Hydrothermally treated coals for pulverized coal injection. Technical progress report, October--December, 1994

This project is investigating the suitability of hydrothermally dried low-rank coals for pulverized fuel injection into blast furnaces in order to reduce coke consumption. Coal samples from the Beluga coal field and the Usibelli Coal Mine, Alaska, are being used for the study. Crushed coal samples will be hydrothermally treated at three temperatures, 275, 300 and 325 C, for residence times ranging from 1 to 120 minutes. Products will be characterized to determine their suitability for pulverized coal injection. Characterization will include proximate and ultimate analyses, density measurements, reflectance and TGA reactivity. A literature survey is being conducted.