An experimental program is under way to evaluate the atomization, combustion, turbine blading tolerance, and emissions for a coal-water mixture (CWM) fuel. Combustor and turbine components from an MS6001 commercial gas turbine are being utilized with modifications to accommodate the CWM characteristics. Raw coal is physically cleaned, or beneficiated, to achieve less than 1% ash; this cleaned coal is then treated to achieve acceptable viscosity and stability as a 50/50 mixture by weight with water.
The preparations for combustion testing have been completed, and testing with CWM has begun. The goals of the test are to achieve combustion at 100% CWM and to prepare for subsequent ash deposition testing with a downstream turbine nozzle cascade sector. Modifications to operating procedures and physical geometry will be made, as necessary, to achieve acceptable component metal temperatures, pressure pulsation levels, and combustor exit spatial temperature variations.
