INFLUENCE OF COAL TYPE AND DRYING UPON MHD POWER PLANTS AND COMPONENTS.

Western coals can, when properly dried, be used effectively in combined cycle MHD/steam power plants. when sulfur removal is accounted for, the Illinois coal shows no improvement over the western coals. Drying to 2% final moisture results in similar combustion and MHD performance characteristics among bituminous, subbituminous, and lignite coals. The penalty for drying is a decrease in the power output of the steam loop. Anthracite coals, which do not require drying, offer the best performance. Due to their low availability, however, they are not likely to be considered for MHD purposes. For the western coals, control of the MHD generator length can be achieved by proper selection of the combustor pressure and the amount of drying.