Abstract
<jats:p>The paper considers the principle of manufacturing stable water-fuel emulsions using three main technological stages: thermal jet dosing, membrane emulsification, and automated control of emulsion homogeneity based on turbidity sensor readings. Traditional methods of emulsion production ensure the grinding of dispersed phase droplets in the range from 1 to 10 microns, with the size of the droplets directly affecting the combustion efficiency of water-fuel emulsions and the reduction of emissions into the atmosphere. Modern technologies for the production of water-fuel emulsions use classical methods of disperse phase dosing, which means that a significant amount of energy is spent on the initial mixing of the emulsion before the start of the droplet grinding process. The proposed system provides for drop-by-drop dosing of water into fuel using thermal jet dispensers. At the first stage of dosing, a coarse emulsion is formed. Further processing of the coarse emulsion is carried out by repeatedly passing the emulsion through a membrane module until the required homogeneity with the expected droplet size of the dispersed phase is achieved. The system implements multi-level monitoring of the emulsion production process at each stage and stability control using turbidity sensors. TSW-30 turbidity sensors were experimentally tested on samples of water-diesel emulsion with water content of 10%, 15% and 20%. Turbidity values can be used to track emulsion stability loss, the onset of coalescence and complete separation. A structural diagram of an integrated automated plant for the production of water-fuel emulsions is presented, where decisions on dosing, the number of recirculation cycles through the membrane and the completion of the process are made based on the results of turbidity measurements. </jats:p>