SUBSTANTIATION OF THE METHOD FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY AND RELIABILITY OF FLUID COUPLINGS IN MINE CONVEYOR DRIVES WHEN USING WATER EMULSIONS AS A OPERATING FLUID

The article addresses the urgent problem of increasing the reliability and efficiency of constant-fill safety-start fluid couplings in the drives of underground scraper chain conveyors. An analysis of the use of various types of operating fluids is conducted in terms of ensuring fire safety and optimizing key operational characteristics. The study aims to establish regularities between the mechanical characteristics of fluid couplings and the concentration and properties of operating fluids—specifically, water-oil emulsions of the HFA-E type. The research was carried out through bench testing of a serial GPE345U fluid coupling at various fill volumes and concentrations of Solcenic Pl Plus emulsol. It has been experimentally proven that increasing the emulsol concentration in the operating fluid significantly improves mechanical characteristics during transient operating modes of the fluid coupling, while minimizing heat generation and excessive energy losses. The scientific novelty lies in identifying the deviations in the behavior of water-oil emulsions from the laws of classic Newtonian fluids within the flow passage of fluid couplings. The practical value of the results consists in justifying the feasibility of using a 10% HFA-E type emulsion as the operating fluid of a fluid coupling to significantly improve efficiency and durability indicators.