Coal Powder Research Articles

Experimental Investigation on Bituminite Dust Suppression Characteristics of a Bonding-Wetting Composite Dust Suppressant.

In order to reduce the occupational health hazard of coal dust to miners, surface tension and viscosity tests and bituminous coal powder sedimentation experiments were conducted. A composite dust suppressant with bonding-wetting effects was developed. Meanwhile, based on the FTIR test and peak-differentiating curve fitting, the changes of peak areas of coal samples before and after dust suppressant treatment were investigated, with quantitative analysis on hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups. Gravity drop weight tests and Malvern particle size analyses were carried out. The particle size distribution was studied based on the Boltzmann function model. The characteristic particle size theory was adopted to analyze dust reduction performance and time's effect on the performance. Results show that the surface tension of the composite dust suppressant is 31.02 ± 0.09 mN/m with the viscosity being 84.60 mPa·s for the mixture of 0.1% SDS solution and 0.4% CMC-Na solution being 1:5. The ratio of the hydrophilic group of bituminous coal reaches 97.37% affected by the dust suppressant with a good wetting and cohesiveness effect. The characteristic particle size D 10 of dust increases by 11.77 and 46.67%, D 50 rises by 7.56 and 36.89%, and D 90 grows by 10.56 and 32.96%, respectively. The compressive strengths of the Shenmu coal sample and Lucun coal sample increase by 82.86 and 66.72% compared with that of raw coal after 48 h of dust suppressant treatment. The breakage degree at the end face of treated coal is smaller than that of raw coal. The composite dust suppressant makes the particles in coal more cohesive and effectively weakens the dust-producing property. Research results are of practical significance for improving the effect of water injection on dust reduction.

Design and evaluation of alkali-activated slag-calcined coal gangue cement and the shrinkage control by calcium carbonate whisker

The rapid solidification and significant shrinkage of alkali-activated slag cement are key issues that restrict its practical engineering application. This paper explores the composition design of alkali-activated cements (AAC) with slow coagulation and shrinkage reduction. This paper adjusts the proportion of slag (SG) and calcined coal gangue powder (CCGP), regulates the content of Na2O·2.4SiO2-NaOH-Na2CO3 ternary activator components, and uses calcium carbonate whiskers (CW) instead of SG to prepare AAC with slow coagulation and shrinkage reduction. When the activator is composed of (66 %) Na2O·2.4 SiO2-(2 %) NaOH-(32 %) Na2CO3 mixed composition, the CO32- and Ca2+ in the system react preferentially to produce CaCO3. The decrease of Ca2+ concentration delays the formation of C-(A)-S-H, resulting in the initial and final setting time of AAC reaching 334 min and 346 min, respectively. When the CW substitution rate is 3 %, the 28d compressive strength of AAC reaches 102.2 MPa. The 49d drying shrinkage of the AAC is 7020μm/m and the 49d autogenous shrinkage is 2387μm/m. This is attributed to the combined effect of enhancement mechanisms such as whisker bridging, crack deflection, whisker pullout, whisker–matrix coalition pullout and whisker breakage. This study establishes the relationship between the composition and performance of high performance AAC, which is significance for the resource utilization of coal gangue and the practical engineering application of AAC.

Movement characteristics of coal powders at bottom of coalbed methane well under jet flow

AbstractThe removal and discharge of coal powders from coalbed methane wellbore is the key to maintaining continuous production. For this reason, based on the submerged jet theory, the force and migration starting conditions of coal powder particles deposited at the bottom of the coalbed methane well are analyzed by analyzing the cohesiveness of coal powders, and a model for the starting and migration of coal powders at the bottom of the well under submerged jet conditions is established; Considering the adhesion between coal dust, the adhesion coefficient is used to characterize the adhesion between particles, a mechanical model of coal dust particles deposited at the bottom of the well is established, and the corresponding calculation formula for the outlet flow rate of the coal dust cleaning nozzle is derived. The fluid mechanics parameters of the bottom of the well coal dust cleaning under different conditions are obtained, and the numerical simulation method is used to simulate the whole process of jet flushing of the bottom of the well coal dust deposited, and the effect of the bottom of the well jet flushing of coal dust deposits is analyzed, providing a theoretical basis for the bottom of the well coal dust flushing process.

