08/11/06: New Astec Phoenix Coal™ Burner Performing Extraordinarily Well
One of the biggest concerns to the asphalt industry today - rising fuel costs. Coal is currently one of the least expensive fuels available. Astec Inc. developed a coal burner, the new Phoenix Coal™, to help hot mix asphalt facilities take advantage of the lower cost of coal. Astec believes that under good operating procedures a coal burner offers a definite competitive advantage.
The efficient, low maintenance Phoenix™ Coal provides substantial fuel cost savings by burning pulverized coal with oil or gas as a support fuel. The Phoenix™ Coal requires no refractory, performs at the same production rates as gas or oil units and is highly responsive to load changes.
Astec recently completed installation of the Phoenix™ Coal at United Co. in Grand Junction, Colorado. Astec Burner Systems manager Michael Swanson says, "the startup went extraordinarily well. It burns coal far more cleanly than we expected and operation is easier than we expected. On it's second day of full operation it made 2800 tons of mix out of a 300 tph plant."
Astec Engineering Vice President Malcolm Swanson reports that after several high production days the burner front showed no damage, wear or distortion. The combustion zone drum flights also showed no damage.
