Catalytic reactor with metal gauze catalysts for combustion of liquid fuel

Abstract

A design of a 400W radial-type catalytic reactor for combustion of diesel fuel is presented. The catalyst used in the reactor was Pt/Al2O3 supported on a heat-resistant metal gauze. Gas-flow resistance of the gauze structures was compared with the resistance of widely used bead and honeycomb supports. The reactor design does not require an external heat supply for vaporization of liquid fuel: the heat is transferred from the catalytic unit to the evaporation unit by radiation and heat conductivity through reactor components. Temperature in the evaporation unit is maintained in the range of 400–500°C in all operating regimes. A two-stage distributor provides a highly uniform distribution of the gas flow through the catalyst layer. Two identical implementations of the design were tested in the combustion of diesel fuels with the sulfur contents of 7 and 50ppm. No deterioration of the reactor effectiveness, which might result from the presence of sulfur in the diesel fuel, was observed throughout a 120-h test. Moreover, the operating ranges of both reactors were extending to lower temperatures.