Influence of modified air on combustion characteristics in meso-scale vortex combustor

Abstract

The need to supply power for miniaturized mechanical devices opens exciting new opportunities for combustion, especially in the field of micro-power generation. Because of the need for power supply devices with high-specific energy (small-size, low weight, long duration) and power. Meso/micro scale combustion has been considered as a potential solution for many small-volumes and energy demanding systems, such as power supplies for portable device. In this study the structure of turbulent diffusion flames in a meso scale combustor with different oxygen concentration has been investigated using a new design of vortex combustor. Methane gas was used as a fuel. Numerical investigations have been performed on the temperature distribution, swirl number, heat loss, and emitter efficiency in vortex combustion. The results have been obtained for various O2 concentrations in the air as oxidizer. The results shows that thermal flame behaves depend strongly on the oxygen content in the oxidizer. When the oxygen concentration increases from 15% to 30%, the flame temperature of the meso-combustion rises in all cases. Emitter efficiency is very high in the meso-combustor with high O2 concentration in oxidizer.