Effect of cavitation treatment of coal-water slurries on a droplet average size in a jet

Abstract

Relevance. Transition to environmentally friendly energy technologies, due to modern requirements for environmental protection, involves the search and creation of new energy sources, including fuels. One of the ways to meet these requirements and maintain the same level of energy production by thermal power plants is the transition to multicomponent fuels. The most promising and affordable boiler fuels from the point of view of energy, ecology and economy are coal-water slurries. In this regard, the study of the properties and characteristics of such fuels is relevant in many countries. Aim. Experimental studies of the effect of the coal-water fuel cavitation treatment duration on a droplet average size in a jet after spraying with a pneumatic nozzle and substantiation of the efficiency of such approach for practical application. Object. Experimental studies were carried out with coal-water slurries based on long-flame coal (D grade) with addition of 10 and 20 wt % by weight of pyrogenetic liquid. A slurry, consisting of just coal and water, without the addition of pyrogenetic liquid, was used as a reference sample. Method. The coal-water slurries were prepared in a rotary hydrodynamic cavitation generator. A pneumatic nozzle with external mixing was used to spray the coal-water slurries. The average size of fuel droplets after spraying was determined using the Interferometric Particle Imaging method. Results. Experiments on the preparation of coal-water slurries with pyrogenetic liquid showed an increase in the dynamic viscosity of the fuel. An increase in the duration of treatment of the slurries in a rotary hydrodynamic cavitation generator reduced the viscosity by 54%. The average size of droplets in the jet was reduced by 22%.