Differences in the ignition characteristics of coal–water slurries and composite liquid fuel

Abstract

The processes of the inert heating, ignition, and combustion of the drops of typical coal–water slurries and promising composite liquid fuel were experimentally studied with the use of high-speed (to 10⁵ frame/s) video recording facilities. The particles of brown and black coals with of sizes 80–100 μm were used as the basic components of the coal–water slurries and composite liquid fuel. Spent automobile oil (from an internal combustion engine) was also added to the composite liquid fuel (relative mass concentration, 0–15%). The characteristic stages of the processes of the inert heating and evaporating of liquid components and the ignition and combustion of coal–water slurries and composite liquid fuel (the initial radii of drops varied from 0.5 to 2 mm) were established. The ignition delay and complete combustion times of the drops of fuel compositions were determined under changes of the temperature of an oxidizing agent (air) in a range from 600 to 900 K at fluid velocities from 0.5 to 5 m/s. Representative temperatures at the centers of coal–water slurry and composite liquid fuel drops were measured at all of the established stages of the combustion initiation process. The necessary and sufficient conditions for the steady ignition of the drops of the test fuel compositions were recognized.