(Yicai) Oct. 24 -- Chinese state-owned energy company China Energy Investment Group released its new artificial intelligence-powered rapid coal quality testing device today that enables fast, accurate, robust, and non-destructive analysis of coal components.

The AI tool, which was jointly developed with partners including surveillance equipment giant Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, performs fully automated, online analysis of quality indicators such as calorific value, moisture, ash content, and sulfur content in less than two minutes and transmits them in real time to downstream coal users, China Energy and Hikvision said in the run up to the release of the new tech.

The device overcomes the challenges of traditional coal testing technologies such as data delays, distortions, and high testing costs, they said. It integrates emerging technologies such as core spectroscopy detection devices, foundational AI models and data management platforms

The testing equipment has already undergone nearly two years of trials at nine demonstration units across Beijing-based China Energy's different coal-producing regions, ports, sales channels, power plants, and chemical factories, the report said. It has tested over 50 million tons of coal. Even under harsh conditions, including extreme high and low temperatures, dust, vibrations, high humidity, and electromagnetic interference, the system has operated stably.

China Energy plans to deploy over 80 units of the new equipment to its major coal mines, ports as well as electricity power stations and coal chemical enterprises by the end of the year. The goal is to achieve full coverage in typical scenarios where coal quality testing is required.

Editor: Kim Taylor