Fuel Research Centre, Karachi

INTRODUCTION:

Fuel Research Centre (FRC) of the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) is the premier research and development (R & D) institute of its kind in Pakistan.
Over the years, FRC has developed capability to undertake comprehensive analyses and testing of not only solid and liquid fuels like coal, coke diesel and gasoline but also liquid and gaseous products obtained from coal and petroleum industries.The centre is actively engaged in scientific and technological research work pertaining to coal, coke, bio-mass, liquid and gaseous fuels.
The broad spectrum of the activities of FRC revolve around evaluating indigenous fuels and concentrating efforts on achieving self-reliance in the energy needs of the country.

The Centre has achieved expertise to undertake research and offer technical assistance and services not only to Government departments but also to private and public sector organizations

Divisions and Areas of Research

Coal Combustion and Conversion Division

R & D work on beneficiation studies, desulphurization of coal, carbonization properties of coals, smokeless coal, briquettes, gasification of coal, development of coal- oil emulsions, studies on fluidized bed combustion, environment effects of coal / fuel combustion.

Analytical Division

Physical, chemical and mineralogical testing and analyses of fuels and other materials.
Environmental Studies and Testing
Monitoring of air, water and soil pollution, ambient air studies, stack emission studies,
identification / testing of organic / inorganic pollutants.

Common Services Division

Design, fabrication and operation of pilot plants, repair & maintenance of equipment / instruments services.

R & D Activities and Achievements

Pakistan is endowed with huge reserves of lignitic sub-bituminous coals which are difficult to exploit due to high sulphur ash contents. Keeping in view of the main objectives of PCSIR, to exploit indeginous natural resources, R&D at FRC has mainly been focused on the utilization of the lignitic coal resources of the country for fuel/non-fuel purposes.

Development and Commercialization of the Coal
Briquette

Pakistan's lignitic coal requires expensive processing and up-gradation before it can
be compacted into useable quality fuel briquettes. FRC has developed a simplified coal
briquetting technology and has reduced the cost of briquetting through the elimination of
the most costly processing step of carbonization and has utilized less expensive additives.
This has reduced the emission to a greater extent.
FRC has developed a process for the production of environmentally safe and economically viable briquettes from the lignitic coals of Pakistan and is producing briquettes on pilot scale and supplying to private and public entrepreneurs for utilization in domestic /small-scale industries.
Development of Humic Acids from Lignitic Coal and its use in Agriculture and Industry

Humic acid is a polymeric organic compound and is a vital and intimate part of soil organic matter. Pakistani soils are usually deficient in this compound although a minute quantity of which is necessarily required in the soil to facilitate proper agricultural growth. FRC has developed an aconomically feasible process for the production of humic acid from indigenous coals of Pakistan. Several field trials have been conducted to observe the efficacy of humic acid produced from Pakistan coals and the results have been found satisfactory.
Desulphurization and De-ashing of Coals

The major limitation for using lignitic and sub bituminous Pakistan coals as fuels is its high sulphur contents. The methods for upgrading by desulphurization depend on the form of the sulphur compounds present. At FRC, both physical and chemical techniques were employed to reduce sulpur contents of coals.
Based on R&D, a new process for the desulphurization of coals has been developed by utilizing the sonication technique. The process is carried out at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure, compared with existing high temperature and pressure processes. The results show reduction of sulphur contents in certain coals..
Trace Elements in Coal:

This is an important area of coal research at FRC. The R & D activities mainly centered on developing methods to determine various trace elements in Pakistani coal samples. The information is very important for the utilization of Pakistani coals as the elements are hazardous and threat to human health.
Environmental Pollution Monitoring by FRC

Protection of the environment from pollutants is a serious global issue. The first step in environment control is the air / water quality monitoring study. Provision of these services is a constant activity of FRC. FRC has fully equipped itself with the advance instruments / techniques and is capable of meeting major requirements of private sector organizations for environmental monitoring. FRC has been providing services to national/multinational companies for monitoring of all type of gaseous emissions such as carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulphur and particulate matter from the stack of generators and boilers. FRC has also been providing facilities for ambient air quality measurement to different government and non- governmental organizations. In addition, monitoring of ambient air quality and toxic heavy metals in wastewater samples has also been carried not.

Analytical Facilities and Services

Analytical Service

Physical, chemical and mineralogical testing and analyses of fuels.
Fuel quality and adulteration testing services.
Environmental Studies and Testing

EIA / EIS national / international projects, monitoring of air, water & soil pollution, ambient air studies, stack emission studies, identification / testing of organic / inorganic pollutants
Coal Conversion and Coal Combustion

Beneficiation studies; desulphurization of coal; carbonization properties of coals; smokeless coal briquettes. Gasification of coal; development of coal-oil and coal-water emulsions; studies on fluidized bed combustion; environmental effects of combustion.
Hydrogen and Alternate Fuels
Productions of hydrogen through cost-effective techniques; preparation of metallic hydrides and complexes; utilization in internal combustion engines, etc.
Common Services
Pilot plant, workshop, stores, library and administration services