koksverk

A koksverk, or coke works, is an industrial facility where coal is heated in the absence of air to produce coke, a porous carbon material used as a fuel and as a reducing agent in iron and steel making.

In a typical by-product coke oven plant, coal is charged into ovens and heated to around 1000°C for several hours. Volatiles are driven off and collected as gas and by-products such as coal tar and light oils; the solid coke is cooled and delivered to blast furnaces or other steelmaking processes. Modern plants emphasize by-product recovery and gas purification, while some older installations operate non-recovery units.

Coke production has historically been central to steelmaking, providing the fuel and reducing agent needed for blast furnaces. Coke works were often located near coal fields and ironworks to minimize transport costs and to integrate with rolling mills and furnaces.

Environmental and safety considerations include emissions of volatile organic compounds, sulfur compounds and particulate matter, as well as fire and explosion risks. Contemporary koksverk implement gas cleaning, tar recovery, oxidizers and continuous monitoring to reduce pollution and protect workers. They may also incorporate energy recovery systems to utilize coke gas or other by-products as fuel.

Etymology: The term derives from Norwegian koks (coke) and verk (works).