Improvement of working parameters of ships with the use of water-fuel emulsions

Abstract

The object of research is the process of preparing and burning watered fuels on ships. One of the most problematic places in the use of such fuels is the complexity of the process of preparing a water-fuel emulsion and the lack of data that unequivocally indicate the maximum allowable values of water concentration in a marine diesel. As a result of research, it has been established that the presence of water in fuel under certain operating conditions of a marine ship may lead to an improvement in the combustion process. In this case, harmful emissions are reduced, flue gas temperature decreases and fuel costs are descended. In the course of the study, a new technology of ship treatment of water-fuel emulsions was used. The proposed method of mixing water with fuel provided structural changes in the molecular composition of the emulsion in comparison with the initial structure of hydrocarbons and provided increased dispersion when it was sprayed in the combustion flame. The basis for creating a technology for preparing water-fuel emulsions was two processes – cavitation and mechanical mixing of water and fuel at high speeds. It has been found that the improvement of the main performance indicators of ships in various load modes of the main engine can be achieved with a water concentration in the fuel of up to 15 % . This is due to the fact that the quality of fuel combustion increases due to a decrease in the deposits and in sediments on the inner surfaces of the working cylinders. The process of using water-fuel emulsions on ships has a number of features that are determined by the used equipment. A very important issue is the question of the sustainability of the combustion flame created by the injectors of the ship’s main engine. Due to the quality preparation of the water-fuel emulsion, a decrease in the total fuel consumption is observed while maintaining the ship’s performance at a constant level. Compared to similar ships operating on standard fuel, the reduction of thermal stress of the ship’s main engine is achieved by reducing the temperature of flue gases emitted into the atmosphere.