In this paper, we conducted an experimental investigation on water droplets gravitating in a layer of typical forest fuel (as illustrated by pine needle litter) in the course of its thermal decomposition. We used a high-speed (200 fps) video recording system, Tema Automotive software with continuous tracking of a moving object as well as a set of low-inertia (no more than 0.1 second) thermocouples. Similar experiments were performed at moderate temperatures (below the onset temperature of forest fuel pyrolysis, i. e. about 300 K). Two approaches were used: continuous tracking of a moving water droplet using high-speed video recording and registration of a droplet path using the readings of thermocouples placed at different levels in a forest fuel layer. We determined the typical depths of an forest fuel layer that water droplets reach with the initial volume of these droplets ranging from 90 to 900 µL. The typical velocities of water droplets were calculated at different depths of the forest fuel layer. We also determined the share of the mass of water spent in an forest fuel layer on evaporation and cooling of the material down to the temperatures below those of thermal decomposition. Finally, we identified the physical processes influencing water droplets moving through the layers of forest fuel heated up to the high temperatures similar to those of thermal decomposition.

This paper examines the laws of stable ignition of organic coal-water slurry containing petrochemicals (CWSP). The CWSP is based on the filter cake of coal and scavenge oil. The experiments are performed for individual CWSP particles soaring in a special setup. The temperature and velocity of an oxidizer flow are varied between 500-1200 K, and 0.5-3 m/s. The dimensions (longitudinal and transverse) of particles range are from 0.5 mm to 5 mm. The study indicates how the shape of a fuel particle (sphere, ellipsoid, and polyhedron) influences its ignition characteristics (delay time, minimum temperature, modes, stages). Based on the experimental results, the paper explains why the surface configuration of particles influences the conditions of heat transfer with an oxidizer. The results obtained for soaring particles are compared with the results for fixed CWSP particles having different surface configurations (sphere, ellipsoid, and polyhedron). In general, the study may contribute to the expansion of the fuel resource base. The experimental data may be used for the development of the technologies of burning CWSP prepared by recycling traditional fuels. As a result of this study, several recommendations for the practical application of research results are made.