Abstract: A process is provided for burning a coal water slurry comprising providing clean coal fines of less than 100 mesh at about 50 weight % and water at about 50 weight % by co-firing the coal water slurry in a continuous stream with a separate stream of pulverized coal wherein about 80% of the total BTU output of the furnace is provided from the pulverized coal and approximately 20% of the BTU output is provided from the coal water slurry. First, a quarl in the furnace is preheated using natural gas, for example. The furnace is next fired with a fuel source of 60% pulverized coal and 40% natural gas. A coal water slurry with fines of minus 100 or smaller is subsequently gradually introduced into the furnace as the gas input is gradually decreased.

Abstract: A method for determining the efficiency of float-sink raw material separation units which achieve separation by specific gravity sorting of raw material in particle form introduced to a liquid bath. The efficiency is determined by introducing to the bath, with the raw material in particle form for separation, prepared particles of determined size and specific gravity and detecting the separation location of these prepared particles.