Gel Fuels: Preparing, Rheology, Atomization, Combustion

Abstract

The review presents the results of experimental and theoretical studies obtained in recent years within the framework of the main areas of research of gel fuels: choice of component composition and substantiation of fuel preparation technologies and their rheological characteristics; fuel transportation and atomization processes; and the processes of their ignition and combustion. The main advantages of gel fuels in comparison with widely used liquid and solid fuels are considered. The advantages and disadvantages of known experimental approaches to the study of the combustion processes of gel fuels are analyzed. The well-known physical and mathematical models of gel fuels ignition are given, including those under conditions of melt droplets dispersion. The tendencies of further development of gel fuels within the framework of the combustion theory are formulated.