Abstract:
An experimental study to find the optimum configuration of air injection for liquid fuel porous
burner is performed. A proper configuration of air injection directly impacts the level of mixing
between fuel and air inside the combustor, which is the key parameter for designing of high
performance burner. The effect of air injection configurations on the mixing level is therefore
studied systematically by an investigation of flow pattern and turbulent intensity inside the
combustor. Two Dimensional Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique is applied for this
investigation. Both of a swirling- flow and an annular-flow injection with various configurations are
visualized and compared. The burner head and combustion chamber are simulated by plastic and
transparent acrylic tubes, respectively, to allow an optical visualization. A cold-test measurement at
ambient temperature is performed by an injection of compressed air in place of fuel vapor, with a
conservation of Reynolds number. An equivalent of the practical operating conditions, i.e. firing
rate of 5 kW and fuel equivalence ratios in the range of 0.4 to 0.8, are carried out. The results show
a swirling-flow injection of air produces a swirling-motion near the combustor wall, while the
reverse flow is occurred along the axial axis of the chamber. The four ways air injection with a 75
degree to the tangential direction of the chamber yields the highest turbulent intensity in the axial
plane. The annular flow injection, in the other hand, produces a staged-like combustion by a
continuing mixing of an annular air injected with an axial-flow fuel stream. The high level of
turbulent intensity is produced in the radial plane of observation. In addition, the insert of a porous
media layer inside the combustion chamber significantly improves the mixing of air and fuel.