¿Qué es el carbón metalúrgico?
El carbón metalúrgico (a veces denominado carbón de coque) es una roca sedimentaria que se encuentra en la corteza terrestre. Existen varias categorías de carbón metalúrgico, incluidas el carbón de coque duro, el semi-duro, el semi-blando y el carbón pulverizado para inyección (PCI). Estos nombres se refieren a los diferentes grados de calidad del carbón metalúrgico, todos los cuales se utilizan para fabricar acero.
El carbón metalúrgico suele contener más carbono, menos cenizas y menos humedad que el carbón térmico, que se utiliza para generar electricidad.
Hechos sobre el carbón metalúrgico
- Se necesitan alrededor de 770 kilogramos de carbón para producir una tonelada de acero.
- La mayoría del acero se utiliza en:
- Construcción
- Transporte
- Electrodomésticos
¿Cómo se fabrica el acero?
El carbón metalúrgico se calienta a más de 1,000ºC en un horno de coque para crear coque (una masa dura y porosa). Luego, el coque se introduce en un alto horno junto con mineral de hierro. Se inyectan aire caliente y PCI, creando una temperatura de llama superior a 2,000ºC. El coque y el carbón ardiendo producen monóxido de carbono que, junto con la alta temperatura, convierte el mineral de hierro en un líquido.
Este arrabio líquido se transporta a una acería, donde se eliminan las impurezas y se añaden aleaciones para fabricar acero.
¿Por qué BHP extrae carbón metalúrgico?
El carbón metalúrgico es un ingrediente esencial en la producción de acero, que es uno de los materiales de construcción más utilizados en el mundo. En 2020, BHP produjo alrededor de 70 millones de toneladas de carbón metalúrgico, suficientes para producir acero para construir el Burj Khalifa (el edificio más alto del mundo) más de 1,600 veces.
¿Cómo se extrae el carbón metalúrgico?
Los métodos de minería varían según la profundidad a la que se encuentra el carbón. Puede ser a través de minería subterránea o de minería a cielo abierto, dependiendo de la proximidad del carbón a la superficie. El carbón se transporta a plantas de manipulación y preparación, donde se eliminan impurezas mediante lavado y tratamiento. Posteriormente, se transporta a los clientes en tren y barco.
¿Qué es el carbón metalúrgico?
El carbón metalúrgico (a veces denominado carbón de coque) es una roca sedimentaria que se encuentra en la corteza terrestre. Existen varias categorías de carbón metalúrgico, incluidas el carbón de coque duro, el semi-duro, el semi-blando y el carbón pulverizado para inyección (PCI). Estos nombres se refieren a los diferentes grados de calidad del carbón metalúrgico, todos los cuales se utilizan para fabricar acero. El carbón metalúrgico suele contener más carbono, menos cenizas y menos humedad que el carbón térmico, que se utiliza para generar electricidad.
Hechos sobre el carbón metalúrgico
- Se necesitan alrededor de 770 kilogramos de carbón para producir una tonelada de acero.
- La mayoría del acero se utiliza en:
- Construcción
- Transporte
- Electrodomésticos
¿Cómo se fabrica el acero?
El carbón metalúrgico se calienta a más de 1,000ºC en un horno de coque para crear coque (una masa dura y porosa). Luego, el coque se introduce en un alto horno junto con mineral de hierro. Se inyectan aire caliente y PCI, creando una temperatura de llama superior a 2,000ºC. El coque y el carbón ardiendo producen monóxido de carbono que, junto con la alta temperatura, convierte el mineral de hierro en un líquido.
Este arrabio líquido se transporta a una acería, donde se eliminan las impurezas y se añaden aleaciones para fabricar acero.
¿Cómo se forma el carbón?
El carbón se forma a partir de vegetación prehistórica que ha sido calentada y comprimida durante millones de años.
¿Por qué BHP extrae carbón metalúrgico?
