Reactor Studies of Alcohol-Water Catalysis, Phases I- III
Grant
Overview
abstract
Introducing catalytic surfaces in combustion systems supplies an additional control parameter, namely the surface reaction rate. Diffusion of energy and intermediate species released from exothermic surface reaction can dramatically accelerate gas phase reaction. While there have been many studies of catalytic oxidation of hydrocarbons, the majority examine dry gaseous fuels, only a few studies have examined catalytic oxidation in the presence of water vapor. The objective of this project is to produce a model that accurately predicts heterogeneous and homogeneous ignition over a range of fuel types, fuel-water mixtures, and initial thermal conditions. Data for this model will be generated from flow reactor studies and spectroscopic characterization of catalytic surfaces taken from different operating environments.
