High efficiency multifuel combustor with potential for commercial and military applications [AMTEC]

The conceptual design of a novel, outward-flowing, cylindrical laminar flame multifuel combustor, expected to produce ultrahigh temperature uniformity and low pollutant emissions, is presented. A stretched laminar tubular flame was established by injecting a lean gaseous fuel air mixture uniformly in the radial direction from a central porous tube into an annular combustion space formed by an outer tube. Measurements of concentrations of major gaseous species using sampling and chromatography and temperature using thermocouples and an infrared pyrometer revealed that all scalar properties are independent of distance along the tube in this novel burner. Multi-fuel capability including military logistics fuels will make the present burner even more desirable. A modification that will keep the system self sufficient and will not require the use of pressurized or ultrasonic atomizers for liquid fuel combustion is presented. The design of a power system that integrates this novel burner and counterflow recuperator with alkali metal thermoelectric converter (AMTEC) cells to produce 200 W of power with overall efficiencies between 14% and 18% is also conceptually demonstrated