Experimental and Numerical Simulation of New Aluminum and Steam Vortex Combustor

Abstract

In this paper, we report experimental research on a vortex combustor for aluminum and steam combustion. High-temperature and high-pressure steam is obtained by combining alcohol with the combustion of oxygen and water, powder from a conventional piston drive, and nitrogen as fluidizing gas. The experimental results show that the vortex combustor can maintain aluminum–steam combustion. However, combustion product deposition is a challenge to the experiment. A new vortex combustor configuration, in which aluminum particles enter the combustor from the end face, is hence proposed, and a numerical simulation is conducted. Results suggest that three vortexing zones exist in the vortex combustor, namely, outer, intermediate, and internal vortex zones. Besides, influencing factors such as the inlet position of aluminum particles and particle size are also studied. The results show that the combustion efficiency was prone to decrease as the aluminum particle inlet position and particle diameter increased.

Potential of Aluminum as a Metal Fuel for Supporting EU Long‐Term Energy Storage Needs

“…Reaction 3 mechanism oxidizes Al in steam at temperatures above 1600 °C, but several issues arise due to the clumping of Al 2 O 3 . [16][17][18][19] Moreover, a previous study [9] proved the feasibility of Al oxidation in steam, according to Reaction 3, at temperatures ≈900 °C. Such innovative process at 800-1000 °C prevent the clumping of Al 2 O 3 without requiring catalysts or additives.…”

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Ignition Behavior of Low Palmitic Acid-Coated Nanoaluminum Powder

“…The ignition temperature is much earlier, and the ignition point of aluminum nanopowder decreases with diameter, and the ignition temperature is already as low as about 1000 K when the particle size decreases to 10 nm (Figure in the original paper). Aluminum/water vapor combustion above and below 750 K is more representative, , and we believe that the temperature at which premixing of the ANP with the water vapor occurs should be in the range between the boiling point of water and aluminum, that is, 400/750 K.…”

Aluminum Steam Oxidation in the Framework of Long‐Term Energy Storage: Experimental Analysis of the Reaction Parameters Effect on Metal Conversion Rate

“…[ 32 ] Aluminum can burn in steam producing flame temperatures above 3000 K, [ 33 ] as detailed in some papers presenting the design and test of novel aluminum–steam combustors. [ 34–36 ] Whereas the reported combustion efficiency can reach more than 95%, the management of the formation and clumping of aluminum oxide still represents the greatest challenge for a steady and lasting combustion. Moreover, only produced heat is exploited, resulting in the waste of up to half of the energy within the metal fuel.…”