Numerical study of polyoxymethylene burning in a combustion reactor

Abstract

The paper presents numerical results of polyoxymethylene burning behavior in a reactor. To estimate the effect of reactor geometry on polymer burning several configurations of a combustion reactor are introduced, which includes size variation of air inlet, reactor width (polymer sample width) and reactor height. A reactor is designed to allow air supply by natural convection. A mathematical model developed resolves primary features of combustion process such as multicomponent reacting gas flow, heat and mass transfer, radiative heat transfer, gas phase combustion and polymer pyrolysis. A set of air-to-fuel ratios is obtained to provide input for cases arranged for studying the efficiency of various municipal solid waste (especially polymers) incineration techniques. The paper presents hydrodynamic and thermal parameters distribution in a combustion chamber, which displays distinct two-dimensional nature of combustion process. Combustion of polymer in a reactor is shown to proceed in diffusion regime. The global balance shifts towards air excess.