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Show urgency. Using the experience gained at Chatham and in consultation with experts at the National Research Council (NRC) and the Canada Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology (CANMET), a ceramic burner tip was selected and spray tested for 200 h on coal-ojj.-water mixture under a simulated operating conditions. When this nozzle was compared to a conventional Y-jet tip the abrasive wear was less than one percent compared to 40 percent for the Y-jet (measured as the percentage increase in flow due to flow channel wear under standard test conditions^ ' ) . The ceramic nozzle has now been rigorously tested under intermittent and steady conditions without failure despite some extreme thermal shock procedures. The company now plans to test the nozzle in a 1000 h demonstration in an industrial boiler or kiln. Current problems and opportunities The price range which coal-liquid mixtures can command is determined by competing fuels. In large industries and electric utilities these fuels are usually residual oil, Bunker 'C or coal. Smaller energy consumers use No. 2 or NO. 4 fuel oil or natural gas which, in Canada, may also be used in larger industries and utilities. For most of these users, the prices per unit of energy for the competing fluid fuels are approximately two-thirds that of crude oil. In order to attract customers by pricing significantly below that of the competition, coal-liquid mixtures must therefore sell for less than 60 percent of crude oil prices on a heat. value basis. The most expensive Canadian coal sells for about 40 percent of the crude oil price so where direct use of coal is possible it is the most attractive fossil fuel. However, where solid fuel cannot be used, even if the starting material for a coal-liquid mixture is one of the more expensive Canadian coals, there is about a 50 percent margin above its regular price available to cover additional preparation costs and return on investment. 12-8 |
