Учёные придумали, как эффективно утилизировать отходы угледобычи

Scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University have proposed a new method for disposing of coal sludge. The method consists of adding artificial gas hydrates to the raw material, which improves the combustion process of waste and significantly reduces the level of anthropogenic emissions.

Waste generated during coal mining is called coal sludge. Their processing and combustion of low-grade coal are important tasks in the energy sector. However, this process is difficult due to the physical and environmental characteristics of the raw materials. Coal sludge ignites poorly, burns at a low temperature and does not burn completely. In addition, a large amount of harmful substances is released during its combustion.

Scientists from the TPU Heat and Mass Transfer Laboratory have proposed a new effective method for disposing of coal sludge. For this, the polytechnics added methane hydrate to the waste, which improved the combustion characteristics of the sludge.

One of the promising areas for the use of gas hydrates is their use as a source of thermal energy, as well as for initiating the combustion of low-grade sludge during their disposal.

Nikita Shlegel, one of the authors of the study, Associate Professor of the Research School of Physics of High-Energy Processes of TPU

The results of experiments showed that gas hydrate is able to significantly improve the ignition of low-grade fuel and increase its efficiency.

For example, when gas hydrate is added to coal, the temperature in the combustion chamber increases by 300 °C, and in the case of coal sludge, by 200 °C.

Water vapor released from the surface of the gas hydrate helps to reduce anthropogenic emissions. Experiments have shown that when such a composite fuel is burned, emissions of sulfur oxide (SO2) are halved, carbon monoxide (CO) by 28%, nitrogen oxide (NO) by 43%, and carbon dioxide (CO2) by 21%.

The developed technology for creating composite fuel based on coal sludge and gas hydrates may find application in heating residential premises in remote settlements in the future.

Earlier, a unique hydrogen sensor was created at the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI. This sensor is capable of operating in extreme temperatures — from -150 °C to +450 °C.