Task 3.11 -- Fuel Quality Advisor. Semi-annual report, July 1--December 31, 1995

The objective of the Fuel Quality Advisor (FQA) project is to create a generalized software package capable of advising operations, purchasing, environmental, and maintenance personnel in making decisions related to the use of coal in electricity generation facilities. The specific goals for this years work include the following: develop a standardized computer shell to integrate existing and future algorithms; develop a strategy for integrating the shell with future databases and boiler models; integrate the current ash transformations and deposition algorithms into the shell; generate algorithms for coal handleability through experimentation and integrate them into the code; and enhance the current ash transformation algorithms for low-NOx and entrained gasification through laboratory experimentation and integrate available full-scale results into the code. The program is divided into three primary thrust areas: development of computerized shell and interface, development of coal handleability advisor, and enhancement of ash formation algorithms. The progress in each of these three areas over the last 6 months is described in detail