LASER-INDUCED IGNITION OF PULVERIZED FUEL-PARTICLES

Preliminary experimental investigations into laser-induced ignition of pulverized fuel particles were performed. Three size fractions of six fuels, ranging from brown coal to a petroleum coke, were studied. The laser source (wavelength 1.06-mu-m) was a Nd:Yag laser (continuous wave) with variable output power. A 100/140-mu-m multimode optical fiber delivered the laser power to a single particle. The minimum optical power required to ignite a particle was determined and related to the coal type and particle size. Three different ignition mechanisms, depending on the volatile matter content of the particle, were observed. A brief comparison with other ignition techniques is presented.