Electric power generation by conventional Rankine cycle heat engines with heat supplied by line-focus solar collectors was investigated. The objectives of the study were: (1) determine which of four types of line-focus solar collectors coupled with turbine-generators of conventional design has the potential to produce low-cost electric power with thermal energy in 100 to 300/sup 0/C range; (2) develop performance and cost relationships for organic Rankine cycle engines for power generation capacities from 3 MW/sub e/ to 300 MW/sub e/; (3) develop conceptual storage units for organic fluid systems. Evaluation procedures and study results and conclusion are presented and discussed in detail. (WHK)

Fly ash derived from coal combustion contains predominantly spherical particles which consist of an insoluble aluminosilicate glass containing several mineral impurities. An outer layer, 50 to 300 A thick, is rich in many potentially toxic trace elements in the form of simple and complex sulfates. This layer, which is soluble in water, contains essentially all of the particulate sulfur present in fly ash in the form of sulfate. The actual mechanism(s) of formation of particulate sulfate salts are ill-defined but probably involve adsorption of condensation of gaseous sulfur species onto fly ash surfaces within the power plant stack system.