http://www.suncoke.com

SunCoke Energy Overview
Updated 7/2014

SunCoke is Coke Producer that uses a newer negative pressure co-generation process to produce metallurgical coke from coal.

Process:

Compared to legacy coking processes that use tall narrow ovens that are mostly heated from the side wall refractory, the SunCoke process employs wide shallow ovens that heat the coal from the refractory below and also from limited combustion above.  The top combustion gas is drawn down below for further combustion.  Air is metered to the ovens in the space above the load and also to the flues below the oven.  The toxic exhaust gas is reduced under slightly negative pressure to maximize containment.  The hot gas is than passed through a heat recovery boiler followed by scrubbers to remove sulfur before being exhausted. (Tasker note: there must be a draft fan somewhere in the gas stream, likely near the exit to achieve the least hostile operating environment?).  Steam from the Heat Recovery Boilers is routed  to turbine generators which output significant electrical power.

The cooking time is about 48 hours, longer than legacy coke producing processes.  Not sure why the time is longer or what the oven temperature is.  SunCoke claims the longer cycle time has several advantages including minimizing the time oven doors are open (some toxic gas escape to atmosphere) and a more stable refractory temperature which yields longer oven life.

Company:

SunCoke's history dates back to the 1960s, but more recently, the company is a spin-off from Sunoco, which owned about 80% of the shares until January 2012, when it distributed all it's shares of SunCoke stock to Sunoco shareholders.  SunCoke is now traded on the NYSE as SXC.  SunCoke is currently headquartered near Chicago with coke plants located in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Verginia.  They also own several coal terminals in West Verginia and Kentucky, plus limited foriegn operations in Brazil and India.

Middletown Ohio Plant / AK Steel:

SunCoke recently commissioned a facility in Middletown Ohio the became fully operational in 2012.  It supplies Coke to AK Steel by conveyor.  [AK Steel's Middletown Works] also has their own legacy Coke Plant that was commissioned in 1952.

Tasker has not done any work directly for SunCoke Energy, but Tasker has worked at the AK Steel Middletown Coke Plant across the street.