Light-off Performance of Catalytic Converters: The Effect of Heat/Mass Transfer Characteristics

M. J. Ryan ¹, E. R. Becker ² and K. Zygourakis ¹

¹ Dept. of Chemical Engineering
Rice University
Houston, Texas 77251-1892

² Environex
PO Box 159
Wayne, PA 19087

ABSTRACT

A mathematical model is developed and a systematic parametric study is carried out to investigate the transient performance of adiabatic monolithic converters having channels with different geometries. Simulation results reveal that high heat and mass transfer coefficients may degrade reactor performance under certain conditions. The implications of these results for the design of catalytic converters are discussed and analyzed.

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