OCR Text |
Show higher alkali contents of the clean coals , however, are likely to result in a higher fouling propensity. Boiler ash deposition i s likely to be substantially reduced when firing the lower ash content clean coals. Initial Level 1 results do not indicate any substantial differences in the expected combustion performance of the AMF products and their parent coals. Higher level analyses, which are being conducted currently, will provide additional information as to the expected combustion performance of these fuels. SUMMARY Developing advanced coal-cleaning technologies may allow the low-cost production of highly beneficiated coal-based fuels. A multilevel combustion evaluation program is under way at PETC to identify and quantify specific problems that might limi t or impede the use of these fuels. First-year efforts have centered on the design and construction of a new pilot-scale combustion facility, the PETC Fuels Evaluation Facility. Evaluation of two chemically cleaned coals produced by Mol ten Caustic Leaching has been completed and a detailed report should be issued soon. Three physically cleaned coals, produced by advanced microbubble flotation, are presently under evaluation. The ini tial resul ts presented here typify the low-level evalua tions to be conducted and show the range of fuel qual i ty that can be expected. As the facili ties become available, these fuels and others will be submi tted for higher level evaluations. The PETC Drop-Tube and Fuel Evaluation Facilities, which will be available in late 1988, will complement the completed low-level evaluations. Data from these units will be used as inputs into available combustion and heat transfer models to estimate fullscale performance. An increased understanding and quantification of the effects of coal cleaning on plant performance could significantly influence the development of the various technologies and may provide the economic and technical stimuli for commercialization. |