Central Fuel Research Institute is a premier Fuel Research Institute in the world. It comes under Council of Scientific & Industrial Research(CSIR), Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt. of India. It is one of the oldest laboratories of the CSIR family established to undertake - both fundamental and applied research - on India's fuel resources, especially coal and lignite, to assess their quality and potential uses in the most efficient manner. We are the leading people to reveal coal and its complex nature to the world. We have successfully designed methods to handle the high ash coal in India and use it efficiently. 

CFRI has celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1996. Central Fuel Research Institute, founded in 1946, has completed its Golden Jubilee on the 17th November, 1996. Over the last 50 years the Institute has been carrying out basic research and R&D activities on coal and established itself as a premier research institution on coal in the world, acknowledged as a ISD 9001 Institute, the first national laboratory of CSIR to receive such recognition.

The activity, expertise and laboratory facilities of the Institute cover all areas of Coal Science and Technology, viz;-

Quality Evaluation and Resource Assessment.

Basic Research
Coal preparation and Beneficiation
Coal Carbonisation
Coal Combustion
Coal Gasification
Conversion of Liquid Fuels
Coal Chemicals
Briquettes and Shaped Fuels
Carbon Products
Clean Coal Technology
Waste Utilisation
Efficient Energy System
Environmental Impact Assessment
Sampling, Testing, Analyses, Technical Information Services and Consultancy
Human Resource Development-Education & Training.

The present manpower of the Institute is over 900

Contact Information:

Director,
Central Fuel Research Institute
P.O. FRI, Dhanbad 828 108, 
Phone : 460141, 61710 (Office)
460632 (Residence)
Gram : RESEARCH, FRI, DHANBAD
Telex : 0629-201 CFRI IN
FAX : 864 350
Access Code : Int. (91-326), Nat (0326)

Regional Extension Centres of CFRI

CFRI Ranchi Unit
P.O. Namkom
Ranchi : 834010
Bihar Gram : COALSURV
Phone : 313276 (O) : 315596 .Fax : 313276

Access Code : Int. (91-651)Nat (0651) CFRI Ranigunj Unit 
Bansra House
P.O. Ranigunj 713347
Burdwan (W.B)
Gram : COAL SURV
Phone : 444195 (O) Fax : 444195

Access Code : Int. (91-341)
Nat. (0341) CFRI Bilaspur Unit
Circuit House Road
P.O. Bilaspur 495 001
(M.P.)
Gram : COALSURV
Phone : 23510 (O): 23107 .Fax : 23510

Access Code : Int. (91-7752)
Nat (077520) CFRI Nagpur Unit
17/C, Telenkhedi Area
Civil Lines
P.O. Nagpur 440001
Gram : COALSURV
Phone : 531319 (O): 523091 .Fax : 531 319

Access Code : Int. (91-712)
Nat (0712) 
CFRI Assam Unit
P.O. Jorhat 785 001
Assam
Gram : COALSURV
Phone : 320 185 (O): 320 608 .

Access Code : Int (91-376)
Nat (0376) 
MISSION 

"Enhance the position of the Instititue as premier R & D centre for technology development and transfer by forging strategic alliance with other agencies and continuously strive for excellance in the areas of potential expertise for generation of basic knowledge, innovation and advanced concepts in science and technology for economic, efficient and environmentally safe energy management."

The Goal

Develop the institute towards a user responsive, credible and self sustaining R&D centre for technology development and transfer through participative interaction of the customer in the area of fuel utilisation with professional 
competence, adaptability and dynamism. 

Objectives: 
Develop the Institute towards a user responsive, credible and self sustaining R&D centre for technology development and transfer through participative interaction of the customer in the area of fuel utilisation with professional 
competency, adaptability and dynamism. 

Provide high level customer survice. 

Modernise the infrastructure for a higher level of expertise to undertake high technology projects in selected areas of need and proven capabilities of the institute. 

Intensify the activities towards excellance relating to basic research for deeper understanding and develop new concepts for efficient energy utilisation. 

Enhance further the status of the institute as a premier School of Learning in the discipline of coal science and technology for the purpose of imparting advanced knowledge and training. 

Ensure Human resource management for maintaining the inflow of suitable trained S&T manpower with adequate skills at every level. 