Pyrolysis characterization and kinetic analysis of typical coals in western China: effects of coal type, particle size and heating rate

ABSTRACT The three typical coals selected in this study (Shuangyi coal (SY), Hengsheng coal (HS) and Ningxia anthracite (NX)) are widely used in western China, but their pyrolysis characteristics have been less studied. In this study, based on the simultaneous thermal analysis-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (STA-FTIR) technique, the effects of different coal types, particle sizes and heating rates on the pyrolysis characteristics of coal powder were investigated. The results showed that the weight loss behaviors of different types of coals with different particle sizes varied, as influenced by the type of coal and heat transfer. When the particle size increased from 170 μm to 380 μm, the weight loss rate decreased by 2.95% and 24.45% for SY and NX coals while increased by 4.81% for HS coals; whereas for the maximum decomposition rate, both SY and HS coals showed an increasing tendency (increased by 2.76% and 9.32%), while NX coals decreased by 21.43%. The R2 of the three coal DTG curves fitted by subcurves was all 0.999, which proved that the nature of coal weight loss was the coupling effect of certain types of chemical reactions or covalent bond breakage. Real-time infrared spectroscopy was combined with covalent bonding to explore the major gas products and their influence by particle size. The activation energies at different temperatures were calculated by the Coats-Redfern method, in which the activation energies of the fast pyrolysis stage of HS coal were 1.68 and 2.75 times higher than those of the other two stages, 1.79 and 3.03 times higher than those of SY coal, and 1.99 and 1.11 times higher than those of NX coal, respectively.

Study on the influence of baffle height and angle on the performance of coarse powder separator in power plant based on CFD-DPM method

In this study, the two-phase motion characteristics in a coarse powder separator were investigated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method, discrete particle model (DPM) and isokinetic sampling experimental method, and the structure of the coarse powder separator was optimized to improve the efficiency of the separator. The results showed that the particle separation in different separation zones was also dominated by gravity separation and centrifugal separation, respectively. When the baffle angle was increased from 20° to 60° at a low mounting height, the tangential velocity in the separation zone was reduced by 67 % and the axial velocity was increased by 33 %. The effects of the baffle angle on the tangential and axial velocities were weakened with the rise of the baffles mounting height. The optimum operating condition of the chosen powder separator involved a baffle angle α 30°, a baffle height H = 6.27 m, and a inlet velocity v = 19.3 m/s. The fineness of coal powder at the fine powder outlet was reduced by 60 % and the fineness of coal powder at the coarse powder return port was improved by 43 % for the optimized model compared with the original coarse powder separator.

The performance of autoclaved aerated concrete prepared by arenaceous rock coal gangue powder instead of fly ash: The effect of Ca/Si ratio

The use of uncalcined arenaceous rock coal gangue powder (ACP) instead of fly ash as a siliceous raw material to produce autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) is a potential method for achieving low energy consumption and high-efficiency utilisation of ACP. The effects and mechanism of the Ca/Si ratio (C/S) on the slurry and physical and mechanical properties of ACP-based AAC (AAAC) and fly ash-based AAC (FAAC) were studied. The results show that the compressive strength of FAAC decreases first and then increases with C/S, while the compressive strength of AAAC increases with C/S increasing. When the C/S is 0.73–0.93, the compressive strength of AAAC was 89.3–165.6 % lower than that of FAAC, and the thermal conductivity was 3.1–10.9 % higher. This is mainly related to the morphology, distribution characteristics and pore structure of tobermorite crystals in different AAC, and the morphology and quantity of tobermorite crystals are mainly affected by the amount of active Si4+ dissolved in the siliceous raw material.

Investigation on the influence of waste-based fillers on the mechanical and thermal characteristics of rigid polyurethane foams

An investigation was conducted to analyze the impact of incorporating coal powder particles at different weight ratios (5, 10, 15, 25, and 35) on the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity coefficient of the polyurethane polymer. The thermal conductivity coefficient of the samples was calculated using Holmarc's Lee's Disc apparatus device. The mechanical properties like compressive, tensile, and bending strengths were measured using a universal machine. The results indicated that increasing the coal powder ratio leads to an improvement in the thermal insulation ability due to a decrease in the value of thermal conductivity. Also, the addition of these percentages led to a rise in the values of the mechanical qualities represented by the compressive strength, especially at the ratio of 25 wt. %, with a value equal to 2.79 MPa (MPa). The flexural resistance and tensile strength increase at a ratio of 35 wt. %, with values equal to 20.4 MPa and 2.86 MPa respectively. The results indicate that the addition of coal powder enhances the ability of thermal conductivity at the ratios (5 %, 10) wt. %, with values equal to 0.119 W/m ºC and 0.114 W/m ºC, respectively, by increasing the thermal conductivities of the samples. The aim of this study is, investigate the effect of filler used coal powder waste on the mechanical and thermal properties of PU. The filler materials show the advantages of recycling waste. Filler influences the morphology and strengthens the brittleness. Additionally, the technology of polyurethane materials conforms to the use of coal powder. The overall amount of energy used to produce PU composites is decreased when waste of filler is used to partially replace petrochemical components

