Fluid solutions

摘要

A process using solvents to strip away minerals from coal to remove impurities could lead to more efficient power stations, according to researchers at Nottingham University. The most efficient way to use any fossil fuel in a power station is the combined cycle firing system, where the hot gases from burning the fuel are used to drive a turbine, then to raise steam which drives a second turbine. Most new gas-fired stations use this mechanism. However, worries about the availability and price of gas are leading energy researchers to look at ways of adapting the technique for fuels such as coal.