SODIUM AND OXYGEN IN NIGERIAN COALS - POSSIBLE EFFECTS ON ASH FOULING

Ash fouling during heat transfers in coal power-plants has been known to be an engineering problem caused by high sodium levels of the feed- coals. Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) was used in det ermining the concentration of some alkali elements (Na, Ca, Mg) associ ated with ash fouling for eight Nigerian coals mined at Onyeama, Ogbet e, Enugu, Gombe, Okaba, Afikpo, Lafia and Asaba. Sodium levels were ge nerally low (0.001 - 0.036%). Oxygen concentrations considered as an i ndicative measure of the wettability for each of the coals were determ ined. The possible effects of the concentration of these elements on a sh fouling were discussed.