Combustion and heat transfer characteristics inside the combustion chamber of a wood pellet boiler

• Published in: Journal of mechanical science and technology Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 789 - 795
• Main Authors: Ahn, Joon, Kim, Jong Jin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Netherlands Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers 01.02.2014; Springer Nature B.V; 대한기계학회
• Subjects: Boilers; Combustion; Combustion chambers; Computer simulation; Control; Dynamical Systems; Engineering; Heat transfer; Industrial and Production Engineering; Mathematical models; Mechanical Engineering; Pellets; Turbulent flow; Vibration; Wood; 기계공학; Pellet; Combustion; Heat transfer; Grate-firing boiler
• ISSN: 1738-494X; 1976-3824
• DOI: 10.1007/s12206-013-1145-0

A grate-firing boiler was developed for wood pellet fuel, and then its combustion characteristics were tested. The flame was stretched to the exit of the combustion chamber, implying insufficient space for complete combustion. As a first step to resolve this problem, a numerical simulation was conducted for the combustion chamber. Turbulent and chemically reacting flow was considered by implementing a homogeneous reaction model. Flow field from the simulation showed strong recirculation flow at the upstream corner of the chamber, along which the flame was stretched to the exit. Based on these results, we suggest possible modification of the combustion chamber to improve combustion characteristics, such as relocating its exit or installing internals like guide vanes.