Computer Simulation Approach in Development of Propane-air Combustor Microreactor

A mathematical model and simulation results of a new microreactor for propane-air combustion are presented. In this article we review 3D model of microreactor and solve problems of gas dynamics, heat transfer and chemical kinetics. The model is based on Navier-Stokes equations for a transient laminar flow of a compressible chemically reacting gas mixture, together with the mass transfer and energy balance equations. The simulation results were applied under development of microreactor geometry to solve a problem of fuel burning process stability. As a main result we have obtained temperature distribution in the microreactor during a fuel combusting process under different mass flow rates of propane and air. Flame shape and its long term stability were also investigated. To validate the model, we developed a microreactor prototype and performed a series of experiments varying fuel consumption. Experimental data have a high correlation to the simulation results and our model correctly predicts gas flows, flame shape and long term stability of oxidation process. The validated computational model will be used to investigate more complex microsystems base on combustion microreactors