Examining Thermal Management Strategies for a Microcombustion Power Device

Microcombustion attracts interest with its promise of energy dense power generation for electronics. Yet, challenges remain to develop this technology further. Thermal management heat losses is a known hurdle. Simultaneously, non-uniformities in release within the reaction regions also affect device performance. Therefore combination thermal strategies are necessary further performance enhancements. Here, bench top platinum nanoparticle based microcombustion reactor, coupled thermoelectric generators used. Methanol-air mixtures achieve room temperature ignition catalytic cartridge. In current study, reactor design modified incorporate two traditional strategies. By limiting enthalpic through exhaust and sides, using multi-pass preheating channels recirculation, expected improvements achieved. The combined doubled output 1.01 W when compared previous design. Furthermore, preliminary study catalyst distribution presented mitigate non-uniform activity substrate. To do this, tailored particles was investigated. This investigation shows proof-of-concept localized control, thus management, over substrates. optimizing generation, highly refined combustion-based portable devices can be envisioned.