Policy Guidelines

Strive for incremental improvement in overall performance; Adherence to total quality principles in all programmes aiming at professionally higher level of excellence. Establish sound information base using modern information 
systems; 

Develop and perfect the R&D management system with emphasis on decentralised decision making at every level and encouraging individual initiative in each sphere of activities; 

Plan human resource development (HRD) for continuosly upgrading the creative ability and excellance of the system; Formalise the principle of internal customer satisfaction as the primary key for accessing the efficiency of functioning; 

Improve productivity and enhance earnings; 

Concern for environment in all activities; 

Develop and maintain a strong and cohesive culture for  organisation excellance; 

Develop a strong design and engineering capabiliy; 

Develop customer interface with an aim to forge strategic  alliance with the leading users; 

Reduce non-productive overhead expenditure 

Provide high level customer service. 

Modernise the infrastructure for a higher level of expertise to undertake high technology projects in selected areas of need and proven capabilities of the Institute. 

Intensify the activities towards excellence relating to basic research for deeper understanding and develop new concepts for efficient energy utilisation. 

Enhance further the status of the Institute as a premier School of Learning in the discipline of coal science and technology for the purpose of imparting advanced knowledge and training. 

Ensure human resource management for maintaining the inflow of suitably trained S&T manpower with adequate skills at every level. 

With the goal of helping the country become an energy efficient nation over the past five decades, CFRI as a premier research organisation is known for its contribution relating to the: quality assessment of coal resources, generation of the basic process know-how for the operating coking coal washeries built for the processing of 36 mtpa of coal, prescribing blends for the coal for coke making in the steel industry, designing non-recovery coke ovens for foundry and domestic coke, processing of coal tar, and utilization of fly ash generated at the power plants for building bricks and also as a soil conditioner in agriculture. 

CFRI has contributed vast knowledge in the basic studies on fuel science including proposing a model for the structure of coal. Besides, pilot demonstrations have been carried out in the area of coal gasification, fluid bed combustion, oil agglomeration, conversion to liquid fuels by hydrogenation 
and by Fischer-Tropsch route, formed coke, solvent refined coal, and coal oil and coal-water slurry, etc. 

CFRI plays a participating role in guiding the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in drawing national level standards relating to the area of Coal Science and technology. Through BIS, the International Standards Organisation (ISO) 
is also served in the area of solid mineral fuels. 

With nearly 300 well trained scientific and technical manpower and assets worth Rs.100 million, CFRI is professionally competent to provide the research, 
development and engineering support as well as human resource development needed to evolve environment friendly energy management systems for the coal, power, steel, cement, chemical and other industrial and domestic sectors 
both within the country and outside. 

Significant Achievements

Use of the technologies proposed by the institution in all the 22 existing central washeries (installed capacity 38 million tonnes of coal per year) and upgradation of high ash Indian coals by beneficiation to augment coking coal 
reserves in the country. Selection of optimum coking blends for steel plants, 
characterisation of available coking coals, commissioning of coke oven batteries, development of improved designs for beehive coke ovens (non-recovery type) and standardization of specifications and testing of coke for BIS. 
Development of solvent refined coals (SRC), a coking additive from non/weak - coking coals that would help reduce prime coking coal component or imported coal brands in the coke ovens in the steel plants. 

Chemical desulphurization of coals with high sulphur content. 

Process development of indigenous sand for caking index (import substitution) and reactivity of coke/ char, development of carbon molecular seive for gas separation, utilisation of low-ash metallurgical coke (LAMC) as heating 
medium in the production synthetic graphite and substitution of synthetically calcined anthracite by LAMC for alumina reduction cell. 

Basic studies on the structure of coal that have led to valuable information useful in the production of coal fertilizer, sponge iron using non-coking coal, briquetting 
and formed coke, prediction of tar formation demineralization of coal and auto oxidation and spontaneous combustion in mines and stacks. 

Process for building bricks using fly ash, sand and lime. 

Development of a series of zealot catalysts for the production of industrial chemicals like 2-, 3- & 4-picolines and pyridine. 

Development of modified, new generation catalysts for synthesis of olefins and liquid fuels from syngas. 

Improvement of tar/pitch for use as binders for basic refractory bricks. 

Conversion of coal to liquid fuels by multistage hydrogenation and by modified Fischer-Tropsch route. 

