A three-dimensional computational model of H2-air premixed combustion in a circular micro-channel for thermo-photovoltaic (TPV) application

Abstract

This study investigates the flow characteristics of a reacting flow of H2-air mixture inside a circular microchannel with sudden expansion (backward facing step). Different steady state Reynolds Average Numerical Simulation (RANS) turbulence models alongside with different reaction rate formulations are evaluated to achieve quantitative agreement with the published experimental data. The effect of inlet velocity on overall flame structure and outer wall temperature has also been investigated. The results indicate that Reynolds Stress Model (RSM) with Eddy Dissipation Concept (EDC) provide the best quantitative prediction. In addition, it is found that increase in inlet velocity results in an elevated wall temperature.