Editing v0.34:Fuel

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{{quality|Masterwork|02:45, 08 November 2010 (UTC)}}
:''(Disambiguation: In Dwarf Fortress, '''[[bituminous coal]]''' is not the same as "coal" - see that article if desired.)''

'''Fuel''', '''refined coal''', and just '''coal''' are three in-game terms that refer the same thing, any unit of '''charcoal''' or '''coke''', the two fuels used to power high-temperature industries, manely metalworking, glassworking, and pottery.  One unit of either of these fuels is required for every task at a conventional (non-magma) [[smelter]], [[forge]], [[kiln]], or [[glass furnace]].  Magma versions of these facilities do not need fuel, and in fact cannot use conventional fuel to power them if their magma sources fail.  Refined coal is also needed as part of the pig iron and steel creation process ''(see [[#Pig iron and steel production|below]])''.

Although both "charcoal" and "coke" are simply listed as such when viewed in the game with the {{k|k}}, they are found under the "bars" section of the [[stocks|z-stocks]] menu, and can be used to build [[vertical bars]], and so a unit of fuel is usually considered "a bar".  To place bars of fuel in a stockpile, create a Bars/Blocks stockpile, or a [[Stockpile#Custom_stockpiles|custom stockpile]] with "coal" (found in the "Bars" sub-category) {{k|e}}nabled and {{k|p}}ermitted.

==Fuel: charcoal and coke==

The two sub-types of fuel are '''''charcoal''''' and '''''coke''''', and they are ''identical'' for in-game purposes, even if they come from different sources and have different in-game names.  Whenever you see "fuel", "refined coal" or "coal" in-game, those refer to ''either'' charcoal or coke - they are interchangeable, and either one will serve the same purpose, as fuel for the desired activity.  ([[Bituminous coal]] is ''not'' the same as "coal", and does ''not'' refer to fuel, but can be converted into coke at a [[Smelter]].) 

Both charcoal and coke come in [[bar]]s, and are stockpiled in Bars/Block [[stockpile]]s if the "coal" entry is selected within the "Bars" section.  There is currently no way (or need) to distinguish between the two when designating stockpiles. 

At the risk of repetition, but to be perfectly clear - ''despite the different names, there is no distinction between charcoal and coke for any game activities.'' Both are "refined coal" or "coal", or just "fuel". 

Charcoal and coke are, of course, ''not'' [[fire-safe]] building materials.

=== In-game usage ===

The different terms are found in different places in the game, but all refer to the same thing, [[bar]]s of either coke or charcoal.

"Fuel" is sometimes used informally in the forums and in various wiki articles.  Since some understandable confusion can arise over the usage of the various terms "'''refined coal'''", "'''coal fuel'''", "'''coal'''", "'''charcoal'''" and "'''coke'''" (and also "[[bituminous coal]]", which is ''not'' a fuel), the simple umbrella term "fuel" will be used in the explanations in this article.  

At a conventional (non-magma) [[smelter]], if you try to add a smelting task and have no fuel, you will see the message:

:<div style="color:white; background-color:black; width:20em; font-weight:bold"><tt>No tasks available<br />Check for raw material access<br /><br />and fuel if necessary</tt></div>
:''(Note that this message will also be seen if there is no [[path]] to your workshop or needed materials, including fuel.)''

You will not be allowed to add any tasks to any conventional smelter until that workshop has access to at least one unit of either charcoal or coke. (However, if you have just one bar of un-used fuel, you can queue up as many jobs as you want - see next...)


If you have queued up multiple tasks and then run out of fuel, you will get an [[announcement]] similar to:

<blockquote>"'''[[Main:Urist|Urist McFuelUser]] cancels job: needs refined coal.'''"</blockquote>

Note that a forge or glass furnace ''will'' let you add tasks if you have no fuel, and only once a dwarf arrives and finds they cannot complete that task will you get the announcement to that effect.  You will get one announcement for each un-fueled task that is unable to be completed. Jobs are canceled when there is no fuel.

When you get either of these messages, you need more fuel - either charcoal or coke will serve equally well.  

'''Coal''' is the generic term used in the [[stockpile]] menu.  It refers to a [[bar]] of either charcoal or coke.

== The two sub-types of fuel ==
There are 2 sub-types of conventional fuel - [[charcoal]] and [[coke]].  Charcoal and coke are identical in use - a single unit of either one powers one activity at a conventional smelter, forge, kiln or glass furnace, or can serve as the ingredient to make [[pig iron]] or [[steel]].  They are completely interchangeable, the only difference is their source.  

[[Wood]] does not burn hot enough to fuel these activities or facilities, and (in Dwarf Fortress) you cannot burn raw [[bituminous coal]] or [[lignite]] (although they are flammable).

=== Charcoal, from wood===
Charcoal is created at a [[wood furnace]] using one [[wood]] log by a [[dwarf]] with the [[Wood burner|Wood burning]] [[labor]] enabled. [[Skill|Skill levels]] in the [[Wood burner]] [[skill]] are not required but reduce the time required for this activity.

:* Required Building - [[Wood furnace]]
:* Required Labor enabled - [[Wood burning]]
:* Required Material - [[Wood]]

===Coke, from bituminous coal or lignite===
Coke is a type of refined coal, and is identical to charcoal for all game purposes. It is created at a [[smelter]] using one unit of fuel by a [[dwarf]] with the [[Furnace operating|Furnace Operating]] labor enabled. [[skill|Skill levels]] in the [[Furnace operator]] skill are not required but reduce the time required for this activity.

Coke can be created from [[bituminous coal]], producing 3 coke (net gain of 2 fuel), or [[lignite]], producing 2 coke (net gain of 1 fuel). Magma smelters do not require conventional fuel for this process, and so the net yield for each is effectively +1 greater.

:*Required Building - [[Smelter]] or [[Magma smelter]]
:*Required Labor enabled - [[Furnace operating]]
:*Required Material - [[Bituminous coal]] or [[lignite]]
::::::  - ''plus'' one unit of fuel per unit smelted, if at a conventional smelter

Bituminous coal [[block]]s and lignite blocks (sometimes offered by [[trader]]s) can neither be used as fuel nor converted into fuel or back into stones in any way. They can only be used for standard block purposes -- though they are of course ''not'' [[fire-safe]]!

Because you need fuel in order to refine fuel, you will probably need to create at least one unit of charcoal at a Wood Burner first.

== Magma facilities ==
Magma replaces conventional fuel for [[magma smelter]]s, [[magma forge]]s, [[magma kiln]]s and [[magma glass furnace]]s.  No fuel is needed, nor can it be used, for activities at these facilities.  Note that you will still need charcoal or coke for smelting bars of [[pig iron]] and [[steel]]. (And see next section.)

== Pig iron and steel production ==
Note that when [[smelting]] [[pig iron]] or [[steel]] at any location, one unit of either charcoal or coke is required in the reaction (presumably as carbon). Again, there is no distinction - both charcoal and coke serve equally well in the production of [[bar]]s of either. An additional unit of fuel is needed to power the furnace at conventional (non-magma) smelters.

----
'''See Also:'''
:* [[Smelting]]
:* [[Fuel industry]]

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