Residential Applications of Coal-Based Fuels and Advanced Combustion Systems: Final Report

摘要

American households are annually consuming about ten quads of energy within their homes. Of this consumption, over six quads consists of premium fossil fuels; namely, natural gas, fuel oil and small amounts of liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene. About 90 percent of the premium fossil fuels used within the residential sector are dedicated to space and water heating. While coal was once a dominant residential heating fuel, current levels of coal use are negligible, accounting for less than 0.1 quad of consumption. Commercially available coal-fired heating systems do not approach the performance or convenience of operation provided by the electric, gas and oil heating systems that now dominate the residential market. For coal to achieve acceptance as a residential heating fuel, new technologies are required that are capable of producing, handling, storing and combusting premium quality coal fuels while conforming to stringent standards regarding emissions to the environment. Recent technology developments offer the prospect that coal-based fuels, such as coal-liquid mixtures or dry ultrafine coal, when combined with advanced fuel handling and combustion concepts, can meet standards of performance required for widespread acceptance within the residential sector. 33 refs., 7 figs., 19 tabs. (ERA citation 13:053030)