The impact of Clay as wall material on Thermoelectric power generation and flame-wall interaction

The use of clay as the combustor wall material for direct heat-to-electricity conversion using a Thermoelectric generator (TEG) was evaluated in a side-wall configuration burner. The influence of different fuel blends (Methane, Biogas and Biogas + H-2) and flame work conditions in TEG power and efficiency are discussed. Flame-wall interaction (FWI) of the laminar side-wall quenching (SWQ) premixed V-flame was investigated. Heat release rate (HRR) and quenching distances were analysed with the chemiluminescence of excited OH* and CH* radicals. The gases velocity field was studied with Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). For comparison, a galvanized steel (GS) plate was used in the same working conditions. We found that the efficiency (eta(TEG)) and electrical power (P-TEG) losses between materials increases with flame temperature. Quenching distances (d(q)) were larger in the flame clay wall interaction. Flame quenching was governed by heat losses independently of the wall but the impact of convection was more significant when using the clay wall.