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Show INTRODUCTION A significant problem facing the world economic community today is the cost of energy. Petroleum price and supply uncertainty has created a huge demand for alternate fuels. While the use of nuclear energy will continue to expand the only real near-term solution is to burn coal as a replacement fuel. This paper will describe the development of a technology which permits burning a coal-water mixture without requiring any expensive gasification or liquification techniques. There are several coal-water mixture technologies being developed. This discussion will be limited to the mixture known as Co-AL, developed by Alfred University and marketed by Slurrytech, Inc. This paper also will describe the application of Co-AL technology to industrial and utility boilers and to the coal transportation industry. BACKGROUND Professor J.E. Funk and associates in the Ceramics Engineering Department of Alfred University, Alfred, New York have been developing coal-water mixture technology since 1975. The solid-liquid slurry expertise required for quality ceramic castings was originally applied to coal slurries to develop an improved coal beneficiation process. Coal-water mixtures were produced with up to 8l weight percent coal on a moisture-free basis and maintaining acceptable fluid properties. The advantages of the mixture as a possible oil replacement fuel were identified and an exclusive marketing license was sold to Slurrytech, Inc. of Miami, Florida. The Babcock & Wilcox Company entered into an agreement with Slurrytech, Inc. to aid in the marketing and commercialization of Co-AL technology. B&W expects four major uses for Co-AL technology: • Displacement of oil in utility and industrial boilers • Pipeline transportation of coal • Oil tanker transportation of coal • Feed stock for coal gasifiers and fluidized bed combustors In addition to Slurrytech, a number of other companies are actively involved in the development of coal/water mixture fuels. B&W has worked with some of these by providing combustion testing and fuels characterization services. As part of a current contract with EPRI, B&W will investigate the storage, handling and combustion of coal-water mixtures being developed by many of these vendors. 13-3 |
