Effect of Wall Fin Aspect Ratio in a Suddenly Expanded Micro-Combustor

Abstract

The present work investigates the performance of micro-combustors with a backward facing step and triangular wall fin with variable aspect ratio (AR). The outer wall temperature distribution was found to be influenced by the aspect ratio of fin with the highest peak observed for AR = 1 for the entire velocity range (4–48 m/s). Comparisons were also made with micro-combustors inserted with a triangular block at the centerline. At higher velocities, finned micro-combustors were found to give higher outer wall temperature as compared to the ones with block inserts. Enhancement of heat transfer due to fin attachment at the inner wall results in better performing micro-combustors.