Entropy generation during the quasi-steady burning of spherical fuel particles

Entropy generation during the quasi-steady combustion of spherical liquid fuel particles has been presented in detail. The effects of freestream velocity, particle diameter, ambient temperature and gravity, on the entropy generation rate, have been discussed in detail. In the range of sub-critical freestream velocity, where an envelope flame is present, the entropy generation rate presents a minimum value. At a critical velocity, where the flame transition occurs, the entropy generation rate reaches a maximum value. Flame transition significantly affects the entropy generation rate, which suffers a sharp decrease in its value after the transition. Heat transfer and chemical reaction contribute almost equally to the total entropy generation rate. When normal gravity is considered in an upward flow configuration, there is an increase in the entropy generation rate as compared to the zero gravity case. The effect of gravity poses a complex variation pattern in the entropy generation rate, for a downward flow configuration. The entropy generation rate decreases with increasing ambient temperature. The entropy generation rate increases with the particle diameter. A correlation has been presented for the non-dimensional entropy generation number as a function of Froude number. © 2006 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.