QUANTITATIVE OH PLANAR LASER INDUCED FLUORESCENCE DIAGNOSTICS OF SYNGAS AND METHANE COMBUSTION IN A CAVITY COMBUSTOR

The current work reports quantitative OH species concentration in the cavity of a trapped vortex combustor (TVC) in the context of mixing and flame stabilization studies using both syngas and methane fuels. Planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) measurements of OH radical obtained using a Nd: YAG pumped dye laser are quantified using a flat flame McKenna burner. The momentum flux ratio (MFR), defined as the ratio of the cavity fuel jet momentum to that of the guide vane air stream, is observed to be a key governing parameter. At high MFRs similar to 4.5, the flame front is observed to form at the interface of the fuel jet and the air jet stream. This is substantiated by velocity vector field measurements. For syngas, as the MFR is lowered to similar to 0.3, the fuel-air mixing increases and a flame front is formed at the bottom and downstream edge of the cavity where a stratified charge is present. This trend is observed for different velocities at similar equivalence ratios. In case of methane combustion in the cavity, where the MFRs employed are extremely low at similar to 0.01, a different mechanism is observed. A fuel-rich mixture is now observed at the center of the cavity and this mixture undergoes combustion. On further increase of the cavity equivalence ratio, the rich mixture exceeds the flammability limit and forms a thin reaction zone at the interface with air stream. As a consequence, a shear layer flame at the top of the cavity interface with the mainstream is also observed. The equivalence ratio in the cavity also determines the combustion characteristics in the case of fuel-air mixtures that are formed as a result of the mixing. Overall, flame stabilization mechanisms have been proposed, which account for the wide range of MFRs and premixing in the mainstream as well.

The effect of SO2 on the activity of Pd-based catalysts in methane combustion

The effect of SO2 on Pd-based catalysts for the combustion of methane has been investigated. It is shown that while SO2 poisons Al2O3- and SiO2-supported catalysts. pre-treatment of Pd/ZrO2 by SO2 enhances the activity substantially.

Ce-基催化剂上CH_4低温催化燃烧的研究

Ce-基催化剂在汽车尾气净化，工业废气处理，烃类重整，烃类选择加氢等方面均有广泛的应用。近几十年来关于如何制备高活性、高稳定性的非贵金属复合氧化物催化剂一直是催化研究的重要课题之一。Ce-基催化剂主要都是通过其它金属氧化物M掺杂到CeO_2中形成Ce_(1-x)M_xO（M为掺杂物）固溶体。本文选用CeO_2作为主要研究对象，用柠檬酸法有目的的引入化学特性、离子半径不同的另一组分，用x值表示各元素间的化学计量比，优化催化剂的组成、结构，来调节所合成固溶体氧化物的物理化学性质。分别以碱土金属Ca、稀土金属La以及过渡金属Ni和Mn为掺杂物制备出含其它不同离子的Ce-基催化剂；将具有较高活性的Ni_(0.7)Ce_(0.3)O负载在ZrO_2上，以CH_4燃烧为模型反应，考察催化剂活性和氧化还原性的关系。1．Ce-Ca-La-O体系单独Ca或La分别加入到CeO_2中后催化剂的活性比单独的CeO_2的活性要高出很多，完全转化温度要下降近100℃，而且它们的H_2-TPR实验也证实了其氧化还原能力有很大的提高。将Ca和La同时引入到CeO_2的复合氧化物Ce-La-Ca-O材料，其活性比无La的Ce-Ca-O的活性没有明显的提高，而且反而要比Ce-La-O的活性低，且其HZ一TPR实验也显示出和复合氧化物Ce-Ca-O的轮廓一样。2．Ce-Ni-Mn-O体系对NiO、MnO_x、CeO_2三种金属氧化物，在优化两种金属氧化物最佳配比（组成）后，在复合氧化物中掺杂第三种金属氧化物以考察第三种金属对其甲烷燃烧活性的影响。（l）CeO_2-MnO_x体系中，在Ce_(0.8)Mn_(0.2)O掺杂NiO后，发现当Ni的摩尔量为-10％时，活性提高幅度的很大，完全燃烧的温度下降了近50℃，可在550℃将CH_4完全氧化到CO_2。（2）CeO_2-NiO体系中，Ce_(0.3)Ni_(0.7)O可在530℃将CH_4完全氧化到CO_2。向其中掺杂Mn后，复合氧化物的活性反而下降，要在550oC才能将CH4完全氧化到C02。这可能是阴离子缺陷减少所致。（3）NIO一Mnox体系中，Nio，IMn090掺杂Ce后，催化活性有大幅度提高，特别是Nio．ICeyMno90（0．3三y生0．8）中催化剂的活性更高，可在530oC体系中，其中y＝0．5时更突出。3．Ni-Ce-O／ZrOZ体系（1）Ni1-x一Cex一O体系中，独立的CeOZ相促进了NIO的还原和表面积增加。（2）少量的CeOZ的掺杂明显改善了NIO对cH4完全氧化反应的活性。继续增加Ce的量催化活性弱有增加，然后下降。在Ce的掺杂量为30％时，即Nio7Ceo3O，催化活性最佳，此时甲烷完全转化的温度为530oC。（3）催化剂Ni07Ceo3O具有很好的稳定性，900oC下焙烧，还能在540oC将CH4完全氧化到COZ。（4）催化剂Pd／Ni07Ceo30的催化活性与Pd／A12O3的活性相当。（5）催化剂Ni07Ce03O负载在不同的载体上，发现ZrOZ作载体效果最佳，其次为5102，这可能是ZrOZ、5102对NIO、CeOZ相对惰性有关；而MgO、A1203虽表面积较大，但作为载体效果却不好，可能其易与NIO、CeOZ发生反应有关。（6）Nio7Ceo3O负载在ZrOZ上，提高了表面积同时促进了Nio7Ceo3O还原性，以负载量为50％时活性最好。结构分析发现有两个新相生成，Ni4Zro和CeZO3。（7）通过对比发现Nio7Ceo3O（50％）／ZrOZ体系高活性除了ZrOZ作为载体提高表面积外，Zr02和Ce在这里还起到助催化剂的作用。4．还探讨了Pr掺杂到CeO2，以及YSZ作为载体负载过渡金属氧化物在甲烷催化燃烧反应种的作用。

