CFW Projects offers coal as one of many energy supply options for its dryers. We can offer an appropriate solution for a business in any stage of growth, assisting manufacturers of products requiring drying from renting a Mini Dryer to large turnkey systems. Coal heating is typically used for large drying systems of 1000 kW or more.

Using coal as an energy source is a common practice in various drying systems such as drum dryers. CFW provides for coal furnace heating for various dryers.

The main advantage of using coal is the low price given the energy output. Coal is readily available in South Africa and prices remain comparatively favourable despite marked increases in recent years. Many otherwise remote areas may be near a source of coal for industrial drying.

The price of steam from coal is variable because of the costs of handling, storage and waste disposal, but the cost per unit of energy decreases for large boilers such as those used in large food processing factories and paper processing facilities. Consequently, coal, and electricity from coal, is likely to remain very cost-effective for many years.

Coal burners cannot be turned up or down as quickly as gas burners. For this reason, coal furnaces often make use of additional gas burners for load control, although where the coal is pulverized, the response is quicker.

The main concerns in using coal-fired burners for drying are operational and environmental. Coal combustion releases considerable quantities of gaseous pollutants, sulphur and ash, making it unsuitable where environmental regulations are stringent and the price of emissions control systems is high, where handling difficulties arise or where direct-fired dryers are the appropriate solution.