Coal Technologists Career Description
Coal technologists are employed in the coal industry in a variety of areas, such as geology, chemistry, physics, engineering and economics, and in the application fields of prospecting, geological survey, coal mining, coal preparation, grading, analysis, carbonisation, combustion (in steam generators and power plants), gasification (at gas plants), research, quality control and marketing.
What am I going to do in this occupation?
Coal technologists are concerned with the recovery and utilization of all forms of coal and by-products of coal. The recovery and mining of coal can be divided into the following basic categories in which coal technologists perform specialized duties:
Geology
Coal technologists are involved in geological surveys to determine the location and nature of a country's coal reserves. They are furthermore closely involved with drilling programmes and with determining whether a coal-field can be mined economically. Other tasks include determining what the available coal can be used for, for example electricity generation, supplying coal to blast-furnaces or the gasification of the coal for making petroleum products or by-products.
Mining, coal preparation and processing
Mines are constantly striving to improve the effectiveness of the washing plant and the quality control laboratory by introducing improved techniques and methods, since these have an influence on the income of the mine. Mine management strongly relies on the
expert opinion of coal technologists in this regard. Their reports also enable management to decide which portion of the coal proceeds should be refined. Some coal technologists specialise in mining safety, studying the dreaded, highly explosive methane gas present in collieries, the explosive capacity of coal-dust and the microbiological aspects of rock corrosion.
Coal analysis
Coal technologists are continually involved in product evaluation in terms of specialised variables or properties. Testing procedures are standardised and are internationally acknowledged in the coal industry.
These quality control tests involve chemical, analytical and physical tests, the choice depending on the nature and application of the product. Normally crude coal samples, borehole samples and samples of refined products are subjected to analytical and physical procedures.
Research
In research, coal technologists strive towards a common goal, namely to acquire more knowledge on this important natural resource to be able to use it more effectively for the benefit of man. Existing techniques and methods are continually updated, in order to obtain maximum benefit from the exploitation and utilisation of coal and its by-products. Coal technologists spend much of their time in modern, well-equipped laboratories (however this may not always be the case) at mines or elsewhere. Occasionally tests may have to be conducted outdoors as with sampling, size analysis, float and sink analyses and the testing of coal-utilisation equipment.
Requirements
What kind of personality do I need? Prospective coal technologists should have a scientific aptitude and analytical reasoning ability, as well as the insight to practically implement ideas.
Where can I work?
Coal technologists are employed by various government departments and government assisted organisations, as well as in private enterprise such as brick and cement manufacturers, gas plants, mining concerns and power-stations.
Can I work for myself in this occupation?
Coal technologists can work as consultants for those in need of their services.
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