MULTIFUELED THERMAL-ENERGY-CONVERSION SYSTEMS

The objective of the task is to investigate the feasibility of utilizing wood, charcoal, coal, or other locally available fuels found in world-wide areas as a heat source for a thermoelectric generator or small engine-driven generator capable of producing 150 watts of electric power. The study of small steam boilers of minimum size and weight for a solid-fuelfired power source was continued. Control problems were solved by developing a natural-circulation boiler having considerable water and steam storage, and satisfactory opeeration was demonstrated. An available ultrasonic atomizer proved to be too large for a multifuel liquid-fuel burner. Development of a much smaller atomizer is in progress. (Author)