Simulation and verification of discrete element parameter calibration of pulverized coal particles

ABSTRACT To enhance the simulation efficiency of the EDEM discrete element numerical simulation software for coal powder mineral particles, experimental data on the rest angle of coal powder particles were collected as the response variable. Five parameters related to coal powder particles within the Hertz-Mindlin no-slip contact model were selected for investigation. Initially, the Plackett-Burman experiment identified three parameters: collision restitution coefficient, static friction coefficient, and rolling friction coefficient, significantly influencing the resting angle. Subsequently, the steepest ascent experiment determined the significant parameter ranges as follows: the collision restitution coefficient ranged from 0.20 to 0.40, the particle-particle static friction coefficient ranged from 0.30 to 0.50, and the particle-particle dynamic friction coefficient ranged from 0.06 to 0.10. Finally, the second-order regression model for the angle of repose and the saliency parameters was developed and optimized using the Box-Behnken experimental design. The following parameter combination was obtained: the collision recovery coefficient was 0.30, the particle-particle static friction coefficient was 0.49, and the particle-particle dynamic friction coefficient was 0.09. This study aimed to compare the angle of repose between the simulation experiment and the actual experiment. The relative error was only 1.02%, indicating that the simulation experiment achieved the optimal parameter combination.

Study on the Deashing of Lignite with Hydrochloric Acid/Sodium Fluoride Leaching, Assisted by Microwave and Ultrasonic Waves.

This study was aimed at investigating the effects of adding sodium fluoride (NaF) and using the assistance of ultrasonic and microwave energy on the removal efficiency of ash content during the hydrochloric acid (HCl) chemical leaching process of lignite samples from Zhaotong, Yunnan, China. Chemical leaching was conducted on lignite samples from Zhaotong, Yunnan, China, under the experimental conditions of time (30-120 min), temperature (55-95 °C), microwave power (240-800 W), ultrasonic power (25-100%), and NaF addition concentration (0.2-1.2 M). The addition of NaF greatly improved the removal efficiency of ash content from lignite. Under optimized conditions, the addition of NaF increased the removal rate of ash content from lignite from 25% to 65.27%. The microwave-assisted deashing of lignite can significantly improve the deashing efficiency, with positive implications for the microstructure regulations of lignite. Ultrasonic-assisted deashing can lower the temperature for coal powder burnout and enhance the combustion performance of coal.

Optimizing surface finish in FDM-printed polycarbonate spur gears through abrasive flow finishing: insights from physics and material science perspectives

In recent times, the usage of polymers has experienced notable growth across diverse manufacturing sectors. Polymeric gears, integral to automation, material handling systems, toys, and household appliances, have become ubiquitous. Although additive manufacturing techniques, especially Three-Dimensional (3D) printing, offer versatile applications, they grapple with challenges, notably poor surface finishing attributed to layer accumulation. This work explores the field of abrasive flow machining (AFM) in experimental settings using FDM-printed polymeric gears. The AFM medium concoction involves coal ash powder as the foundational material, EDM oil as the carrier fluid, and the infusion of glycerin as additives. Rigorous investigations were undertaken to pinpoint the optimal viscosity of the AFM medium and refine process parameters with a central focus on enhancing surface quality. A Taguchi L9 Design of Experiment (DOE) was meticulously crafted for parameter optimization using the Minitab statistical software. The investigation established a functional relationship between the output parameter (surface roughness) and key input variables (layer thickness, abrasive percentage, abrasive mesh size, and finishing time). The maximum level of AFM media optimization was attained at 33% abrasive concentration, 220 abrasive mesh size, and 60% liquid synthesizer. Additionally, the results of the investigation showed that a media viscosity of 0.50 Pa-sec, layer thickness of 0.1, and culminating time of 45 min were the optimal values for the most % improvement in surface roughness. The initial surface roughness underwent a profound reduction from 12.30 μm to 0.30 μm, marking an exceptional improvement of 97.56%. This inquiry contributes significant insights into the refinement of AFM parameters for elevating the surface finish of FDM-printed polymeric gears, promising enhanced performance across diverse applications.

