Numerical study of effect of front cavity on hydrogen/air premixed combustion in a micro-combustion chamber

Abstract

The micro-combustion chamber is the key component for micro-TPV systems. To improve the combustor wall temperature level and its uniformity and efficiency an improved flat micro-combustor with a front cavity is built, and the combustion performance of the original and improved combustors of premixed H2/air flames under various inlet velocities and equivalence ratios is numerically investigated. The effects of the front cavity height and length on the outer wall temperature and efficiency are also discussed. The front cavity significantly improves the average outer wall temperature, outer wall temperature uniformity, and combustion efficiency of the micro-combustor, increases the area of the high temperature zone, and enhances the heat transfer between the burned blends and inner walls. The micro-combustor with the front cavity length of 2.0 mm and height of 0.5 mm is suitable for micro-TPV system application due to the relatively high outer wall temperature, combustion efficiency, and the most uniform outer wall temperature.