Comprehensive numerical insight the thermal performance improvement of the micro combustors with internal bionic Y-shaped fins for micro-thermal voltaic system applications

Abstract

Targeting to enhance the comprehensive thermal performance of the micro-combustion chamber for the micro-thermal voltaic system (MTPV), an innovative micro-combustion chamber with embedding Y-shaped fins is introduced. Comparing and investigating the outer wall temperature, exergy efficiency, energy output and the uniformity of the traditional micro-combustion chamber and the novel micro-combustion chamber with internal Y-shaped fins. The results show that the micro-combustion chamber with internal Y-shaped fins exhibits excellent thermal performance. It is worth noting that when the number of Y-shaped fins is 4, 6, and 8, the highest outer wall temperature is 1284 K, 1293 K and 1310 K, respectively, while the traditional micro combustor burner outer wall temperature is 1227 K. In addition, the exergy efficiency of micro-combustion chamber with internal Y-shaped fins is 38.1%, 42.1% and 43.2% respectively when the number of Y-shaped fins is 4, 6, and 8, while the traditional micro-combustion chamber is 19.8%, Furthermore, an increase in the number of fins will result in an increase in pressure drop and a decrease in temperature uniformity. Therefore, while considering the thermal performance, the number of fins should be selected reasonably.