An Investigation of Methane Combustion in a Rectangular Shaped Meso Chamber

Hydrocarbon-based miniature power generators are promising any many application since hydrocarbon based fuels have higher power densities compared to conventional lithium batteries. A 40mm long meso-combustor of two different configurations, two-inlet and three-inlet, were used to investigate the combustion of methane in the meso-chamber. A non-premixed combustion of methane and oxygen was simulated numerically using a steady laminar flamelet model. The mesh generation and the CFD simulation were performed using ANSYS FLUENT software. A a finite volume approach was used for the simulation. The fuel-oxidizer mixing, thermal behavior and fuel burning efficiency were studied. An adequate mixing that supports the combustion was observed in certain locations. The exhaust gas was analyzed experimentally. The temperature distributions were also observed to predict the flame locations. According to the numerical analysis it was apparent that the flame would be anchored in the well mixed regions of the chamber the flames were found to be attached in two distinct locations. One in the upstream zone and the other one in the downstream zone. Another important finding was that the fuel lean condition produced higher efficiency than the fuel rich condition.Copyright © 2014 by ASME