Convective diffusion in a parallel plate duct with one catalytic wall—laminar flow—first order reaction: Part II: Experimental

Abstract

AbstractThe catalytic reaction rate of combustion of hydrogen in air on platinized alumina was measured in a flat rectangular flow reactor with one catalytic wall in laminar flow. Since the rate of reaction is very high, this measurement normally must be made in turbulent flow. However, with the aid of the measured concentration profiles and the analysis presented in Part I, it was possible to ascertain the reaction rate in the laminar flow regime. The rate constants compare well with literature values which were measured in the turbulent flow regime. Average Nusselt numbers for mass transfer calculated for the diffusionally limited cases were in good agreement with those obtained from Part I.A narrow rectangular channel (aspect ratio = 8:1) with 16‐in. of one wall comprising the reactive section was constructed for this investigation. The channel has a long preheat section, an adiabatic section with multiple heaters, and thermocouples for maintaining isothermal conditions. Two micrometer mounted probes are inserted through the wall opposite the replaceable catalytic section. Concentrations are measured at the inlet, inside the reactive section, and at the outlet in a mixing chamber.