This book addresses the behavior of inorganic material in combustion
systems. The past decade has seen unprecedented improvements in
understanding the rates and mecha- nisms of inorganic transformations
and in developing analytical tools to predict them. These tools range
from improved fuel analysis procedures to predictive computer codes.
While this progress has been met with great enthusiasm within the
research community, the practices of the industrial community remain
largely unchanged. The papers in this book were selected from those
presented at an Engineering Foundation Conference of the same title. All
have been peer reviewed. The intent of the conference was to illustrate
the application of advanced technology to ash-related problems in
boilers and, by so doing, engage the research and industrial communities
in more productive dialog. Those attending the conference generally felt
that we were successful on these counts. We also engaged the industrial
community to a greater extent than ever before in the conference
discussion and presentation. We hope these proceedings will facilitate a
continued and improved interaction between industrial and research
communities. Behavior of inorganic material has long been recognized as
one of the major considerations affecting the design and operation of
boilers that burn ash-producing fuels. The practical problems associated
with the behavior are sometimes catastrophic and spec- tacular, ranging
from major slag falls that damage the bottom of furnaces to complete
plugging of convection passes.
