Title screen

[References: 89 tit.]

The technical characteristics of liquid hydrocarbons obtained by steam pyrolysis of the used automobile tires were studied as well as the features of their combustion process. Steam pyrolysis of ground tires was carried out in a tubular reactor using superheated steam with 500 °C temperature and 5 kg/h mass flow rate. The obtained characteristics were compared with a traditional liquid fuel oil. The technical characteristics were determined via the standard analytical methods. An ignition and a combustion of liquid hydrocarbon samples were carried out in the combustion chamber at different temperatures of heating medium Tg = 450–700 °C. Gas-phase combustion products were analyzed using a flow-through gas analyzer. It was found that liquid hydrocarbons were characterized by a low pour point (? 43 to ? 52 °C) and calorific value comparable to traditional fuel oil (40.56–43.30 MJ/kg). In addition, the studied samples of liquid hydrocarbons were characterized by a lower ignition delay time (by 56%, on average) and flame burning time (by 30%, on average). Combustion process of the studied samples (including traditional fuel oil) was accompanied by the formation of micro-explosions. The liquid hydrocarbons obtained by pyrolysis of used tires were found to be suitable fuel for energy equipment in many aspects superior to traditional liquid fuel. Results presented could be used to involve liquid by-products of steam pyrolysis of different Russian used tires into energy industry.