Numerical simulation of the effect of coaxial and cross-axis injection modes on pulverized coal combustion in the raceway of blast furnace tuyere

The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of the angle of the pulverized coal (PC) injection lance on the combustion characteristics of fuel in the raceway of blast furnace tuyeres. Using FLUENT software, a Euler-Lagrange three-dimensional numerical model was constructed to analyze the influence of different positions of blast furnace tuyere coal powder injection lance (coaxial and cross-axis) on key parameters such as temperature distribution, gas flow, and combustion efficiency. The results demonstrate that adjusting the angle of the injection lance significantly modifies the average and peak temperatures in the raceway, while the composition of gas components remains relatively stable. When the injection lance angle is 10°, the average temperature and peak temperature in the raceway are 2294 K and 2747 K, respectively. When the injection lance angle is 12°, the combustion efficiency of the PC reaches 80.8%. This study reveals the significant impact of the injection lance angle on the combustion process. Especially at an angle of 12°, the combustion efficiency of the blast furnace significantly improves. With coaxial injection, the combustion rate increases as the distance between the injection lance tip and the tuyere increases. This paper is instructive for the optimization of the blast furnace combustion system, which improve fuel utilization efficiency and reduce environmental emissions. This paper provides practical recommendations for adjusting blast furnace operational parameters, offering insights for achieving more efficient and environmentally friendly industrial production.

Comparative study on the compression characteristics of coal and biomass powder bed

Biomass substitution for fossil energy is desirable to achieve carbon emission reductions, and the storage and transportation process of biomass is governed by its compressibility. The compression characteristics of pulverized coal, rice husk and lignocellulose were compared under mechanical and gas pressurization, respectively. The experimental results showed that the descending order of relative packing density (RPD) was lignocellulose > rice husk > pulverized coal under mechanical pressurization, while an opposite trend was observed under gas pressurization. The cohesion properties were rationally correlated with the packing behavior of powder bed, and the differences in RPD order were discussed as the higher cohesion corresponding to a larger void fraction. For mechanical pressurization, biomass had higher void fraction, which was directly linked to larger RPD. On the contrary, gas permeated easily into the biomass powder bed, and the lower pressure drop decreased the compression capacity of gas pressurization. In addition, a model for predicting the RPD was proposed with an error of ± 5 %.

Effect of Exhaust Pipe Size on Separation Efficiency of Cyclone Separator Used in Power Plant

In order to grasp the influence of exhaust pipe size on cyclone flow fields and improve the recovery and utilization rate of coal powder in power plant, the flow characteristics and the separation capacity of the fine coal powder separator in power plant were investigated through numerical simulation. The Reynolds stress model was employed to model the turbulent flow. The Eulerian-Lagrangian computational procedure was used to predict particles tracking in the cyclone. The particle trajectories were simulated using the discrete random walk. Five cyclone types with different insertion lengths of the exhaust pipe at the same other geometric dimensions were considered. It was found that tangential velocity played a dominant role in the radial distribution of particles, which was mainly represented by Rankine vortex. When the insertion length of the exhaust pipe was increased from 1638 mm to 5100 mm, the grade efficiency of 5–12 μm particles was increased by 19%, and the pressure drop reduced by 8%.

Modeling on rapid prediction and cause diagnosis of boiler combustion efficiency

Presently, a method for determining pulverized coal burnout rate (PCBR) was developed on kinetics combustion model. Proposed method can promptly track influence of air coal ratio (ACR), boiler load, uniformity index (UI), coal powder fineness (CPF), particle size, and air powder mixing uniformity (PMUC) on PCBR. Moreover, developed method with fewer computations, time-saving, simplicity and low-cost can be exploited to diagnose decreasing causation of combustion efficiency.Results indicate, for anthracite and lean coal, ACR should be maintained near optimal value with 9.39–11.59 kg/kg to achieve consummate combustion efficiency. Correspondingly, higher and appropriate ACR with 10.87–12.0 kg/kg and 7.18–7.94 kg/kg should be maintained for bituminous coal and lignite. 0.1 UI improving achieves 0.18 % upgrading in PCBR. PCBR is more sensitive to UI variation above 75 % BMCR. More significant effect is presented for lean coal and lignite with changing PMUC especially below 50 % BMCR. Basically 0.1 PMUC improving achieves 0.55 enhancement in PCBR below 50 % BMCR. Concurrently 0.7 increment is delivered for anthracite and lean coal. Coal with high volatile content causes larger particle sizes of coal powder to burn out at furnace outlet. Investigation result can predict potential financial savings from unburnt carbon (UC) reduction.

