Controlled pulsed laser-induced microcombustion of solid fuels

A microcombustion produced by the irradiation of coke and coal with nanosecond Nd:glass laser pulses in air at atmospheric pressure has been investigated experimentally. It was found that microcombustion occurs in a laser-ablated fuel, which is heated and ignited by the laser radiation. The irradiated fuel sample is not affected by burning. On the basis of the measured and calculated values of the thermal energy produced by the laser-driven microcombustion, it was demonstrated that complete combustion of the ablated material occurs. The amount of ablated fuel and, correspondingly, the amount of thermal energy produced by the laser-driven microcombustion depend on laser pulse parameters that allow the laser microcombustion to be controlled by means of changing laser beam parameters.