Flammability Limit and Flame Visualization of Gaseous Fuel Combustion Inside Meso-scale Combustor with Different Thermal Conductivity

Abstract:

This study experimentally investigated effect of thermal conductivity on the combustioncharacteristics of gaseous fuel inside a meso-scale combustor. Combustion characteristics that wereobserved in this research include flame visualization and flammability limit. Quartz glass, stainlesssteel and copper tubes with inner diameters of 3.5 mm were used as combustors. Stainless steel wiremesh was inserted inside meso-scale combustor as a flame holder. Liquid petroleum gas (LPG),which is common fuel use by Indonesian people, was used as a gaseous fuel. A stable blue flame wasestablished inside meso-scale combustor at the downstream of wire mesh for all combustor withdifferent thermal conductivity. Furthermore, flame color is blue for combustion of fuel lean orstoichiometric mixture, and blue-green for combustion of fuel rich mixture. Meso-scale combustorwith the highest thermal conductivity has the narrowest flame cross section area, especially at lowerreactant velocity. Vice versa, this combustor has the widest flammability limit, mainly at the higherreactant velocity.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 493)
• Pages: 204-209
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.493.204
• Online since: January 2014
• Authors: Lilis Yuliati, Mega Nur Sasongko, Slamet Wahyudi
• Keywords: Flame Visualization, Flammability Limits, Gaseous Fuel, Meso-Scale Combustor, Thermal Conductivity (TC)

References

[1] A.C. Fernandez-Pello, Micropower generation using combustion: issues and approaches, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 29 (2002) 883–899.

DOI: 10.1016/s1540-7489(02)80113-4

[2] W.M. Yang, S.K. Chou, C. Shu, Z.W. Li, H. Xue, combustion in micro-cylindrical combustors with and without a backward facing step, J. Applied Thermal Engineering, 22 (2002) 1777-1787.

DOI: 10.1016/s1359-4311(02)00113-8

[3] S.K. Chou, W.M. Yang, K.J. Chua, J. Li, K.L. Zhang, Development of micro power generators - a review, J. Applied Energy, 88 (2011) 1–16.

DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.07.010

[4] K. Maruta, Micro and mesoscale combustion, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 33 (2011) 125-150.

DOI: 10.1016/j.proci.2010.09.005

[5] N.I. Kim, S. Aizumi, T. Yokomori, S. Kato, T. Fujimori, K. Maruta, Development and scale effects of small swiss-roll combustors, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 31 (2007) 3243–3250.

DOI: 10.1016/j.proci.2006.08.077

[6] J. Zhou, Y. Wang, W. Yang, J. Liu, Z. Wang, K. Cen, Improvement of micro-combustion stability through electrical heating, J. Applied Thermal Engineering, 29 (2009) 2373–2378.

DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2008.12.005

[7] Y. Wang, Z. Zhou, W. Yang, J. Zhou, J. Liu, Z. Wang, K.J. Cen, Energy Conversion and Management, 51 (2010) 1127-1133.

[8] D.G. Norton, D.G. Vlachos, Combustion characteristics and flame stability at the microscale: a cfd study of premixed methane/air mixtures, J. Chemical Engineering Science, 58 (2003) 4871 – 4882.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2002.12.005

[9] L. Yuliati, T. Seo, M. Mikami, Liquid-fuel combustion in a narrow tube using an electrospray technique, J. Combustion and Flame 159 (2012) 462-464.

DOI: 10.1016/j.combustflame.2011.06.010

[10] M. Mikami, Y. Maeda, K. Matsui, T. Seo, L. Yuliati, Combustion of gaseous and liquid fuels in meso-scale tube with wire mesh, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 34 (2013) 3387 – 3394.

DOI: 10.1016/j.proci.2012.05.064