Numerical study of hydrogen-air premixed mixture in radial micro combustors for usage in a micro thermophotovoltaic system

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shiraz University, Shiraz

2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz

3 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

The purpose of this research is investigation of performance and potential of a radial micro combustion chamber whichThe purpose of this research is investigation of performance and potential of a radial micro combustion chamber which is designed for a micro thermophotovoltaic system as well as, study of combustion characteristics of premixed H2-air mixture. Conservation equations of flow, energy and species are solved in a three-dimensional geometry with into account detailed chemical kinetics for H2-air mixture with CFD approach. Investigated parameters in this research contain inlet velocity, gap distance and wall thickness. Achieved results showed that inlet velocity enhancement causes to approach the combustion zone to the wall and stretch that to the downstream. It causes to increase wall temperature and consequently, increase the micro thermophotovoltaic efficiency. Upon increasing of inlet velocity, circulation zone inside the micro combustor will be stronger and also, temperature distribution on the outer surface of the bottom wall becomes more uniform. Result indicates increasing of inlet velocity to 15  is not reasonable and it has revers effect on efficiency. Results proved that decrease of the gap distance and enhancement of the wall thickness have desirable effect on the micro thermophotovoltaic efficiency enhancement. The micro efficiency calculated for all cases, and resulted that maximum accessible efficiency is 2.63%. In this research, obtained results are unique for the radial micro combustors, and indicated that radial micro combustors have ability of competition with other micro combustors in order to usage in the micro thermophotovoltaic systems.

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