Field synergy analysis of the micro-cylindrical combustor with a step

In order to obtain high power density and performance efficiency, it is important for a micro combustor to achieve a high and uniform wall temperature distribution in the micro thermophotovoltaic (TPV) system. In this work, a new method of finding a proper inlet pressure is proposed. Then, Field Synergy Principle is employed to investigate the synergy degree between the velocity vector and temperature gradient in the micro-cylindrical combustor under various inlet pressures. The results indicate that the temperature distribution along the wall of the micro combustor is more uniform, and the mean wall temperature is increased due to the increase of synergy degree at an inlet pressure of 0.08 MPa. Finally, the combustion efficiency and outlet temperature of two kinds of micro-cylindrical combustors with the largest synergy degree and without are compared, showing that the micro-cylindrical combustor with the largest synergy degree is larger than that without it. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.