A novel wavy micro-combustor for micro-thermophotovoltaic applications

Abstract

This study proposes a novel micro-combustor (MC) for micro-thermophotovoltaic (MTPV) devices. The MC features a wall with a wavy shape that expected to deliver higher energy conversion efficiency. Numerical simulations carried out to examine the combustion and performance of the wavy MC under various and flow conditions, such as the combustor height, inlet velocity and equivalence ratio. The examined flames are laminar and premixed issued from methane-air mixture. The results are original, since this wavy MC has not been investigated in the literature. The interaction between the micro-flame and the MC efficiency is given with in-depth explanation. It is found that the use of the wavy shape increases the MC efficiency by 8.3% compared to a flat MC. This finding suggests including the wavy shape in the future designs and studies of micro-combustors. The increase of the MC height leads to an increase of the flame quenching length, which reduces the conversion efficiency. The increase of the inlet velocity induces also a reduction of the conversion efficiency. The equivalence ratio has a reverse effect on the flame stabilization location. The optimum parameters that provide the better conversion performance are reported.