Micronized coal powder and coal slurries: Preparation and characterization: Topical report

This report documents some of the experiences in preparation and characterization of micronized coal powders and slurries encountered at Southwest Research Institute. These experiences include processes to grind micronized coal and characterize the size distribution with volume median diameters less than 10 micrometers. Slurry blending procedures for coal/water, coal/diesel-fuel, and coal/methanol mixtures are described. The effect of coal concentration and some additives on the rheology and stability of the slurries is examined. Instrumentation for rheological measurements over a wide dynamic range of shear rates (greater than four orders of magnitude) is described. 4 refs., 10 figs., 2 tabs.