A Method for Microscale Combustion of Near Stoichiometric Energy Dense Liquid Fuel Mixtures

13th International Conference on Micro and Nanotechnology for Power Generation and Energy Conversion Applications

物理学;能源学

Tolmachoff, E.D.^1 ; Allmon, W.R.^1 ; Waits, C.M.^1

United States Army Research Lab, Sensors and Electronic Devices Direc., 2800 Powder Mill Rd, Adelphi, MD 20912, United States^1

关键词: Catalytic reactions;    High activation energy;    Homogeneous reaction;    Liquid hydrocarbons;    Low-activation energy;    Microscale combustion;    Near stoichiometric;    Surface conversions;   

Others  :  https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/476/1/012074/pdf
DOI  :  10.1088/1742-6596/476/1/012074

来源: IOP

【 摘 要 】

This paper reports on the potential of a heterogeneous/homogeneous (HH) reactor for use as a fuel-flexible heat source, meeting the needs of the next generation of high temperature thermal-to-electric (TEC) portable power converters. In this class of reactor, low activation energy catalytic reactions provide a means to stabilize high activation energy homogeneous reactions. Diffusion limited surface reactions play a critical role in HH reactor operation. Surface conversion must be sufficiently fast to generate the high temperatures (∼1000 K) necessary to initiate gas phase reactions. Therefore, fuel diffusivity and the reactor dimension are important parameters in governing HH reactor operation. We examine the performance of an HH reactor fuelled by propane and n-dodecane, representing two extremes of liquid hydrocarbon diffusivity, as a function of confining reactor dimension. Unburned fuel/air mixtures are close to stoichiometric, which is an important factor in minimizing the amount of excess air and, therefore, balance of plant energy costs. At moderate levels of confinement, the reactor is capable producing high, uniform temperatures for both fuels.