Investigation on combustion characteristics and optimization of thermal performance of H2/NH3 fueled micro power generator in dual-inlets combustor

To improve the combustion performance and energy conversion, a dual-inlet combustor is proposed for H2/NH3 powered generator. Effects of the dual-inlet employment, equivalence ratio, and H2/NH3 blending ratios on combustion characteristics and thermal performance are analyzed under different conditions. And the maximum error between simulation and experiment is 58 K. Results indicate that the dual-inlet significantly alters the reactions, flame regime and enhances heat transfer. Furthermore, a small proportion of H2/NH3/air from secondary inlet cause a noticeable increase of OH radical to promote reactions at the burner downstream, forming of the weak flame and increasing gas temperature. The burner achieves optimal radiation performance at mNH3 = 30%. The dual-inlet burner consistently outperforms the single-inlet burner, and the highest radiant power 74.5 W is obtained at Vf = 800 mL/min and mNH3 = 30% with 5% premixed reactants from the second inlet, while the highest energy efficiency 56.3% is achieved at Vf = 600 mL/min.