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Numerical study of hydrogen-air combustion characteristics in a novel micro-thermophotovoltaic power generator

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  • Alipoor, Alireza
  • Saidi, Mohammad Hassan

Abstract

In the present work, a micro combustor for thermophotovoltaic (TPV) devices is proposed which is included a U-shaped microtube in a box with a secondary fluid in space between U-shaped microtube and box walls. By utilizing the three-dimensional CFD model, combustion characteristics of the premixed lean hydrogen-air mixture in the present micro combustor are studied numerically with detailed chemistry and transport taking into account heat transfer through the wall. The results show that the establishment of secondary flows and better preheating in the curved tubes is caused the flammability limits to be at least four times in comparison with straight tubes. Combustion characteristics are studied for different parameters, namely inlet velocity, wall thermal conductivity, heat loss conditions, tube curvature and number of U-shaped tubes. By increasing inlet velocity up to 16m/s, flame front moves toward downstream, the maximum temperature is increased and rate of reactions is intensified. The highest efficiency for thermophotovoltaic devices is calculated at 4m/s inlet velocity. A wall thermal conductivity of 3W/m K creates a better condition for flame stability. It is shown that the secondary fluid with higher thermal diffusivity could improve combustion characteristics. Energy conversion efficiency (ηQ), emitter efficiency (ηRad) and total energy conversion efficiency of the TPV (ηtotal) is utilized to investigate the simulated cases for the present geometry. This type of micro combustor is well fitted for thermophotovoltaic applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Alipoor, Alireza & Saidi, Mohammad Hassan, 2017. "Numerical study of hydrogen-air combustion characteristics in a novel micro-thermophotovoltaic power generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 382-399.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:199:y:2017:i:c:p:382-399
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.05.027
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Peng, Qingguo & E, Jiaqiang & Yang, W.M. & Xu, Hongpeng & Chen, Jingwei & Meng, Tian & Qiu, Runzhi, 2018. "Effects analysis on combustion and thermal performance enhancement of a nozzle-inlet micro tube fueled by the premixed hydrogen/air," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 349-360.
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    7. He, Ziqiang & Yan, Yunfei & Zhao, Ting & Zhang, Zhien & Mikulčić, Hrvoje, 2022. "Parametric study of inserting internal spiral fins on the micro combustor performance for thermophotovoltaic systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    8. E, Jiaqiang & Meng, Tian & Chen, Jingwei & Wu, Weiwei & Zhao, Xiaohuan & Zhang, Bin & Peng, Qingguo, 2021. "Effect analysis on performance enhancement of a hydrogen/air non-premixed micro combustor with sudden expansion and contraction structure," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    9. Alipoor, Alireza & Mazaheri, Kiumars, 2020. "Maps of flame dynamics for premixed lean hydrogen-air combustion in a heated microchannel," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    10. Aravind, B. & Khandelwal, Bhupendra & Kumar, Sudarshan, 2018. "Experimental investigations on a new high intensity dual microcombustor based thermoelectric micropower generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 1173-1181.
    11. Hiranandani, Karan & Aravind, B. & Ratna Kishore, V. & Kumar, Sudarshan, 2020. "Development of a numerical model for performance prediction of an integrated microcombustor-thermoelectric power generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    12. Zhuang Kang & Zhiwei Shi & Jiahao Ye & Xinghua Tian & Zhixin Huang & Hao Wang & Depeng Wei & Qingguo Peng & Yaojie Tu, 2023. "A Review of Micro Power System and Micro Combustion: Present Situation, Techniques and Prospects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-28, April.
    13. Aravind, B. & Khandelwal, Bhupendra & Ramakrishna, P.A. & Kumar, Sudarshan, 2020. "Towards the development of a high power density, high efficiency, micro power generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    14. Peng, Qingguo & Yang, Wenming & E, Jiaqiang & Li, Shaobo & Li, Zhenwei & Xu, Hongpeng & Fu, Guang, 2021. "Effects of propane addition and burner scale on the combustion characteristics and working performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    15. Li, Yueh-Heng & Hong, Jing-Ru, 2018. "Performance assessment of catalytic combustion-driven thermophotovoltaic platinum tubular reactor," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 843-853.

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