Autori: V. A. Soloiu, Y. Yoshihara, K. Nishiwaki, T. Kako, M. Hiraoka

Editorial: ASME, The 24th WORLD CONGRESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON COMBUSTION ENGINES TECHNOLOGY- CIMAC, Kyoto, p.14, 2004.

Rezumat:

: In Eco-Technology Research Center of Rits University, comprehensive research was done to develop the industrial production of water-polymer fuel emulsions and to apply them for combustion in power generating plants instead of traditional fuels. The employment of water-polymer fuel emulsions is intended to save natural resources (heavy fuel oil) and would reduce NOx emissions into the atmosphere during combustion. In the experiments, automotive recycled polypropylene of high average molecular weight was used in the production of polymer fuel and successfully emulsified with water using surfactants. The kinematic viscosity of the emulsified polymer fuels was measured, and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) were conducted to investigate the distillation and the combustion properties.
The results of the laser investigation of droplets in sprays of the emulsified polymer fuel are presented. Although the emulsified fuel shows a relatively high viscosity, the fuel, non-Newtonian fluid, is able to atomise in spray. The combustion of the new fuels was investigated in an internal combustion engine and proved that emulsified polymer fuels can be successful burned with high efficiency. The study showed that the new emulsification process proposed by the authors is able to produce a new class of fuels from waste plastic, practical for power generation plants, saving resources and improving the environment. The research is continuing to elucidate all the aspects of the industrial application including boiler combustion.

Cuvinte cheie: Alternative Fuel, Waste Plastic, Emulsification, Polymer Fuel, Power Generation