A Review and Comparison of Reciprocating Engine Operation Using Solid Fuels

The literature review indicated that operation of solid reciprocating engine has been attempted for nearly a hundred years. Problems which have been encountered continuously have involved the fuel delivery system, solid-particle combustion, and engine component wear. Recent investigations (1979-1982) using coal/oil, carbon-black/oil, and coal/water slurries in a variety of reciprocating engines have yielded encouraging results. The use of coal/water slurries is an attractive approach to using solid coal in engines, since fuel handling problems are simpler than using dry-powder fuels, and the slurry is petroleum independent.