97/01767 Sustained co-firing of coal water slurry

Abstract

As increasing competitive pressures within the utility community continue to demand the lowest possible cost of electric power and as environmental regulations call for deeper cleaning of coal, the utilization of coal fines will grow in significance as a low cost fuel option. These coal fines result from the various processes associated with the mining and cleaning of coal. They are available as fresh fines from active coal mines and coal processing plants and as reclaimed material from coal fines ponds which resulted from past coal cleaning operations. Recovering this valuable resource for use as a low solids coal water slurry co-firing fuel is one means of eliminating an environmental problem, reducing utility costs and increasing the Btu recovery for the coal producer. GPU Genco is currently proceeding with the combustion testing of this concept on a sustained basis, twenty-four hours per day and seven days per week, at a total boiler slurry combustion rate of 20% (Btu basis) on a 32 MWe front fired pulverized coal boiler utilizing a 50% solids coal water slurry by weight that is produced by an independent supplier. This paper presents the success to date of the co-firing of 2,500,000 gallons of low solidsmore » coal water slurry with pulverized coal in a utility scale boiler. This sustained test burn is an essential step toward the commercialization of the technology. In addition to updating the status of low solids coal water slurry co-firing, this paper will outline GPU Genco`s current plans and future outlook for the technology.« less