Device for identifying the location of coal ropes

An apparatus for detecting the presence of a concentrated stream of pulverized coal within a pulverized coal and air mixture that is flowing through a coal delivery pipe having an internal cross section comprising:

• at least one rod that is configured so as to extend to a plurality of lateral locations within said coal delivery pipe and that is operative to flex when contacted by a concentrated stream of pulverized coal;
• a strain gauge operatively connected to said at least one rod so as to generate an electrical signal for the plurality of the lateral locations based upon the amount of flexing to which said at least one rod to which said strain gauge is operatively connected is subjected;
• and a processor operative to process each electrical signal that is generated by said strain gauge and that is received by said processor in order to thereby determine at least one of either a) a location having a highest generated electrical signal indicating a coal rope, or b) the density of the concentrated stream of pulverized coal at one or more of the plurality of lateral locations within said coal delivery pipe.