Development and Characterization of Additive-Manufactured Mesoscale Combustor Array

Rajavasanth Rajasegar, Constandinos M. Mitsingas, Eric K. Mayhew, Qili Liu, Tonghun Lee, Jihyung Yoo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Development of a stable and efficient small-scale combustor architecture with comparable performance emission characteristics to large-scale burners is presented. Furthermore, the proposed architecture reduced susceptibility to extinction and maintained high combustion efficiency and low emission levels under ultralean operating conditions for a wide range of combustion power outputs. Prototype burner arrays were additively manufactured and demonstrated with methane/air flames. The burner sustained lean flames (φ=0.65) independent of power output, indicating good scalability. High combustion efficiencies (98%) were estimated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the exhaust gas. Combined unburned hydrocarbon (UHC) and carbon monoxide (CO) emission measurements were well below 0.1% by mass. Near-adiabatic flame temperatures with minimal spatial variations across the burner were observed resulting from enhanced flame interaction and reduced heat loss. Overall, this study successfully demonstrates the potential for a novel combustor architecture that can be scaled across a wide range of power outputs with minimal performance degradation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number04018013
JournalJournal of Energy Engineering
Volume144
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2018

Keywords

  • Combustion efficiency
  • Direct metal laser sintering (DMLS)
  • Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS)
  • Lean blow-off limits
  • Mesoscale combustion
  • Swirl stabilization

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Nuclear Energy and Engineering
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Waste Management and Disposal

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Development and Characterization of Additive-Manufactured Mesoscale Combustor Array'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this