Preparation of Mn substituted La-hexaaluminate catalysts by using supercritical drying

LaMnxAl12-xO19 catalysts were prepared from NH4OH and metal nitrates solutions. Supercritical drying (SCD) and conventional oven drying (CD) methods were used to extract the water in the hydrogel. The effects of drying methods on properties of the catalysts were investigated by means of TEM, N-2-adsorption, thermogravimetry (TG)-differential thermal analysis (DTA) and X-ray diffraction. SCD method is beneficial to maintain high surface area and improving catalytic activity for methane combustion of the catalyst. The specific surface area and pore volume of LaMn1Al11O19 catalyst prepared by SCD method are 28 m(2)/g and 0.23 cm(3)/g, respectively, and the ignition of methane could be carried out at 450degreesC. However, those of the CD catalyst prepared from the same precursor are 15 m(2)/g, 0.11 cm(3)/g and 530 degreesC, respectively. Suitable Mn content (0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 2) could promote the formation of LaMnAl11O19 hexaaluminate, while further addition of Mn (2 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 6) cause the formation of LaMnO3. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

Formation of a novel type of reverse microemulsion system and its application in synthesis of the nanostructured La0.95Ba0.05MnAl11O19 catalyst

In the study, a novel microemulsion system, consisting of water, iso-propanol and n-butanol, was developed to synthesize the nanostructured La0.95Ba0.05MnAl11O19 catalyst with high surface area and catalytic activity for methane combustion.

Reduction property and catalytic activity of Ce1-XNiXO2 mixed oxide catalysts for CH4 oxidation

Ce1-XNiXO2 oxides with X varying from 0.05 to 0.5 were prepared by different methods and characterized by XRD and TPR techniques. Ce(0.7)Mi(0.3)O(2) sample prepared by sol-gel method shows the highest reducibility and the highest catalytic activity for methane combustion. Three kinds of Ni phases co-exist in the Ce1-XNiXO2 catalysts prepared by sol-gel method: (i) aggregated NiO on the support CeO2, (ii) highly dispersed NiO with strong interaction with CeO2 and (iii) Ni atoms incorporated into CeO2 lattice. The distribution of different Ni species strongly depends on the preparation methods. The highly dispersed NiO shows the highest activity for methane combustion. The NiO aggregated on the support CeO2 shows lower catalytic activity for methane combustion, while the least catalytic activity is found for the Ni species incorporated into CeO2. Any oxygen vacancy formed in CeO2 lattice due to the incorporating of Ni atoms adsorbs and activates the molecular oxygen to form active oxygen species. So the highest catalytic activity for methane combustion on Ce0.7Ni0.3O2 catalyst is attributed not only to the highly dispersed Ni species but also to the more active oxygen species formed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Cyclic voltammetry for predicting oxidation process in heterogeneous catalysis

Catalytic reactions with different oxidation process were investigated and correlated to the electrochemical properties of the catalysts. The activity of suprafacial reaction is closely related to the area of redox peak, while that of the intrafacial one is to the match of redox potentials. Accordingly, it is supposed that cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurement could be a means for predicting the oxidation process in heterogeneous catalysis.

