Effects of coal structure on pulverized coal combustion processes. Quarterly technical progress report No. 2, 1 January-31 March 1986

The general objective of this study is to define and quantify the relationships between coal composition and structure and associated combustion and conversion behavior for three very different domestic coals of interest. To accomplish this objective, two tasks have been identified. The first is to characterize the virgin coal and the process chars. This will give the necessary information to determine if the char preparation process yields or rates are dependent on coal physical and chemical characteristics. The characterization tests outlined will give a detailed knowledge of the coals and chars. The second task is to measure high temperature reaction rates of the virgin coals and their derived chars, and to interpret results in light of Task 1. This report summarizes technical progress made during the second reporting period. Coal samples for the study have been pulverized. The bulk density, apparent density and coal composition from elemental analyses have been measured for the virgin coals and the -200 +230 and -325 +400 mesh fractions. A suitable method for measuring the proximate analysis of highly sparking coals has been determined and the first results from these tests are given. Some of the components for the drop-tube furnace have been obtained. Plansmore » are also presented for the following quarterly period. 21 refs., 3 figs., 4 tabs.« less