CAREER: Reactive Fluid Mechanics of Mesoscale Hydrocarbon-based Power Generation

作者：Dimitrios C. Kyritsis，伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳-香槟分校机械与工业工程系摘要：小型化到令人印象深刻的小尺寸尺度已经在信息存储、电子、制造以及最近的微机电系统（MEMS）中得到了证明。然而，在这种系统小型化的追求中，同等小型电源的开发似乎滞后。目前可用的与电网无关的电源主要是化学电池，其功率密度是出了名的有限。利用“液体燃料电池”中碳氢化合物的高功率密度可以大大提高便携式电源的自主性，并在很大程度上使人类活动不受集中电网的影响。为了实现这一点，必须了解相关反应流体力学的基本原理。这项研究是对与中尺度烃类发电相关的反应流体力学机制的综合实验和理论研究。结合气相和表面实验技术，我们研究了将成为中尺度燃烧器“构建块”的流动元素，如平板边界层、圆柱体周围的流动，以及圆柱体和平面元素阵列周围的流动以及中尺度通道。这些流动是在与小规模发电相关的中间雷诺数、佩克莱数和达姆克勒数的范围内研究的，其中一些通常的近似是无效的。特别强调的是通过催化涂层表面的流动，因为在电池尺寸的应用中所需的相对较小的燃烧温度使催化成为稳定性的必要先决条件。激光诱导荧光测量和气相色谱-质谱分析相结合，红外热像仪和傅里叶变换红外测量表面提供有关燃料消耗，反应区结构，废气温度和成分作为表面温度和物质吸附/解吸的函数的数据。基于这些结果，对这些流动的早期理论分析进行了改进，这些理论分析依赖于均匀的表面温度和无限的表面反应速率。与研究部分相一致，热科学的现代挑战是平行教育和推广活动的主题。在大学课程中引入了激光诊断的高级/研究生课程。以“火焰”为标题的数码摄影比赛在伊利诺伊州中东部的K-12学生中定期组织，以调查自然发生和/或实验室的火焰。PI将以他的研究结果为基础，开发短期课程，将自动发电引入AIAA的继续教育项目。通过外联活动和为该项目征聘研究生，提高对工程的兴趣和少数民族和代表性不足群体的参与。

CAREER: Reactive fluid mechanics of mesoscale hydrocarbon-based power generationPI: Dimitrios C. Kyritsis, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignAbstract Miniaturization to impressively small dimensional scales has already been demonstrated in information storage, electronics, manufacturing, and recently, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). However, development of equivalent small-scale power sources seems to be lagging in this quest for systems miniaturization. Currently available, grid-independent power sources are predominantly chemical batteries, which are devices of notoriously limited power density. Exploiting the high power density of hydrocarbons in "liquid fuel batteries" could increase drastically the autonomy of portable power sources and provide a substantial degree of independence of human activity from centralized grids. In order for this to be achieved, the fundamentals of the related reactive fluid mechanics have to be known.This research is a comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigation of the regime of reactive fluid mechanics that is relevant for mesoscale, hydrocarbon-based power generation. Using a combination of gaseous phase and surface experimental techniques, we investigate the flow elements that will be the "building blocks" of mesoscale burners, such as the flat plate boundary layer, the flow around a cylinder, as well as the flow around arrays of cylindrical and flat elements and through mesoscale channels. These flows are studied in the regime of intermediate Reynolds, Peclet, and Damkhler numbers that is relevant for small-scale power generation and where several usual approximations are not valid. A particular emphasis is placed on flows over catalytically coated surfaces, since the relatively small combustion temperatures desired in battery-size applications make catalysis a necessary prerequisite for stability. Laser Induced Fluorescence measurements and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry analysis of the gaseous phase are combined with infrared thermography and Fourier Transform Infrared measurements on the surface to provide data regarding fuel depletion, reactive zone structure, and exhaust gas temperature and composition as a function of surface temperature and species adsorption/desorption. Based on these results, a refinement of early theoretical analyses of these flows, which relied on uniform surface temperature and infinite rates of surface reactions, is pursued. In concert with the research component, modern challenges in thermal science are the theme of parallel educational and outreach activities. A senior/graduate level course in laser diagnostics was introduced to the University curriculum. A digital photography competition under the title "Flames" is regularly organized among K-12 students of Eastern Central Illinois to investigate naturally occurring and/or laboratory flames. Autonomous power generation will be introduced to the continuing education program of AIAA through a short course the PI will develop based on his results. Enhancement of interest in engineering and participation of minorities and underrepresented groups is pursued through outreach activities and graduate student recruitment for the project.