The
Mill Creek Company
| COMPANY/LOCATION: |
The Mill Creek Company, Houston, Texas |
| PRODUCT: |
Engineering and technology development |
| YEARS IN BUSINESS: |
26 |
| EMPLOYEES: |
3 |
| SITUATION: |
The Mill Creek Company requested research and development assistance
on a process to upgrade low-rank coal by using microwave energy.
The purpose of the project was to help satisfy a long-standing utility
industry need to increase the availability of low-sulfur coal. The
client had become aware of the Oak Ridge Centers for Manufacturing Technology
(ORCMT) through reports of their use of microwave applications for environmental
remediation. |
| PROJECT: |
An ORCMT expert on microwave applications advised Mill Creek on the
design of an experimental program and conducted a series of tests to optimize
the stabilization of dried low-rank coals. The process will allow
a wider use of the coal to meet Clean Air Act regulations. |
| RESULTS: |
Charles Spear, owner of Mill Creek, said the information in microwave
applications provided by ORCMT made improvement in both the understanding
and development of the process possible. "Though future royalties
are not easily predictable at this stage of development, the technology
has the potential for major cost savings in billions dollar per year for
utility fuel supply from the Western United States. ORCMT provided
expertise and facilities far beyond the resources of the company.
In fact, assistance on that level cannot be found elsewhere," Spear said. |
PARTNERS:
  
Technical assistances provided to the private sector by
the Oak Ridge Centers for Manufacturing Technology (ORCMT) and its manufacturing
extension partners throughout the United States.
|
