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Combustion Characteristics and Stability of Methane-Air Mixtures in Catalytic Microreactors

Received: 28 May 2017    Accepted: 31 July 2017    Published: 22 August 2017
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Abstract

Combustion characteristics and stability of premixed methane-air mixtures in catalytic microreactors are studied numerically, using a two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model with detailed chemistry and multicomponent transport. In order to understand how to design microreactors with enhanced stability and robustness, the reaction and transport of methane-air mixtures are studied, and the role of operating conditions is evaluated. The primary focus is on computational fluid dynamics as a means of understanding energy management at small scales. It is shown that an appropriate choice of the flow velocity is crucial in achieving the self-sustained operation. Large gradients in temperature and species concentration are observed, despite the small scales of the system. The flow velocity plays a dual, competing role in flame stability. Low flow velocities reduce the heat generation, whereas high flow velocities reduce the convective time-scale. There is a narrow regime of flow velocities that allows self-sustained operation. When a low-power system is desired, highly insulating materials should be preferred, whereas a high-power system would favor highly conductive materials. Engineering maps are constructed, and design recommendations are finally made.

Published in World Journal of Applied Chemistry (Volume 2, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.wjac.20170203.13
Page(s) 85-95
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Catalytic Microreactors, Reactor Design, Combustion Characteristics, Flame Stability, Heat Transfer, Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling

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  • APA Style

    Junjie Chen, Deguang Xu. (2017). Combustion Characteristics and Stability of Methane-Air Mixtures in Catalytic Microreactors. World Journal of Applied Chemistry, 2(3), 85-95. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjac.20170203.13

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    ACS Style

    Junjie Chen; Deguang Xu. Combustion Characteristics and Stability of Methane-Air Mixtures in Catalytic Microreactors. World J. Appl. Chem. 2017, 2(3), 85-95. doi: 10.11648/j.wjac.20170203.13

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    AMA Style

    Junjie Chen, Deguang Xu. Combustion Characteristics and Stability of Methane-Air Mixtures in Catalytic Microreactors. World J Appl Chem. 2017;2(3):85-95. doi: 10.11648/j.wjac.20170203.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.wjac.20170203.13,
      author = {Junjie Chen and Deguang Xu},
      title = {Combustion Characteristics and Stability of Methane-Air Mixtures in Catalytic Microreactors},
      journal = {World Journal of Applied Chemistry},
      volume = {2},
      number = {3},
      pages = {85-95},
      doi = {10.11648/j.wjac.20170203.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjac.20170203.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wjac.20170203.13},
      abstract = {Combustion characteristics and stability of premixed methane-air mixtures in catalytic microreactors are studied numerically, using a two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model with detailed chemistry and multicomponent transport. In order to understand how to design microreactors with enhanced stability and robustness, the reaction and transport of methane-air mixtures are studied, and the role of operating conditions is evaluated. The primary focus is on computational fluid dynamics as a means of understanding energy management at small scales. It is shown that an appropriate choice of the flow velocity is crucial in achieving the self-sustained operation. Large gradients in temperature and species concentration are observed, despite the small scales of the system. The flow velocity plays a dual, competing role in flame stability. Low flow velocities reduce the heat generation, whereas high flow velocities reduce the convective time-scale. There is a narrow regime of flow velocities that allows self-sustained operation. When a low-power system is desired, highly insulating materials should be preferred, whereas a high-power system would favor highly conductive materials. Engineering maps are constructed, and design recommendations are finally made.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Combustion Characteristics and Stability of Methane-Air Mixtures in Catalytic Microreactors
    AU  - Junjie Chen
    AU  - Deguang Xu
    Y1  - 2017/08/22
    PY  - 2017
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjac.20170203.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.wjac.20170203.13
    T2  - World Journal of Applied Chemistry
    JF  - World Journal of Applied Chemistry
    JO  - World Journal of Applied Chemistry
    SP  - 85
    EP  - 95
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2637-5982
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjac.20170203.13
    AB  - Combustion characteristics and stability of premixed methane-air mixtures in catalytic microreactors are studied numerically, using a two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model with detailed chemistry and multicomponent transport. In order to understand how to design microreactors with enhanced stability and robustness, the reaction and transport of methane-air mixtures are studied, and the role of operating conditions is evaluated. The primary focus is on computational fluid dynamics as a means of understanding energy management at small scales. It is shown that an appropriate choice of the flow velocity is crucial in achieving the self-sustained operation. Large gradients in temperature and species concentration are observed, despite the small scales of the system. The flow velocity plays a dual, competing role in flame stability. Low flow velocities reduce the heat generation, whereas high flow velocities reduce the convective time-scale. There is a narrow regime of flow velocities that allows self-sustained operation. When a low-power system is desired, highly insulating materials should be preferred, whereas a high-power system would favor highly conductive materials. Engineering maps are constructed, and design recommendations are finally made.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Energy and Power Engineering, School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, China

  • Department of Energy and Power Engineering, School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, China

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