Smokeless fuel refers to solid fuels that do not release visible particles when burned, such as anthracite coal, coke, charcoal, and hexamine fuel pellets. These fuels may still release harmful compounds, including greenhouse gases and carbon monoxide. Anthracite coal has a higher carbon content and fewer impurities than other coals, making it a cleaner burning option. Coke is a smokeless fuel made from bituminous coal through pyrolysis.
A smokeless fuel is a substance that can be burned without releasing any visible particles into the air. The term typically refers only to solid fuels, as liquid and gaseous fuels are less likely to contain smoke-forming compounds. Some common solid fuels that are generally considered smokeless are anthracite coal, coke, charcoal, and hexamine fuel pellets. Although smokeless fuel does not release particulate matter into the atmosphere when it is burned, other pollutants can be created as a byproduct of combustion. Anthracite coal is often referred to as clean since it releases no smoke when burned, but power plants fueled by the material still release greenhouse gases.
The reason smokeless fuel does not release airborne particles when burned is due to its physical composition. Anthracite coal, for example, differs from other coals in that it has fewer impurities and a higher carbon content. Unlike other forms of coal, anthracite can actually have a carbon content of up to 98%. It can also be differentiated from other coals in that it does not emit tarry vapor when heated below the ignition point. This smokeless fuel was once an important source of heat for residential homes and is still used for electricity generation.
Unlike anthracite coal, which has its volatile components naturally removed, coal is typically created through pyrolysis. This is a process of heating animal or plant matter in a low oxygen environment. Through pyrolysis, much of the moisture and volatile components of a compound can be removed. The resulting briquettes are brittle, soft, and bear some resemblance to lower quality charcoal. Because most of the volatiles have been removed, charcoal briquettes tend to be a smokeless fuel that can be used for cooking or heating.
Another type of smokeless fuel is coke, which has replaced coal and charcoal in many industrial uses. This material is also created through pyrolysis, although bituminous coal is used instead of wood. Like coal, smoke-producing compounds are removed from bituminous coal during the pyrolysis process. The resulting product is very rich in carbon and can be burned without releasing smoke.
Despite the fact that smokeless fuels do not contribute to pollution through the release of airborne particles, they can still release harmful compounds. Many smokeless fuels release greenhouse gases when burned, and other forms of pollution can be created as well. Carbon monoxide is a gas that is commonly released when charcoal is burned, which can be dangerous if it is used for cooking or heating in an unventilated indoor space.
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