2nd annual report

Abstract

The Capsule Pipeline Research Center is devoted to performing research in capsule pipeline so that this emerging technology can be developed for early use to transport solids including coal, grain, other agricultural products, solid wastes (including hazardous wastes), machine parts and a host of other materials and commodities. The mission of the first four years is to focus on the coal log pipeline (CLP) technology. The Center is now near completion of its second-year research. Areas of research covered under Core Program of the second year include hydrodynamics of coal log flow, wear of coal logs in pipelines, pressure transients in capsule pipeline, pumping and control of coal log flow, fabrication and surface-treatment of coal logs, hydrophobic binder, and legal research in coal log pipeline. The Non-Core Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Electric Power Research Institute explores the economics and commercialization of CLP, and how to handle coal logs and treat CLP effluent water at power plants. Ten faculty members and more than 30 students from both the Columbia Campus and the Rolla Campus participated in the second-year research. Important research findings and accomplishments during the second year include: success in making durable binderless coal logs by compaction, initial success in binderless-log, underwater extrusion, improvement in the injection system and the pump-bypass scheme, advancement in the state-of-the-art of predicting the energy loss (pressure drop) along both stationary and moving capsules, improved understanding of the water absorption properties of coal logs, better control in coal log surface treatment, better understanding of the mechanism of coal log abrasion, and completion of aspects of legal research dealing with water rights, eminent domain right, and easement right on using existing oil pipelines for coal log transport. The second-year work also involved significant technology transfer activities including company seminars, involving companies in CLP research, preparation of a design/operational manual on CLP, issuance of a second newsletter, completion of a video tape on CLP, and presentation of research findings at several national meetings.