Performance of a micro-combustor for micro-power generation systems

Flame stability is an important issue for combustion-based micro power generation systems. In the present work, we developed a planar micro-combustor with a bluff body fro micro power generation systems. Comparative study on lean and stoichiometric hydrogen/air flames in the micro-combustor with and without a bluff body was performed numerically. The results show that the blowoff limit is extended by 2-4 times with the bluff body. Moreover, flame remains symmetric under near-limit conditions in the micro combustor with a bluff body, while it becomes inclined in the case without a bluff body. Furthermore, the combustion efficiency is higher than 96% under most conditions in the new combustor. These demonstrate that the micro-combustor with a bluff body has a better performance.