Study on the Law of True Triaxial Hydraulic Fracturing by Acoustic Emission Monitoring.

Hydraulic fracturing generates fractures in a coal seam, which has been extensively used in coal mining and disaster management. To study the influences of water injection pressure and time on the propagation of hydraulic fracture, we conducted true triaxial hydraulic fracturing experiments under acoustic emission monitoring. Five briquette specimens were prepared by molding the mixture of coal powder, cement, river sand, and distilled water under 60 MPa to simulate the properties of coal seam. True triaxial loading was used to simulate the in situ stress environment of the coal seam. Hydraulic fracturing experiments on the test specimens were conducted under different water injection pressures and times. The following conclusions have been drawn. At the fixed injection time, increasing water injection pressure promotes the propagation of hydraulic fracture and the migration of water in the coal seam after the fractures are connected. The number of fractures increases from 3 to 8 as the water injected pressure increased from 3 to 9 MPa. Under the constant water injection pressure, the increase in longitudinal wave velocity in the test specimen decreases with the prolongation of water injection time. When the water reaches the action boundary of the water injection pressure, the water stops moving. At this moment, the water injection time has no effect on the longitudinal wave velocity anymore. The fracturing influence range can be increased by increasing the water injection pressure to produce a fracture network of a large radius with many fractures. Appropriately prolonging hydraulic fracturing time can ensure that the fracturing fluid fully moistens the coal seam and thus effectively reduces dust pollution.

Study on detonation characteristics of pulverized coal and evolution law of detonation residue

This study explores the detonation characteristics and compositional changes of pulverized coal, focusing on its use in Rotary Detonation Wave (RDW) technologies. While pulverized coal has shown high fuel efficiency in RDW settings, transitioning from theory to practical detonation engineering presents substantial scientific and technical hurdles. A key issue is the reprocessing of detonation byproducts for in-situ coal mine gob filling, a topic that has received little attention. Utilizing advanced methods like X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), this paper investigates the micro-morphology, composition, and aromatic structures of gas–solid products pre and post-detonation at the Tashan Coal Mine's 2305 working face. Results indicate that coal dust from the underground mining face has enhanced detonation characteristics, with the addition of coal powder fuel extending the gas detonation limits. This benefits economic aspects by reducing reliance on gas fuel and lowering detonation fuel costs. The highest recorded detonation wave velocity was 2450 m/s, 14.8% greater than that of coal dust from external sources, suggesting more effective energy release and pressure gain. Furthermore, the study links detonation combustion intensity to coal's aromatic properties, noting a post-detonation aromaticity index (I) of 0.4941. This indicates an improvement in the aromatic structure under high-temperature conditions, vital for coal's reactivity and energy efficiency in RDW applications. This research not only deepens the understanding of coal dust combustion mechanisms but also advances clean coal utilization and deep coal fluidization mining, addressing significant RDW technological challenges.

Utilizing pulverized waste polyvinyl chloride film as an alternative reducing agent for iron ore reduction

The research into using waste plastics as a substitute for coal powder and coke as a reducing agent has garnered significant attention, driven by various factors such as increased environmental concerns and growing interest in sustainable materials. This study investigates the process of carbothermal reduction using a mixture of waste polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and iron concentrate. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that the heat-treated polyvinyl chloride products (PVC370) exhibited superior reaction properties compared to anthracite. Reduction tests indicated that PVC370-bearing pellets were less sensitive to temperature changes than anthracite-bearing pellets, highlighting a potential advantage of PVC370 in industrial applications. Moreover, the metallization ratio of PVC370-bearing pellets exceeded that of anthracite-bearing pellets before reaching 1150 °C. At a temperature of 1100 °C and a C/O of 0.8, the metallization ratio of PVC370-bearing pellets peaked at 83.17 %. During the reduction process of PVC370-bearing pellets, hydrogen (H2), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen chloride (HCl) were efficiently released at relatively low temperatures. The efficiency of gas release in the reduction process could be attributed to certain factors, such as the composition or structure of the PVC370-bearing pellets. Notably, the quality of gasses generated during the reduction process of PVC370-bearing pellets is superior to that of anthracite-bearing pellets, even when considering chlorine content.

