Goman V. Increasing the effectiveness of the processes of producing and combusting composite fuel by using hydrocavitation activation

The dissertation deals with increasing the effectiveness of producing and combusting new kinds of composite fuel by using hydrocavitation activation to obtain extra thermal energy and recycle moisture-containing industrial waste by using the firing method. The basic criteria were found for evaluating composite fuel quality and the requirements to the equipment for its production and combustion. Mathematical, numerical and physical simulation methods were used to develop a new type of hydrocavitation device to produce composite fuel, and a hydrovortex nozzle and burner for combustion of the produced fuel mixtures. Using a two-rotor hydrocavitation device helped the first time to produce fuel emulsions containing an aqueous phase within 50 % with increased stability and improved rheological properties. Using a hydrovortex nozzle and a burner enables combustion of high-viscosity composite fuels containing solid particles and with an aqueous phase up to 60 % mass. A methodology was developed for determining the effect of hydrocavitation activation on the indicators of the processes of producing and combusting composite fuels. With the purpose of experimental application of the given methodology, a mobile energy technological research complex was developed and made. It enables determining the impact of hydrocavitation activation on the thermophysical, fluid dynamic, and physico-chemical characteristics of the composite fuels produced and the energy technological indicators of their combustion. The application of the developed methodology and energy technological complex enabled working out technology regulations for producing and combusting fuel mixtures in industrial conditions directly at power facilities. It also helped determine the basic indicators of energy effectiveness and environmental performance of the developed technologies, followed by issuing recommendations on their industrial introduction. For the first time, the dependence of an increasing gross calorific value of a composite fuel on the hydrocavitation activation running conditions during its production was established. This allowed determining effective hydrocavitation equipment operating conditions for producing and combusting the given kind of energy resource. The methodology of hydrocavitation activation during the production and combustion of composite fuel based on the stillage residue of petroleum refining and sludge from public-owned treatment works was introduced at LLC MPVF Energetik. Industrial tests proved the possibility of saving hydrocarbon resources up to 10 % during the generation of thermal and electric energy. Experiments proved that applying hydrocavitation activation during the production and combustion of composite fuel based on off-spec hydrocarbons and moisture-containing industrial waste makes it possible to solve two interrelated problems at the same time: producing extra thermal energy and recycling environmentally hazardous industrial waste by using the firing method.