Objective The general aim of the project is to improve the performance of coal-fired equipment so that it remains cost effective and reliable and is able to meet present and future environmental legislation. This is to be achieved by ensuring the proper assessment of coal blends and the development of improved predictive capability for plant performance, system reliability and emissions.Descriptions of the individual parts of the project are given below.The role of mineral matter in gasification and combustion reactivity of coal blends (CRE Group)The aim of the project is to improve understanding of the influence of the inherent mineral matter in coal on the processes of gasification and combustion. The mineral matter may have important effects of a catalytic nature, and fuel blending may influence this phenomenon. The planned work involves :- using a range of mineral matter contents and compositions, coal ranks and coal blends to investigate the role of minerals in combustion and gasification;- investigating the influence of degree of gasification on char combustion reactivity;- investigating the catalytic effect of mineral matter under a range of atmospheres;- assessing the influence of process variables (e.g. preparation and blending conditions) on catalytic activity;- quantifying the impact of catalysis on overall gasification rates.Thermal methods for predicting the combined cycle gasification performance of coal blends (BCURA)The aim of the project is to generate data to enable coal blends to be selected appropriate to gasification in combined cycle plant with minimum pollution emissions, so maximising process efficiency and reliability. This will be achieved by :- coal sample selection and analysis;- high pressure pyrolysis and gasification studies;- measurement of oxidative gasification properties of chars;- correlation of char properties with pyrolysis and gasification conditions;- modelling of surface chemistry of gasification;- measurement of potential emissions from the chars under pressure;- study of a number of S0x-sorbent materials.The results of the study will provide the designers of the new gasification technologies with the opportunity to refine their process models in order to improve their accuracy and to reduce the need for expensive pilot plant work.The role of inert macerals and mineral matter in gasification and combustion reactivity of coal blends (CSIC)The purpose of the research is to study the suitability of imported coals, of varying geological origin and organic and mineral matter content, for blending with domestic coals. the influence of inert components on coal conversion, slagging and fouling is still poorly understood, especially when such coal blends are used.Three series of coals of different mineral matter composition, maceral composition (varying inertinite content) and rank will be characterised and used to prepare blends, each series being designed to evaluate the effect of a single variable.Coal conversion efficiency will be assessed by laboratory tests, and pyrolysis chars will be characterised. Nox formation and ash deposition potential will also be estimated. Correlations between single coal characteristics and reactivity of blends in combustion and gasification will be established and the blends will be optimised with respect to conversion efficiency, boiler availability and environmental considerations.Improvements to the efficiency of stoker-fired power plant (U. Portsmouth) improvement of the performance of stoker fired boilers with respect to maintenance costs, particulate emissions, tube erosion and combustion performance by better design of the grate.- Investigation of gas flow patterns in commercial grate designs using physical and computational fluid dynamics modelling techniques.- Refinement and optimisation of grate louvre design to reduce discharge velocities and to prevent local overheating.- Demonstration and evaluation of the new grate louvre design on a full scale travelling grate stoker.- Demonstration of the long term reduced maintenance costs and determination of the improved plant availability with the new design.Study of the efficiency and control of various methods of soot removal (CERCHAR)Improvement of the thermal performance of boilers by employing efficient soot blowers and investigation of the efficiency of control of these devices.Previous work by CERCHAR has shown that monitoring of acoustic and pressure signals from boilers can give indications of the performance of the system. it is planned to use such methods to diagnose the occurrence of deposit build-up, and to assess the performance of various types of soot blower and the effectiveness of a range of chemical additives on deposit accumulation, removal and prevention.The above signals will be linked to the operation of the cleaning system to develop an effective and efficient method of bringing the latter into operation when required and determining the length of its period of operation.Development of a control system for an IGCC power plant on the basis of fuzzy logic (Rheinbraun)In coal-based combined cycle power generation it is vital that automation of the gasifier should be developed, since the latter's dynamic performance affects both upstream and downstream plant components. Because of potentially very variable coal properties it is difficult to control IGCC plant to give a consistent performance and steady output. Existing control systems are not considered adequate for this purpose, and it is planned to develop a more suitable, potentially lower cost system on the basis of fuzzy logic.The control system will be demonstrated and evaluated on a large scale gasification test plant.Expert systems for the thermochemical conversion of coal and other feedstock (DMT)Taking advantage of the greatly increased capacity of computer systems, this sub-project is designed to generate an expert system for storage and evaluation of data which can then be used to solve technical problems relating to coal utilisation. The work will be directed primarily towards coal conversion, but will also be usable for other processes.- Preliminary study to define the limits of the work.- Establishment of a data bank.- Development of a programme for data extension and extrapolation.- Development of an interrogation programme and user interface.- Development and validation of a programme for problem solving. Programme(s) ECSC-COALRES 7C - Medium-term guidelines (ECSC) for technical coal research, 1994-1999 Topic(s) ED - Combustion and gasification of coal Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator CRE GROUP LTD. EU contribution No data Address Common Road NG17 2NS NOTTINGHAM United Kingdom See on map Total cost No data Participants (6) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all British Coal Utilisation Research Association Ltd United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Stoke Orchard GL52 4RZ Cheltenham See on map Total cost No data Centre de Recherche Charbonnage de France France EU contribution No data Address Rue Aimé Dubost 62670 Mazingarbe See on map Total cost No data Deutsche Montan Technologie - Gesellschaft für Forschung und Prüfung mbH (DMT) Germany EU contribution No data Address Franz-Fischer-weg 61 45307 Essen See on map Total cost No data Instituto Nacional del Carbón Spain EU contribution No data Address Apartado 73 33080 Oviedo See on map Total cost No data Rheinbraun AG Germany EU contribution No data Address 50868 Köln See on map Total cost No data University of Portsmouth United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Anglesea Road PO1 3DJ Portsmouth See on map Total cost No data
