the gas stream atomizer droplet size is a function of several factors including atomizer design coal particles size distribution type and quantity of stability and flow improver additives apparent viscosity rheological behavior at high shear rates fuel temperature and the amount of energy used to atomize the fuel decreasing the severity of agglomeration may be accomplished by finely grinding the coal particles and redesigning the atomizer or increasing the energy input to the atomizer to reduce droplet sizes in addition to being economically unattractive this approach may not sufficiently limit agglomeration so as to produce ash particle entrainment in the gas stream considering the abrasive nature of cwm fuels consistently good atomizer performance with continuous boiler operation would also be of concern a secondary dispersion of the coal particles as the cwm droplets enter a flame produced several other beneficial effects minimizing or eliminating agglomeration exposes more coal particle surface area for combustion and as a result flame stability was improved in addition both the rate and efficiency of combustion would be increased secondary dispersions of this type have been demonstrated with oil water emulsions and properly prepared coal oil water mixture fuels see reference 8 as these fuels are atomized into a flame front the light hydrocarbons in the oil vaporize and ignite as the vapor burns the temperature of the droplet increases until the boiling point of water is reached at which time the water flashes to steam exploding the.