Micro combustion
Summer Undergraduate Research Grant for Excellence 2012
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
PROJECT REPORT
Numerical Studies of Microcombustion in a Micro-channel
Submitted by
Rishav Garg
Undergraduate student
Department of Mechanical Engineering
IIT Kanpur
Under the guidance of
Dr. D.P. Mishra
Professor
Department of Aerospace Engineering
IIT Kanpur
13th July, 2012
ABSTRACT
Numerical Studies of Microcombustion in a Micro-channel
There are a lot of methods that converts chemical energy to thermal energy like fuel cells. But combustion is the most important one to obtain thermal energy from various fuels including hydrogen, natural gas, fuel oils because of its more energy output. Microcombustion is a potential energy source for small devices like unmanned vehicles and micro satellites .It is to be carried out in a miniature device called Microcombustor which is typical of 1mm diameter.
Flame extinction is the biggest disadvantage of Microcombustion as heat losses become more important at smaller scales. So in order to maintain the balance between heat generated and heat lost through a Microcombustor, properly designed Microcombustor with suitable fuel has to be used.
In the prescribed research work, two dimensional mathematical models for momentum, heat, and mass transport are used to simulate the combustion processes. Equations are solved numerically using the commercial software FLUENT. An annular Microcombustor found suitable for hydrogen fuel combustion in the presence for heat losses has been used. Its suitability has been investigated for a commonly available fuel methane gas and further it has been investigated for methane-hydrogen blends with different conditions of heat losses at wall boundaries and different inlet velocities.
If such a small and reliable combustor is developed then it could be used in many devices such as turbines, compressors, pumps and several other electrical devices etc. This would help
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
PROJECT REPORT
Numerical Studies of Microcombustion in a Micro-channel
Submitted by
Rishav Garg
Undergraduate student
Department of Mechanical Engineering
IIT Kanpur
Under the guidance of
Dr. D.P. Mishra
Professor
Department of Aerospace Engineering
IIT Kanpur
13th July, 2012
ABSTRACT
Numerical Studies of Microcombustion in a Micro-channel
There are a lot of methods that converts chemical energy to thermal energy like fuel cells. But combustion is the most important one to obtain thermal energy from various fuels including hydrogen, natural gas, fuel oils because of its more energy output. Microcombustion is a potential energy source for small devices like unmanned vehicles and micro satellites .It is to be carried out in a miniature device called Microcombustor which is typical of 1mm diameter.
Flame extinction is the biggest disadvantage of Microcombustion as heat losses become more important at smaller scales. So in order to maintain the balance between heat generated and heat lost through a Microcombustor, properly designed Microcombustor with suitable fuel has to be used.
In the prescribed research work, two dimensional mathematical models for momentum, heat, and mass transport are used to simulate the combustion processes. Equations are solved numerically using the commercial software FLUENT. An annular Microcombustor found suitable for hydrogen fuel combustion in the presence for heat losses has been used. Its suitability has been investigated for a commonly available fuel methane gas and further it has been investigated for methane-hydrogen blends with different conditions of heat losses at wall boundaries and different inlet velocities.
If such a small and reliable combustor is developed then it could be used in many devices such as turbines, compressors, pumps and several other electrical devices etc. This would help
References: [1] S. Y. Jejurkar, D. P. Mishra, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 35 (2010) 9755-9766. [2] S. Y. Jejurkar, D. P. Mishra, App. Therm. Eng. 31 (2011) 521-527. [3] Erjiang Hu, Zuohua Huang*, Jiajia He, Chun Jin, Jianjun Zheng, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 34 (2009) 4876 – 4888