The application of a pulsed electric field to modify the time-temperature characteristics of the birch wood combustion process

Abstract

Abstract The aim of the presented research was to determine the influence of the pulsating electric field on the time-temperature characteristics of the combustion heat of birch wood sawdust. Two variants of the electric field were used in the research - with a field strength of 25 kV·cm-1 and 30 kV·cm-1 and in both cases the number of 300 capacitor discharges (pulses). The results were compared to the untreated PEF sample. The parameters selected for the study were the result of previously conducted pilot experiments. As a result of the conducted experiments, it was shown that the pulsating electric field influences the time-temperature characteristics of birch wood. The changes mainly concern the duration of individual process stages and are focused on the main and final period. The decisive factor in changing the properties of sawdust is the intensity of the electric field.