Investigations performed in ICPC RAS show that ignition and combustion of solid fuel under conditions of filtrational combustion can be significantly promoted in superadiabatic combustion regime. Preliminary laboratory experiments performed in ICPC showed that graphite ignites and burns steadily under superadiabatic conditions even at the temperature in the combustion zone of ~1500°C. Then, the principal combustion products are carbon monoxide, as well as hydrogen if steam is present in air. This leads to formation of combustible gases that when mixed with air at outlet from the reactor can give rise to secondary flame outside the filtration zone.
Mineral incombustible components (e.g., concrete pieces) do not prevent but can even activate superadiabatic combustion and can lead to significant raise of local temperature. The mechanism of graphite combustion is similar to that of coal. The main difference is the lower reactivity of graphite and hence the ignition temperature higher than that of coal. The graphite ignition is promoted significantly by zirconium.
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