El carbón metalúrgico es un ingrediente esencial en la producción de acero, que es uno de los materiales de construcción más utilizados en el mundo. En 2020, BHP produjo alrededor de 70 millones de toneladas de carbón metalúrgico, suficientes para producir acero para construir el Burj Khalifa (el edificio más alto del mundo) más de 1,600 veces.
¿Cómo se extrae el carbón metalúrgico?
Los métodos de minería varían según la profundidad a la que se encuentra el carbón. Puede ser a través de minería subterránea o de minería a cielo abierto, dependiendo de la proximidad del carbón a la superficie.
- Subterráneo: En la mina de Broadmeadow en Queensland Central, el carbón se extrae mediante un cortador de frente largo en las profundidades subterráneas. Luego, el carbón se transporta a la superficie mediante una cinta transportadora.
- A cielo abierto: En nuestras minas a cielo abierto, extraemos el carbón de vetas relativamente cercanas a la superficie. Utilizamos excavadoras, grúas y camiones para remover las capas superficiales de suelo y roca y exponer el carbón.
Después de extraer el carbón, este es transportado a las plantas de manipulación y preparación de carbón, donde se eliminan las impurezas mediante lavado y tratamiento. Luego, se transporta por tren hasta los puertos, donde se carga en barcos y se exporta a los clientes.
¿Dónde se extrae el carbón metalúrgico?
BHP tiene nueve minas operativas de carbón metalúrgico en la región de Bowen Basin en Queensland Central, Australia, que son:
- South Walker Creek
- Daunia
- Poitrel
- Peak Downs
- Blackwater
- Saraji
- Caval Ridge
- Broadmeadow
- Goonyella Riverside
¿Dónde se exporta el carbón metalúrgico?
El carbón metalúrgico se exporta a plantas siderúrgicas y de coque en China, India, Japón, el Sudeste Asiático, Corea del Sur, Europa y América Latina.
Lesson Plan: Metallurgical Coal and Steel Production
Objective:
Students will develop an advanced understanding of metallurgical coal, its properties, uses, and its role in the steel-making process. They will also improve their technical vocabulary related to energy, mining, and industrial processes.
Level:
C1 (Advanced)
Lesson Duration:
60 minutes
Materials:
- PDF excerpt on Metallurgical Coal (content from the provided document)
- Whiteboard / Projector for vocabulary and diagrams
- Discussion questions and written exercises
Warm-up Discussion (10 minutes):
- Question:What materials are essential for the construction of buildings, vehicles, or household appliances?
- Students share ideas and opinions.
- Highlight steel as a key material in modern infrastructure.
- Question:Have you ever heard about coal? What types of coal do you know? How is coal used in industry?
- Elicit answers and introduce metallurgical coal.
Reading Comprehension (15 minutes):
Provide students with the following text (simplified for comprehension):
Metallurgical Coal: Properties and Uses
Metallurgical coal, also known as coking coal, is a type of sedimentary rock used primarily in the production of steel. This coal contains more carbon and less moisture than thermal coal, which is used for generating electricity. In the steel-making process, metallurgical coal is heated to create coke, a material used in blast furnaces along with iron ore to produce molten iron. This liquid iron is then refined to produce steel, which is vital in construction, transport, and various household appliances. On average, it takes about 770 kilograms of coal to produce one ton of steel.
The majority of metallurgical coal is mined in areas with large coal deposits. Two common mining methods are underground mining, where coal is extracted deep below the Earth’s surface using specialized machinery, and open-cut mining, where the surface layers are removed to expose coal seams closer to the surface.
Comprehension Questions:
- What is metallurgical coal primarily used for?
- How does metallurgical coal differ from thermal coal?
- What is coke, and how is it used in the steel-making process?
- Describe two methods used to extract coal from the Earth.
Vocabulary Focus (10 minutes):
Teach the following technical terms from the reading and PDF, providing definitions and example sentences:
- Sedimentary rock – A type of rock that forms from the accumulation of sediment.