Preparation and characterisation of supported L(a0.)8Sr(0.2)MnO(3+x)

Three supported La0.8Sr0.2MnO3+x catalysts were prepared, one supported on lanthanum-stabilised alumina and two supported on a NiAl2O4 spinel. The catalysts were characterised using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and surface area measurements following heat-treatments at temperatures up to 1200 degreesC in air. In the alumina-supported catalyst, a reaction occurred between the active phase and the support at high temperatures, indicating that these materials would be unsuitable for high temperature catalytic combustion. Only in the NiAl2O4-supported catalysts were the supported perovskite phases found to be stable at high temperature. These catalysts showed good methane combustion activity. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Study of La2-xCaxCuO4 perovskites for the low temperature water gas shift reaction

The effects of small fractions of calcium (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, and 0.20) on the structure and the catalytic properties of La2-xCaxCuO4 peroviskites have been investigated. The samples have been synthesized using the co-precipitation method. Perovskite-type oxides were characterized by XRD, TPR, XPS, XANES, SEM, and TEM. Catalytic tests for the water gas shift reaction (WGSR) were carried out in a tubular reactor at 290 degrees C. All samples showed a well-defined perovskite structure with surface areas between 6 and 18 m(2) g(-1). The partial substitution of La by Ca enhanced the stability of the perovskites and increased their reduction temperature. All catalysts were actives for WGSR, and the best catalytic performance was obtained for the La1.85Ca0.15CuO4 catalyst, but the samples with 5 and 10% of Ca had the best TOF values for reaction. These results can be associated to promoter effect of calcium, the high surface area, and the reducible species Cu-0 and Cu1+. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A study on the flow characteristics of an industrial radiant tube burner

The thesis presents an experimentally validated modelling study of the flow of combustion air in an industrial radiant tube burner (RTB). The RTB is used typically in industrial heat treating furnaces. The work has been initiated because of the need for improvements in burner lifetime and performance which are related to the fluid mechanics of the com busting flow, and a fundamental understanding of this is therefore necessary. To achieve this, a detailed three-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model has been used, validated with experimental air flow, temperature and flue gas measurements. Initially, the work programme is presented and the theory behind RTB design and operation in addition to the theory behind swirling flows and methane combustion. NOx reduction techniques are discussed and numerical modelling of combusting flows is detailed in this section. The importance of turbulence, radiation and combustion modelling is highlighted, as well as the numerical schemes that incorporate discretization, finite volume theory and convergence. The study first focuses on the combustion air flow and its delivery to the combustion zone. An isothermal computational model was developed to allow the examination of the flow characteristics as it enters the burner and progresses through the various sections prior to the discharge face in the combustion area. Important features identified include the air recuperator swirler coil, the step ring, the primary/secondary air splitting flame tube and the fuel nozzle. It was revealed that the effectiveness of the air recuperator swirler is significantly compromised by the need for a generous assembly tolerance. Also, there is a substantial circumferential flow maldistribution introduced by the swirier, but that this is effectively removed by the positioning of a ring constriction in the downstream passage. Computations using the k-ε turbulence model show good agreement with experimentally measured velocity profiles in the combustion zone and proved the use of the modelling strategy prior to the combustion study. Reasonable mesh independence was obtained with 200,000 nodes. Agreement was poorer with the RNG  k-ε and Reynolds Stress models. The study continues to address the combustion process itself and the heat transfer process internal to the RTB. A series of combustion and radiation model configurations were developed and the optimum combination of the Eddy Dissipation (ED) combustion model and the Discrete Transfer (DT) radiation model was used successfully to validate a burner experimental test. The previously cold flow validated k-ε turbulence model was used and reasonable mesh independence was obtained with 300,000 nodes. The combination showed good agreement with temperature measurements in the inner and outer walls of the burner, as well as with flue gas composition measured at the exhaust. The inner tube wall temperature predictions validated the experimental measurements in the largest portion of the thermocouple locations, highlighting a small flame bias to one side, although the model slightly over predicts the temperatures towards the downstream end of the inner tube. NOx emissions were initially over predicted, however, the use of a combustion flame temperature limiting subroutine allowed convergence to the experimental value of 451 ppmv. With the validated model, the effectiveness of certain RTB features identified previously is analysed, and an analysis of the energy transfers throughout the burner is presented, to identify the dominant mechanisms in each region. The optimum turbulence-combustion-radiation model selection was then the baseline for further model development. One of these models, an eccentrically positioned flame tube model highlights the failure mode of the RTB during long term operation. Other models were developed to address NOx reduction and improvement of the flame profile in the burner combustion zone. These included a modified fuel nozzle design, with 12 circular section fuel ports, which demonstrates a longer and more symmetric flame, although with limited success in NOx reduction. In addition, a zero bypass swirler coil model was developed that highlights the effect of the stronger swirling combustion flow. A reduced diameter and a 20 mm forward displaced flame tube model shows limited success in NOx reduction; although the latter demonstrated improvements in the discharge face heat distribution and improvements in the flame symmetry. Finally, Flue Gas Recirculation (FGR) modelling attempts indicate the difficulty of the application of this NOx reduction technique in the Wellman RTB. Recommendations for further work are made that include design mitigations for the fuel nozzle and further burner modelling is suggested to improve computational validation. The introduction of fuel staging is proposed, as well as a modification in the inner tube to enhance the effect of FGR.