Development of Electrode of Electric Impulse Chamber for Coal Grinding

The coal industry remains a significant source of environmental pollution. Development of coal–water fuel allows for the reduction of harmful emissions (CO2, SO2, etc.) due to a more complete and environmentally friendly combustion of the fuel, making it an attractive transition solution towards cleaner energy. This study uses electropulse processing, which significantly increased the efficiency of the coal grinding process compared to mechanical action methods (cone mills, drum mills, etc.). The main advantages of electropulse technology are grinding efficiency, reduced high environmental impact (no need for chemical reagents and waste minimization), and the ability to produce coal powder with improved porosity and a larger surface area. The electrode in electropulse devices plays a decisive role in obtaining coal powder for coal–water fuel. The positive electrode must be resistant to high temperatures and aggressive conditions arising during the pulse processing. We have developed an optimal electrode design, including a gap between the metal rod and insulation, which ensures high resistance to pulse discharges. Increasing the capacity of the capacitor and the number of pulse discharges has had a positive effect on the yield of the finished product. The developed technology of electric impulse coal grinding helps to reduce the negative impact of the coal industry on the environment.