2002 Volume 43 Issue 3 Pages 462-465
Temperature distributions and thermoelectrical performance of a porous FeSi2 in a steady state of reciprocatory flow combustion have been examined. The temperature gradient between the hot and the cold side of the elements reached about 200 K/cm, resulting in high output power per density of 226 Wh/m2. It has been also found that the incoming gases were preheated by the porous element to a temperature where combustion occurs and exhaust gases transferred the thermal energy to the element before leaving the element. This energy recirculation leads to an extension of the flammable limit for dilute fuel gases, equivalence ratio; φ=0.27. The low conversion efficiency of 0.033% would be attributed to the convective heat loss by the exhaust gases due to the small volumetric surface area inside the porous element.
