A numerical analysis of single char particle heated by a laser

An unsteady state boundary layer model was developed in order to analyse the combustion of single char particles in radiation fields. The model is based on the following assumptions, a spherical char particle with small diameter is combusted at atmospheric pressure, the temperature difference between the surface and the inside of the particle is negligible, particle diameter shrinks due to the reaction on the char surface, the surrounding gas is stagnant, but Stefan flow is taken into consideration and bulk gas flow is neglected. The model predicts the particle temperature increase and the distributions of gas temperature and gas components in the boundary layer. The computed distribution of gas component proves clearly that the reaction rate is mainly controlled by oxygen diffusion in the boundary layer except during the initial heating, and reaction. Using the simulation model, the effects of particle size, oxygen content in bulk gas and input laser power is discussed. The results predict that smaller particles heat up faster in initial heating and higher laser input has the same effect. Further, it is shown that a higher oxygen contept raises the sustained combustion temperature and shortens the combustion period.