DENSE MEDIA CYCLONE OPTIMIZATION

All work associated with Task 1 (Baseline Assessment) was successfully completed and preliminary corrections/recommendations were provided back to the management at each test site. Detailed float-sink tests were completed for Site No.1 and are currently underway for Sites No.2-No. 4. Unfortunately, the work associated with sample analyses (Task 4--Sample Analysis) has been delayed because of a backlog of coal samples at the commercial laboratory participating in this project. As a result, a no-cost project time extension may be necessary in order to complete the project. A decision will be made at the end of the next reporting period. Some of the work completed this quarter included (i) development of mass balance routines for data analysis, (ii) formulation of an expert system rule base, (iii) completion of statistical computations and mathematical curve fits for the density tracer test data. In addition, an ''O & M Checklist'' was prepared to provide plant operators with simple operating and maintenance guidelines that must be followed to obtain good HMC performance