HAMMOND – In response to a shortfall of Indiana-produced coke fuel needed by the steel industry, a team of Purdue University Calumet researchers has developed a new, less costly production process that has earned a patent.

The process calls for lower cost Indiana/Illinois Basin-type coal to be blended with conventional metallurgical coals. The blending process is enhanced to meet coke quality requirements and simultaneously to obtain a specific gas composition.

“By using lower cost Indiana/Illinois Basin coal, net coal coke costs can be reduced,” said Robert Kramer of Crown Point, professor of physics and director of the Purdue Calumet Energy Efficiency & Reliability Center. “This process provides a new direction and approach for future coke production that optimizes value over multiple product streams while reducing business and technological risk.”

Indiana produces 22 percent of American steel, requiring 8 million tons of coal annually for coke production.