Monitoring of air, water, soil and affluents with a view to combating environmental pollution by different industries; evolving national standard for SPM in stack emissions of coke ovens and briquetting plants; collaboration with MOEF for total methane budget from Indian paddy fields; study of  CO2 emissions from coal-based industries; and utilization of fly-ash in agriculture as a source of essential plant nutrients and soil conditioner. 

Development of coke/ coal based efficient home chulhas under the NPIC of Department of Non-conventional Energy Sources. 

Proven Technologies 
Oven for Production of Soft Coke (50 to 100 tpd) 
Mini Washery for Coal Slurry Beneficiation (5 to 20 tph) 
Synthesis of Nicotinamide from 3-cyanopyridine (1 tpd) 
KUMBRAJ Bee-hive Coke Oven (80 to 100 tpd) 
Building Bricks from Fly-ash (12,000 to 80,000 bricks/day) 
CFRI-TISCO Design Bee-hive Coke Oven (50 to 100 tpd) 
Briquetted Fuel for Domestic Users from Low Grade Caking 
Coal/ Washery by-products (20-50 tpd) 
Beta-naphthol from Naphthalene (1000 tpy) 
Synthesis of Resorcinol (300 tpy) 
Domestic Cook Stove (Chullah for 5 to 10 members family) 
Formed Coke (20 to 50 tpd) 
Synthesis of INH from 4-cyanopyridine (50 gm/batch) 
Ammoxidation of 3-methyl Pyridine to 3-Cyanopyridine (100 ml cat vol.) 
Ammoxidation of 4-methyl Pyridine to 4-Cyanopyridine (100 ml cat vol.) 
Oil Agglomeration Process for Recovery of Additional Cleans from Inferior Coals (2-10 tph) 
Oleo Flotation Process for Integrated Beneficiation and Dewatering Coking Coals (20 tpd) 
Bulk Use of Fly Ash for Soil amendment and Waste Land Reclamation. 

Technologies Available 

Rotary Breaker for Dry Deshaling of Thermal Coals (upto 1000 tph) 
Jig for Coal Washing (20 tph) 
Jig for Coal Washing (20 tph) 
Process for Stabilised Coal Water Slurry (30 kg/hr) 
Inert Gas Generator for Combating Mine Fire (500 Nm3/hr) 
Lignite Devolatiliser (1 tph) 
Synthesis of Pyridine & Picolines (100 ml cat vol) 
Purification of Crude Anthracene and Oxidation of Anthracene 
to Anthraquinone (1Kg batch, 100 ml cat vol) 
Synthesis of 3,5 Xylenol (100 gm/batch) 
Synthesis of m-p cresols (1 k/batch) 

Energy Management

Spearheading the Drive 
Energy Management Cell of the Central Fuel Research Institute, Dhanbad plays a vital role in Energy Conservation (Encon). Its objective is to promote industrial energy efficiency, and thereby help companies achieve energy savings. By means of an interactive approach , Energy Management Cell initiates a comprehensive energy-saving programme, which will eventually become part of the organisation's way of functioning and thinking. 

Spectrum of Services 
Conducting detailed Energy Audits in Industrial Units to reduce their energy consumption Monitoring & implementation of energy saving programmes and 
ideas to maximise benefits Making available to industry, latest technologies and 
techniques of Encon Conducting training programmes on Encon Developing software for energy management Exchanging data with national and international institutions and organisations on Encon Organising Encon Missions( visits to energy efficient units 

Developing energy consumption norms for various industries Conducting Cost Improvement Programmes 

Feasibility study for windmills, co-generation plants, renewable energy systems and adoption of latest technologies Energy Audit-- Powerful Gains Energy Management Cell undertakes to study and monitor energy use at every stage of production, identify areas of energy loss and assist in implementing cost- effective methods to optimise energy consumption through Energy Audits. A team of experienced engineers equipped with advanced instruments will assess energy efficiency. 

