(102e) Intermediate Reynolds Number Reactive Boundary Layers in Catalytic Micro-Combustion Flows

Boundary layer flows over catalytically combusting flat plates were investigated for the range of Reynolds numbers that pertain to micro-combustion applications with the use of Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectroscopy gas analysis and infrared thermography. Three separate phases of combustion were observed and described in terms of surface temperature and species distributions. High temperature zones, and correspondingly fast reactant conversion, are found in the vicinity of the leading edge, where the streamwise Reynolds number is smaller than an order of 10. For this range of Reynolds numbers, the classical boundary layer assumptions are invalid as both streamwise and transverse gradients are important. Consequently, boundary layer interruption is presented as an approach to increase reactor miniaturization.