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The
Combustion Fundamentals Group (CFG) is engaged in the fundamental investigation
of the hetero-/homogeneous (catalytic and gas-phase) processes and their
coupling during large-scale and meso-scale combustion. The applied research focuses
on clean combustion technologies (low NOx and CO2 emissions) for large gas
turbines of power generation systems, using either fuel-lean catalytic
combustion (catalytically stabilized combustion, CST) or fuel-rich catalytic
combustion (catalytic partial oxidation, CPO). Small-scale power generation (50
We to 1 kWe) is also investigated for portable power generation.
Our group
operates atmospheric and high pressure combustion test rigs, which are
optically accessible to facilitate laser-based measurements (e.g. Raman, laser
induced fluorescence, particle image velocimetry). Detailed numerical
predictions with our in-house developed multi-dimensional CRFD codes, steady or
transient, are used to study the hetero-/homogeneous processes at industrially-relevant
operating conditions (pressures up to 16 atm), to validate chemical reaction
schemes, and to address the coupling of turbulence and hetero-/homogeneous
chemistry. The combustion stability maps of catalytic microreactors are also
investigated numerically. Analytical work based on activation energy
asymptotics complements our numerical activities and identifies the controlling
parameters in channel-flow catalytic combustion. Finally, Lattice Boltzmann
(LB) modeling is used to simulate non-reacting and reacting flows with
particular emphasis on micro-scale flows of low Knudsen number.
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