Foamed emulsion – Fuel on the base of water-saturated oils

Abstract Combustible foamed emulsion is a mixture of oil drops and oxygen bubbles in an aqueous matrix. Such combustible foams represent a perspective type of fuel in whose production water-saturated hydrocarbons can be utilized directly. Experimental results show that even at water content of 90 wt% there still is opportunity of flame propagation in the foam. The paper analyzes an influence of magnesium oxide particles and type of surfactant on the stability of foamed emulsion and the speed of flame propagation in it. The use of magnesium oxide micro-particles promotes the increase in flame speed especially at heightened volume fraction of oil in the initial emulsion. At the same time it causes destabilization of the foam. The use of anionic surfactant instead of surfactant of the mixed type leads to decrease in combustible foam stability and increase in flame speed.