Computational Fluid Dynamic Study of CH4 Combustion for Synthesis of Nanoparticles in a Diffusion Flame Reactor

Computational Fluid Dynamic Study of CH4 Combustion for Synthesis of Nanoparticles in a Diffusion Flame Reactor

A computational fluid dynamic method was used to simulate methane combustion in a diffusion flame reactor in order to predict the temperature, velocity and species concentration profiles in the reactor. Effects of different variable parameters, namely inlet velocities, inlet temperatures and size of the burner nozzle on temperature and concentration profiles throughout the reactor are illustrated. According to results, increasing fuel-oxidant velocity difference will decrease domains of temperature changes, but it leads to a steeper temperature gradient. At high air inlet temperatures, the average temperature in the reactor is elevated, but the rate of reaction will be comparatively low. Furthermore, low air inlet temperature results in better mixing; whereas, higher air feed temperature will lead to higher extent of complete combustion reaction. Moreover, decreasing the burner nozzle size considerably flattens temperature profile, which is desirable.