This Chapter covers various aspects of the transportation, storage and handling of coal, predominantly between the producer and the end-user. Thus the descriptions begin with transport, which for coal (as a bulk commodity) typically encompasses road haulage, railways and seaborne delivery. The use of barges on inland waterways and as an interconnecting link between land- and sea-freight is also locally important, and is addressed here, while brief mention is also made of the infrastructure and technology involved at coal-handling ports.

The Chapter continues with a review of stockpiling philosophy and the technology used, not only for handling incoming coal and then reclaiming it for onward shipment or for use as fuel, but also in terms of the minimisation of the environmental impact of stockyards. As well as acting as storage capacity, either as a buffer or for the longer term, stockyards also have an important role in helping to achieve the most appropriate blend of coals for particular end uses. In this context, the module contains detailed information on various stacking and reclaiming methods, with particular emphasis on their advantages and disadvantages in relation to coal blending.

Aside from the bulk materials-handling systems used during coal transport and storage, one of the most widely used coal-handling technologies throughout the world is pulverisation. Pulverised coal is one of the major fuels for power generation, and the module contains extensive information about the design, application and operation of pulverisers, together with the safety issues involved with their use. Finally, the Chapter addresses spontaneous combustion during coal transport and storage. Fire is a major potential hazard at all stages of the coal production, transport and utilisation cycle, and special care has to be taken to ensure that coals that are susceptible to spontaneous combustion are handled in such as way as to minimise this risk.

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