MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF ACHIEVING DISPERSION CONDITIONS WHEN HEATING A GEL-LIKE FUEL PARTICLE IN A HEATED AIR ENVIRONMENT

A mathematical model of nucleation center formation during heating of a particle of gel fuel (oil-filled cryogel based on an organic polymer thickener) in a high-temperature air environment has been developed. The model describes a group of interrelated physicochemical processes in the condensed phase and gaseous medium (inert heating, melting, separation of liquid components, their evaporation) under conditions of radiant-convective heating with source temperature variation in the range of 673–1073 K. Comparison of numerical simulation results with experimental data obtained under identical conditions has made it possible to establish the applicability of the developed mathematical model and numerical solution algorithm for predicting the achievement of dispersion conditions for a drop of gel fuel melt.