A LES Simulation of a CH4/Air Microcombustor with Detailed Chemistry

Abstract

The authors compare numerical simulations and experiments carried out on a swirling methane/air cylindrical microcombustor with diameter and height 0.006 m and 0.009 m, respectively. They extend previous work, using LES and Flamelet methodology; here the EDC finite rate model and the GRIMech 1.2 (32 species and 177 reactions) mechanism are used. Gas temperature at the exhaust section, together with CH* chemiluminescence measurements and combustion efficiency analysis are provided. Results reproduce exhaust temperature and combustion efficiency measurements, generally differing by less than 10%. This work should be seen as an advance in the understanding of how to design future microcombustors, presently under rapid development in particular for propulsion (e.g., for UAVs) and microelectrical power generators.

Keywords:

• Large-eddy simulation
• Methane combustion
• Microcombustor

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported by the Italian Ministry for University and Research (MIUR) under Contract No. 2006094334.