A novel multi-scale model is developed to describe in detail the reaction and diffusion processes taking place in the catalytic layers of three-way automobile converters. This comprehensive model considers the simultaneous oxidation of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and one hydrocarbon species, as well as the reduction of nitrogen oxide. The resulting problem of coupled and nonlinear ordinary differential equations is solved using an adaptive spline collocation technique. Our computations reveal significant diffusional limitations in the catalytic layers and important interactions among the various gaseous reactants. A systematic study is carried out to determine the relative importance of various operating and system parameters, and several possible ways are suggested to improve the operating efficiency of the catalytic converters.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:RICE/oai:scholarship.rice.edu:1911/17480 |
| Date | January 2001 |
| Creators | Yao, Dongping |
| Contributors | Zygourakis, Kyriacos |
| Source Sets | Rice University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis, Text |
| Format | 110 p., application/pdf |
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