Enhancing Thermal Performance, Exergy and Thermodynamics Efficiency of Premixed Methane/Air Micro-Planar Combustor in Micro-Thermophotovoltaic Systems

The present work numerically investigates the effect of a cavity implemented in premixed methane/air micro-combustor on enhancing its thermal performances and thermodynamic efficiencies for micro-thermophotovoltaic applications. 3D time-domain numerical model is first validated by comparing predictions with experimental data available literature. Then it applied to examine effects dimensionless axial location (xc/L), volume (Vc), equivalence ratio ϕ hydrogen blended (α) temperature uniformity enhancement combustor outer wall exergy efficiency. It found that implementing combustion chamber increases mean (OWMT) efficiency up approximately 65 K 10%, respectively. optimal (xc/L) set 1/9, height (Hc_dims) 1/5, However, length Lc angle θc are play negligible roles improving performance. Additionally, increasing inlet velocity leads higher OWMT but low efficiency, regardless ratio. In general, this confirms feasibility applying structure enhance energy micro-power generation systems.