(616g) Performance Improvement of Superadiabatic Radiant Burner By Using SiC Foam

Performance improvement of superadiabatic radiant burner by using SiC foam

H. Wu^a, V. Vandadi^b, C. Park^c, M. Kaviany^d and O.C. Kwon^a,*

^aSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University

Suwon, Gyeonggi-do 440-746, Republic of Korea

^bDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nevada

Reno, NV 89557, USA

^cDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Missouri

Columbia, MO 65211, USA

^dDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA

Abstract

Extending the previous work on the potential of improving the performance of radiant porous burners by introducing a superadiabatic radiant burner (SRB) configuration in which combustion heat is recovered internally as well as externally and using alumina (Al₂O₃) foam, a new SRB is designed and experimentally investigated. The new SRB is fabricated using silicon carbide (SiC) for both porous media and radiation rods, and the diameter of the radiation rods has been increased for reducing thermal resistance and transferring more heat to the radiating disk surfaces. Temperature distribution in the porous SRB and the combustion stability limits and radiation efficiencies of the SRB have been measured. Results show the superadiabatic effects of the present SRB, e.g., the radiation temperature on the disk surfaces higher than the flue gas temperature at the same axial location. Compared with the previous alumina SRB, the combustion stability limits of the present SiC SRB are extended due to the stronger internal heat recirculation through the high thermal conductivity of SiC, indicating the improved performance of the SiC SRB that is acceptable for practical application.