Cokemaking Course - May 2023

May 14-19, 2023

Coke and its properties are fundamental to the energy and productivity of the iron blast furnace process which is still today the most energy efficient method to produce hot metal for steelmaking. The course will present “state-of-the-art” knowledge of the entire cokemaking process at a level that will be useful to operators, researchers and suppliers to the industry. 

This course will provide fundamental and practical information from global industry experts who will cover a comprehensive list of topics from coal in the ground, through the cokemaking process and into the blast furnace including By-products.

Oven recovery and non-recovery cokemaking will be discussed along with energy and environmental topics that are pertinent to the cokemaking industry around the world.

2023 Organizing Committee

Jodi Kesik, ArcelorMittal Dofasco (Chair)
Neslihan Dogan, McMaster University (Secretary)
Carter Dumont, Stelco
Jason Halko, Teck
Jarred Kapush, Algoma Steel
Ted Todoschuk, ArcelorMittal Dofasco

Course Overview

There is an enrollment limit of 110 registrants. The course fee is $2,100 up to March 31 or $2,350 beginning April 1. The fee includes an electronic copy of the lecture notes, welcome reception, lunches and coffee breaks, banquet and a commemorative shirt.

Lectures – Sunday, May 14 – Friday, May 19

An optional Introduction to Cokemaking lecture will be presented on Sunday evening. There will be full days of lectures from Monday – Thursday, and a half day of lectures on Friday. Included in the lecture program are case studies where teams work on real-world cases to analyze operating and process data.

Welcome Reception – Sunday, May 14

A Welcome Reception will be held from 7 – 9 p.m. at the University Club of McMaster. Registrants are invited to meet lecturers, members of the Organizing Committee, and fellow participants.

Coke Oven Computer Game – Monday, May 15 & Tuesday, May 16

The computer game will be held on Monday and Tuesday evenings. This is an excellent opportunity to meet and interact with colleagues from all over the world. Delegates have found this to be the highlight of the course. Each group will have a chance to compete to be the lowest coke cost producer in the coal blending competition by using the lecturer information from the course! The game helps the students understand the principles of coal blending and coke quality. 

Banquet – Wednesday, May 17

Enjoy the food and the spectacular view of the ArcelorMittal and Stelco plants from the other side of Lake Ontario at the Burlington Golf and Country Club. Winners of the Coke Oven game will be announced. (Business casual attire, no blue jeans.)

Optional Plant Tour – Friday, May 19 afternoon

Cost: $50.00.  Each tour will be limited to the first 40 registrants and only one tour can be selected, as they are offered simultaneously.

• ArcelorMittal Dofasco – Driving tour of coal handling and cokemaking facilities, followed by a ground-level walking tour of No. 3 Coke Plant/By-Products Plant.
• Stelco – Hamilton Works Tour A walking tour of the Battery, By-Product Plant and the new Wastewater Treatment Plant. 

Course Books

An electronic copy of the lectures will be provided. A printed version is available for $80.

Lectures

Introduction & Fundamentals

• Introduction to Cokemaking – Lyle Moore, ArcelorMittal Dofasco
• The History of Cokemaking – Ted Todoschuk, ArcelorMittal Dofasco
• Coke in the Blast Furnace – Joseph Poveromo, Raw Materials & Iron Making
• Fundamentals of Coal and Coke Characterization –Graeme Scott, ArcelorMittal Dofasco
• Environmental Issues Facing the Coking Industry into the 21st Century – Julie Wedzinga, Stelco
• Theory of Carbonization – Ted Todoschuk, ArcelorMittal Dofasco
• Coke Oven Computer Game – Graeme Scott, ArcelorMittal Dofasco and Ted Todoschuk, ArcelorMittal Dofasco
• Future Decarbonization Strategy: 2050 – Aleksandra Regier, Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA)

Equipment & Operations

• Cokemaking Oven Restoration/Oven Repair – Ron Dykun and Jodi Kesik, ArcelorMittal Dofasco
• Principles of Coke Oven Design – TBA
• Coke Oven Energy Balance and Recovery – John Busser, Hatch
• Prolonging Asset Life – TBA
• Control of Battery Heating – TBA
• Non-Recovery Cokemaking Fundamentals and Principles – John Quanci, SunCoke Energy

By-Products

• Introduction to the By-product Plant – Abdul Hassan, ArcelorMittal Dofasco
• Tar and Light Oil Recovery – Brianna Zekl, Stelco
• Removal of Sulphur and Ammonia from Coke Oven Gas – Carter Dumont, Stelco
• Effects of Gas Quality on Operations – Greg Elder, Consultant 

Coal Mining and Preparation

• Design of Coal Blend for Required Coke Properties – Hardarshan Valia, Coal Science Inc.
• Coal from Ground to Coke Plant – Maria Dooley, Teck Coal Limited

Case Studies

• By-product Operation Case Study (Half-Day) – Carter Dumont, Stelco and Greg Elder, Consultant
• Non-Recovery Cokemaking Case Studies – John Quanci, SunCoke Energy
• Recovery Cokemaking Case Study – Jodi Kesik, ArcelorMittal Dofasco; Lyle Moore, ArcelorMittal Dofasco

Accommodation

Accommodations at a campus residence have been arranged at a rate of $96 per night (single or double occupancy room with private washroom). To register:

• Use the link: https://register.mcmaster.ca.
• After creating an account click on “General Registration”
• Use code CMC2023 to find the event
• Proceed with registration
• If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to: reserve@mcmaster.ca

You may also wish to explore local hotels such as:

Visitors Inn – 2 km from University

Homewood Suites – 4 km from University

Staybridge Suites – 4 km from University

Sheraton Hotel – 5 km from University