- Metallurgical coal is a naturally occurring sedimentary rock.
- Blast furnace – A large structure in which coal and iron ore are heated to produce molten metal.
- The coke is added to the blast furnace to melt iron ore.
- Pig iron – A form of crude iron obtained directly from a blast furnace.
- Pig iron is the first product formed in the steel-making process before refining.
- Coking coal – Another name for metallurgical coal, used to make coke.
- Coking coal is essential for making high-quality steel.
- Underground mining – Extracting coal or minerals from beneath the Earth’s surface.
- At Broadmeadow, coal is extracted using underground mining techniques.
- Open-cut mining – Mining coal by removing surface layers of soil and rock.
- Open-cut mining is used when coal seams are near the surface.
Grammar Focus (15 minutes):
Passive Voice in Industrial Processes
In industrial contexts, the passive voice is frequently used to describe processes where the action is more important than the subject performing it. Highlight how this is used in the text:
Example from the reading:
- Coal is heated in a coking oven to create coke.
Explain the structure:
- Passive = Subject + to be + past participle + (optional agent)
- Subject: Coal
- To be: is
- Past participle: heated
Activity: Rewrite the following active sentences from the text into passive voice.
- Active: “Specialized machinery extracts the coal from underground mines.”
- Passive: “The coal is extracted from underground mines by specialized machinery.”
- Active: “They remove surface layers to expose coal seams.”
- Passive: “Surface layers are removed to expose coal seams.”
Additional Sentences to Practice:
- BHP produced 70 million tonnes of coal last year.
- Engineers introduced hot air and PCI to the furnace.
- Workers transported the coal to stockpiles after washing and treatment.
Speaking Activity (10 minutes):
Discussion Questions:
- How do you think the process of steel-making impacts the environment? What alternatives could be explored to reduce this impact?
- Why is steel such an important material in modern society? Can you think of any industries that couldn’t function without it?
- Given the complexity of mining processes, what do you think are the challenges of working in coal mining?
Homework Assignment:
- Research:
- Research how steel is recycled and the role that metallurgical coal plays in this process.
- Writing Task:
- Write a 250-word essay on the environmental challenges of coal mining and how industries are adapting to use alternative energy sources.
Extension (for higher levels or additional classes):
- Have students debate whether the world should transition away from coal altogether, discussing the feasibility of alternative energy sources in steel production.
Lesson: Advanced Grammar with Industrial Content
Objective:
To enhance grammar skills, including passive voice, conditionals, modals, and advanced sentence structures, using examples based on the metallurgical coal content.
Level:
C1 (Advanced)
Lesson Duration:
60 minutes
Part 1: Passive Voice (20 minutes)
Explanation:
In formal or technical writing, passive voice is commonly used to focus on the action or process rather than the person or thing performing the action. This is especially relevant in scientific or industrial descriptions.
Example from the context:
- The coal is transported to stockpiles. (Passive)
Compare this to the active voice:
- They transport the coal to stockpiles.
Notice how the passive structure emphasizes the process of transportation rather than the people doing it.
Exercise 1: Change to Passive Voice
Convert the following active sentences into passive voice:
- Active: The company produces 70 million tonnes of metallurgical coal each year.
- Passive: _________________________________________
- Active: The workers transport the coal to a preparation plant for washing.
- Passive: _________________________________________
- Active: Engineers add hot air to the blast furnace.
- Passive: _________________________________________
- Active: The steel shop removes impurities from the molten pig iron.
- Passive: _________________________________________
Answers:
- Passive: 70 million tonnes of metallurgical coal are produced each year.
- Passive: The coal is transported to a preparation plant for washing.
- Passive: Hot air is added to the blast furnace.
- Passive: Impurities are removed from the molten pig iron.
Part 2: Modals for Necessity and Possibility (15 minutes)
Explanation:
Modals are frequently used to express necessity, possibility, and obligation in industrial contexts. For example:
- Steel must be produced with the right quality coal.
