Basic study on flame-stabilization characteristics in a multi-channel combustor via a model of a porous-media combustor

Abstract

Combustion phenomena in porous media combustors are widely used in industrial fields for the combustion of lowgrade fuels and the regeneration of combustion heat However, studies of combustion phenomena in porous media have been limited, because these phenomena are difficult to observe, and the configurations of porous media are complex. We propose a simple model combustor: a multi-channel combustor that consists of many layers of combustion channels made of quartz plates. We conducted an experimental observation of the flames in the multi-channel combustor and obtained experimental results for the flame stabilization limits. Flames formulated in the multi-channel combustor showed variation in the spatial distribution depending on the heat transfer between neighboring channels. A simple analytical model was developed and the variation in the flammability limits of the multi-channel combustor was discussed. This study will enhance our understanding of flame behavior in a porous-media combustor. © 2011 The Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers.