The impact of particle size distribution (PSD) of pulverized, low rank high volatile content Alaska coal on combustion related\r\npower plant performance was studied in a series of field scale tests. Performance was gauged through efficiency (ratio of megawatt\r\ngenerated to energy consumed as coal), emissions (SO2, NOx, CO), and carbon content of ash (fly ash and bottom ash). The study\r\nrevealed that the tested coal could be burned at a grind as coarse as 50% passing 76 microns, with no deleterious impact on power\r\ngeneration and emissions. The PSD�s tested in this study were in the range of 41 to 81 percent passing 76 microns. There was\r\nnegligible correlation between PSD and the followings factors: efficiency, SO2, NOx, and CO. Additionally, two tests where stack\r\nmercury (Hg) data was collected, did not demonstrate any real difference in Hg emissions with PSD. The results from the field tests\r\npositively impacts pulverized coal power plants that burn low rank high volatile content coals (such as Powder River Basin coal).\r\nThese plants can potentially reduce in-plant load by grinding the coal less (without impacting plant performance on emissions\r\nand efficiency) and thereby, increasing their marketability.
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