- Coal can be extracted through underground mining.
Modals to focus on:
- Must: for necessity or obligation.
- Can: for possibility or ability.
- Should: for recommendations.
- May/Might: for possibility.
Exercise 2: Complete the Sentences with Modals
Fill in the blanks with the correct modal (must, can, should, might).
- Steel __________ be made using high-quality metallurgical coal.
- Workers __________ wear protective gear when operating machinery.
- Coal __________ be mined either underground or through open-cut methods.
- Alternative methods for producing steel __________ reduce the dependence on coal.
- The production of steel __________ decrease in the future due to environmental regulations.
Answers:
- must
- should
- can
- might
- might
Part 3: Conditionals (15 minutes)
Explanation:
Conditionals are used to express cause and effect, hypothetical situations, or possible outcomes. In technical contexts, they often describe the results of certain processes or conditions.
- First Conditional (real future possibilities):
If coal is heated to over 1,000°C, it will turn into coke.
(A real condition in the present/future) - Second Conditional (hypothetical):
If we didn’t have metallurgical coal, it would be difficult to produce steel.
(Hypothetical, unlikely situation)
Exercise 3: Conditional Sentences
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb.
- First Conditional:
If they (use) __________ lower-quality coal, the steel (be) __________ weaker. - Second Conditional:
If metallurgical coal (not exist) __________, the steel industry (need) __________ to find alternatives. - First Conditional:
If impurities (not be) __________ removed, the quality of steel (suffer) __________. - Second Conditional:
If there (be) __________ no coal mining, energy production (change) __________ dramatically.
Answers:
- use, will be
- did not exist, would need
- are not, will suffer
- were, would change
Part 4: Relative Clauses (10 minutes)
Explanation:
Relative clauses are used to give extra information about a noun. They are often used in technical contexts to explain or clarify complex concepts.
- Example:
- Metallurgical coal, which is used to produce steel, is essential for modern industries.
- The blast furnace, where coke and iron are mixed, reaches temperatures of over 2,000°C.
Relative pronouns to focus on:
- Who: for people.
- Which: for things or animals.
- That: for things or animals (informal).
- Where: for places.
- Whose: for possession.
Exercise 4: Combine Sentences Using Relative Clauses
- Original: The coal is heated to over 1,000°C. It is then turned into coke.
- Combined: ______________________________________
- Original: The plant removes impurities from coal. The plant is located near the mine.
- Combined: ______________________________________
- Original: The workers transport the coal to the surface. The coal is mined underground.
- Combined: ______________________________________
Answers:
- The coal, which is heated to over 1,000°C, is then turned into coke.
- The plant, which is located near the mine, removes impurities from coal.
- The coal, which is mined underground, is transported to the surface.
Part 5: Present Perfect vs. Past Simple (10 minutes)
Explanation:
The present perfect is often used to describe an action that occurred at an unspecified time in the past or has relevance to the present, while the past simple refers to a completed action at a specific point in time.
- Present Perfect:
They have produced coal for the steel industry for over 100 years.
(The action continues to the present or has current relevance.) - Past Simple:
BHP produced 70 million tonnes of metallurgical coal last year.
(A completed action in the past.)
Exercise 5: Choose the Correct Tense
Complete the sentences using either the present perfect or past simple.
- BHP __________ (produce) a significant amount of coal in 2020.
- Steel production __________ (depend) on metallurgical coal for centuries.
- They __________ (install) a new blast furnace last year.
- The company __________ (export) coal to Asia and Europe for many years.
Answers:
- produced
- has depended
- installed
- has exported
Summary:
This lesson focused on key grammar points—passive voice, modals, conditionals, relative clauses, and present perfect vs. past simple—using a technical context. By practicing these structures in an industrial setting, learners can improve both their grammatical understanding and their ability to discuss complex processes in English.