The Route to an Energy Audit 
CFRI will be glad to initiate an Energy Audit in your organisation. The procedure involved is: 
Energy Audit team's visit to plant for preliminary audit 
Submission of proposal for conducting detailed Energy Audit covering benefits, time involved and cost of service 
Detailed Energy Audit after confirmation 
Detailed report covering technically and commercially 
feasible energy saving proposals with cost benefit analysis 
Monitoring progress 
The other services include 
Cost Improvement Programme-- New Dimension to Costs 
Training Programmes 
Publications-- Keeping Industry Abreast 
Encon Mission 

Environmental Management
Head: Dr. Gulab Singh 
Thrust Areas 
Solid Waste Management vis a vis environmental issues 
Eco restoration of over burden dumps / mine spoil 
Value added products from fly ash 
Microbiology / Bio technology 
Waste land management 
Desulphurisation of coals and liquid fuels 
Bio-reclamation of abandoned ash ponds 

On-going Projects 
Bulk use of fly ash from FSTPP in agricultural lands of 
Murshidabad (West Bengal) and for waste land management. 
Bulk use of fly ash from BKTPP in agricultural land of Birbhum (WB). 
Bulk use of Lignite, Fly ash in agricultural land of Neyveli and for reclamation of mine spoil. 
Bulk use of fly ash from CSTPS and BTPS (Maharastra) in agricultural lands of Chandrapura and Bhusawal and for reclamation of waste land / abondened ash ponds. 
Bulk use of fly ash from RSTPS in agricultural land of Karim 
Nagar and for reclamation of waste land / abandoned ash ponds. 
Bio technological conversion of Lignite to humic acid. 
Durability study of fly ash brick. 
Role of vegetation in ecosystem recovery of riparian wetlands under Anthropogenic stresses. 
Bio restoration of OB dumps through the plantation of selected efficient photo synthetic/ soil conserver species in eastern Jharia area (BCCL). 

MAJOR R&D PROGRAMMES 
The major R&D programmes of CFRI are directed towards: 
improving efficiency in power generation to realize much of the installed capacity by employing more efficient power generation cycles, including the co-generation system; augmenting the production to better quality indigenous reductants for steel making and other metallurgical purposes; and developing coal-based industrial carbons of different specifications; gaining deeper insight into the structure of coal for its efficient utilization/conversion; reducing dependence on petroleum products through conversion of coal/organic wastes into synthetic fuel and other chemicals/feed stocks; promoting the changeover from non-commercial domestic fuel, e.g. firewood, to commerical ones particularly in rural areas; developing pollution control measures for coal-based industries; and carrying out the national task of resource quality assessment in alliance with the coal producing industries. 

MAIN FACILITIES 

The institute has the following pilot and test facilities: 
briquette curing plant, catalyst test unit for conversion of syngas to liquid fuels, CBJ hydraulic press, coal preparation plant, coal-oil stabilized slurry unit, Fischer-Tropsch process development unit, fluid-bed hot air generator, fluidized-bed combustor, heavy, medium and hydro cyclone units, high-pressure hydrogeneration pilot plant high temperature graphitization furnace, hydrogen gas plant, low pressure briquetting plant, oil-agglomeration unit, PSA testing unit, super centrifuge, and test coke ovens. The institute has a wide range of modern instrumental facilities for testing and material characterization, 
particularly coal and related products. These include atomic absorption spectrometer, automatic calorimeter, automatic Gieseler plastometer, CDS micro reactor, coke reactivity apparatus, differential scanning calorimeter, elemental analyzer, ESR spectrometer, FT-NMR/IR spectrometers, gas 
chromatograph, Haake viscometer, heating microscope, high pressure liquid chromatographs, high volume air samplers, inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer, mass spectrophotometer, mercury porosimeter, Orthoplan-POL 
microscope, particle-size analyzer, proximate analyzer, semi-automatic image analyzer, spectrocalorimeter, stack sampler, sulphur determinator, surface area analyzer, temperature programmed desorption apparatus, thermal analyzer, UV & IR-spectrophotometers, water kit analyzer, x-ray diffractometer, and zeta potential analyzer. 

SERVICES OFFERED 
CFRI serves the energy sector covering coal, steel, power, petroleum and chemicals, domestic and other industries, through; assessment and development of technology, feasibility studies, and technical advice, besides providing education and training and undertaking environment impact assessment studies. 

TRAINING COURSES 

The institute conducts training courses for industry, R & D organizations and educational institutions, in its areas of activity. Presently, it is colaborating with the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, in conducting an M.Tech Course.
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