Influence of multi-structure optimization on the comprehensive performance of micro-cylindrical combustor inserting with spiral fin by using grey relational analysis and analysis of variance

Abstract

Targeted at improving the energy output of thermophotovoltaic system, a novel micro combustor with spiral fin is proposed. The multi-structure factors of spiral fin concluding spiral fin length, spiral fin pitch, spiral fin number and spiral fin opening size impact the thermal and energy performance of micro combustor are investigated in this study. The method of Taguchi experimental design is introduced to determine the testing cases, Orthogonal design table L16(44). Then, grey relational grade is adopted to obtain the influence of four factors on performance parameters. The evaluation indexes of each testing case include mean outer wall temperature, outer wall temperature uniformity and pressure drop, which are closely connected with the thermal and energy performance of micro combustors. Moreover, the results calculated by grey relational grade are verified by analysis of variance. Results show that the optimal combination of the structure is micro combustor inserting with spiral fin, in which the spiral fin is 16 mm, the spiral fin pitch is 1.57 mm, the spiral fin number is 8 and spiral fin opening size is 0.2 mm. Meanwhile, the spiral fin length has the greatest impact on the comprehensive performance of the micro combustor, with a contribution of 48.522%.