Performance analysis of self compacting concrete by incorporating fly ash, coal gangue powder, cement kiln dust and recycled concrete powder by absolute volume method

To achieve environmental sustainability and improve material characteristics, this study examines the performance of self-compacting concrete (SCC) that incorporates different industrial by-products, including fly ash (FA), coal gangue powder (CGP), cement kiln dust (CKD), and recycled concrete powder (RCP). Through an experimental program, the research evaluates the fresh and hardened properties of SCC as well as its microstructural features. Slump flow, T50, and V-funnel tests were utilized to evaluate the fresh characteristics, while the compressive strength was the main emphasis of the hardened property at 7, 14, and 28 days of curing periods. To clarify the internal structure of the material and the pozzolanic processes taking place therein, further microstructural investigations were carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Due to pozzolanic reactions and the densification of the microstructure, the results show that adding these industrial by-products not only makes SCC more workable but also gradually increases its compressive strength. In particular, the study shows that combinations with FA, CKD, and RCP perform better than CGP in terms of flowability and strength development. The results highlight the technical advantages of improving concrete qualities through material innovation, in addition to the possible environmental benefits of recycling waste materials in construction.

Coal gangue in asphalt pavement: A review of applications and performance influence

The comprehensive utilization of coal gangue is low, and this causes serious environment problems and security risks. The physical and chemical properties of coal gangue were analyzed in this paper, and the estimated value of different chemical components of coal gangue was counted. The physical properties of coal gangue aggregate were analyzed, and performance and its influencing factors of base course mixture with coal gangue aggregate were studied. The influence of coal gangue powder and coal gangue aggregate on performance of asphalt mortar and asphalt mixture was analyzed, and possible influencing factors and function mechanism were discussed. The results showed that heavy metal elements of coal gangue applied into asphalt pavement is not seeped out. The crushing value, water absorption and flat elongated particles content of coal gangue aggregate are generally high, but the compressive strength of base course with coal gangue aggregate is verified to meet the strength requirement. The performance, volume stability and durability of base course with coal gangue aggregate are closely related to aggregate gradation, the type and dosage of cementations materials and aggregate. The high temperature performance, temperature susceptibility and viscosity of asphalt mortar are improved by the addition of different coal gangue powder, and improvement effect of activated coal gangue powder on asphalt mortar performance is better. The low temperature performance and adhesion property of asphalt mortar with chemical activated coal gangue powder are improved. The physical reaction between asphalt and different coal gangue powder is only taken place. The temperature stability of asphalt mixture with coal gangue coarse aggregate has achieved the specification requirement. The water stability and low temperature fracture performance of asphalt mixture with fine aggregate replaced by coal gangue are improved. However, the high temperature performance of above mixture is lower than conventional hot mix asphalt mixture. The research results will provide reference for coal gangue applied into asphalt pavement.

Investigation of Engineering Properties and Solidification Mechanism of Loess by Sodium Silicate Alkali-Activated Coal Gangue Powder

The aim of this study is to investigate the engineering properties and solidification mechanism of loess through the use of alkali-activated coal gangue powder with sodium silicate. Experimental methods and comprehensive analysis were employed to examine the effects of different proportions of alkali-activated coal gangue powder with sodium silicate on the engineering properties of loess, including mass shrinkage, compressibility, and shear strength. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy was utilized to gain in-depth insights into the interaction and solidification mechanism between loess and alkali-activated coal gangue powder. The results show that the sodium silicate alkali-activated gangue powder curing loess has significantly improved the compressive strength and shear strength of the loess. With a ratio of 7 : 2 : 1, the 28 days compressive strength of solidified loess is 1.7 MPa, and the shear strength is 67.92 kPa, which is 1.91 and 2.13 times the 28 days compressive strength and shear strength of unmixed gangue powder and sodium silicate specimens respectively. The hydration–hydrolysis reaction, ion-exchange reaction, and volcanic ash reaction of the gangue powder under an alkaline environment generated hydrides that filled the pores between soil particles, enhanced the interparticle cohesion, and made the internal structure of the specimens denser, improving the engineering performance of loess solidification. The proposed sodium silicate alkali-activated gangue powder curing loess mechanism can provide a theoretical reference for the engineering application of gangue powder and the curing modification of loess.