• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05b
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• pp.2238-2243
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• 2007

A new microcombustor configuration for a micro fuel-cell reformer integrated with a micro evaporator was studied experimentally and computationally. The present microcombustor is simply cylindrical to be easily fabricated but two-staged, expending downstream, to feasibly control ignition and stable burning. Results show that the aspect ratio of the first stage and the wall thickness of the microcombustors substantially affect ignition and thermal characteristics. For the optimized design conditions, a premixed microflame was easily ignited in the expanded second stage combustor, moved into the smaller first stage combustor, and finally stabilized therein. The measured and predicted temperature distributions across the microcombustor walls indicated that heat generated in the microcombustor is well transferred. Thus, the present microcombustor configuration could be applied to the practical micro reformers integrated with a micro evaporator for use of fuel cells.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.217-225
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• 2008

A new micro reformer system consisted of a micro reformer, a microcombustor and a micro evaporator was studied experimentally and computationally. In order to satisfy the primary requirements for designing the microcombustor integrated with a micro evaporator, i.e. stable burning in a small confinement and maximum heat transfer through a wall, the present microcombustor is simply cylindrical to be easily fabricated but two-staged (expanding downstream) to feasibly control ignition and stable burning. Results show that the aspect ratio and wall thickness of the microcombustor substantially affect ignition and thermal characteristics. For the optimized design conditions, a premixed microflame was easily ignited in the expanded second stage combustor, moved into the smaller first stage combustor, and finally stabilized therein. A micro reformer system integrated with a modified microcombustor based on the optimized design condition was fabricated. For a typical operating condition, the designed micro reformer system produced 22.3 sccm hydrogen (3.61 W in LHV) in an overall efficiency of 12%.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05b
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• pp.2360-2365
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• 2007

A new microemitter (microcombustor) configuration for a micro thermophotovoltaic system in which thermal energy is directly converted into electrical energy through thermal radiation was investigated experimentally and computationally. The microemitter as a thermal heat source was designed for a few watt power-generating micro thermophotovoltaic system. In order to satisfy the primary requirements for designing the microemitter, i.e., stable burning in the small confinement and maximum heat transfer through the emitting walls but uniform distribution of temperature along the walls, the present microemitter is cylindrical with an annular-type shield for heat recirculation to apply for the excessive enthalpy concept. Results show that the heat recirculation substantially improves the performance of the microemitter: the observed and predicted thermal radiation from the microemitter walls indicated that heat generated in the microemitter is uniformly emitted.