Research Efforts in Eight Industrial Countries to Increase the Use of Coal

摘要

During 1977 and 1978 we visited with, discussed coal research with, and reviewed the technical literature of coal research institutes in eight countries, Australia, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Netherlands, New Zealand, Polish People's Republic, United Kingdom, and the United States. We were able to visit utility companies, boiler manufacturers, private research laboratories, government research laboratories, and universities in these countries. Coal is the only fuel other than nuclear power that can satisfy the short term energy needs of the world. Coal resources are adequate to fulfill these energy needs. In the future, as now, most of the coal used will be burned as pulverized coal in large industrial and utility boilers. However, two major problems must be addressed before use of coal can drastically increase. First pollutant emissions from coal-fired boilers must be controlled at levels acceptable to the populace and at costs acceptable to the utility operators. Second, improving the precision with which boilers are designed and the availability of the boiler during operation can improve the competitivity advantage of coal over other fuels. When these problems have been solved, world coal use should increase in proportion to coal resources. (ERA citation 04:049430)