Numerical Simulation of the Mixing and Flow Characteristics in a Micro Cyclone Combustor

마이크로 사이클론 연소기의 혼합 및 유동특성에 관한 수치해석 연구

A micro cyclone combustor was developed to be used as a heat source of thermoelectric power generator (TPG). The cyclone combustor was designed so that fuel and air were supplied to the combustion chamber separately. The mixing and flow characteristics in the combustor were investigated numerically. The global equivalence ratio (${\Phi}$), defined using the fuel and air flow rates, was introduced to examine the flow features of the combustor. The mixing of fuel and air inside the combustor could be well understood using the fuel concentration distribution. It was found that the weak recirculating zone was formed upper the fuel-supplying tube in case of ${\Phi}$ < 1.0. In addition, it was found that small regions that have a negative axial velocity exist near the fuel injection ports. It is assumed that these negative axial velocity regions can stabilize a flame inside the micro cyclone combustor.