COAL-WATER FUEL FROM FINE COAL FOR USE IN A FIRE-TUBE BOILER

The Energy and Environmental Research Corporation (EER), in cooperatio n with the University of Alabama (UA) and the Mining Division of Jim W aiter Resources, Inc. (JWRI), was awarded a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) contract to retrofit an existing pre-tube boiler to burn coal-wa ter fuel (CWF). Atomization tests were performed on an EER nozzle usin g JWRI CWF prior to the boiler retrofit. The tests were performed at t he Atomization Spray Test Facility located in the JWRI Training Center in Brookwood Alabama. On the basis of these tests, atomization nozzle s were selected for the full-scale combustion tests. The fire-tube boi ler on the UA campus was retrofitted and was successfully operated for 800 hours on CWF. The CWF was made from Blue Creek coal fines produce d by JWRI, which is located 45 min from the UA campus. JWRI produced 2 1,295 gallons (106.5 tons) of CWF and shipped this material to the boi ler, where it was burned. This article describes the CWF that was used including reports on the stability, rheology, and particle size. This article also describes the JWRI CWF pilot plant.