronic technical balance, electric furnaces of all kinds (1,100 o C and 1,200 o C), drying cabinets of all kinds; multi-element analyzers, fluorescence spectrometers, XRF atomic absorption spectrometers. These are the devices that serve the appraisal work quickly, accurately, and promptly issue certificates to customers after 4 hours of completing the sampling work.
With synchronous and modern equipment, Quacontrol's inspection output and quality are increasingly improved. In 2022, Quacontrol's coal consumption inspection output exceeded 45.65 million tons, reaching 107% of the plan (most of which was domestic coal with over 44 million tons, reaching 109% of the plan).
Mr. Nguyen Quang Trung, Deputy Director of Quacontrol, said: In the past 5 years (2018-2022), Quacontrol has inspected over 230 million tons of coal consumed domestically and exported; inspected 345 million tons of delivered coal; and over 20 million tons of imported coal. Improving the quality of coal inspection helps TKV accurately determine the type and grade of coal, thereby providing a basis for establishing coal selling prices, ensuring production and business efficiency, contributing to strengthening the Group's resource management.
Coal quantity and quality assessment is a technical measure that TKV focuses on, aiming to determine industrial and elemental indicators in coal, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of corporate governance, product management and ensuring the Group's business efficiency. Therefore, the role and tasks of Quacontrol will be increasingly focused on, especially in the context of the current favorable coal consumption market.
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