Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “catalytic”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 847 records · Page 47

Experimental evaluation of fuel preparation systems for an automotive gas turbine catalytic combustor

Premixing-prevaporizing fuel systems were evaluated for use with a catalytic reactor for possible automotive gas turbine application. Spatial fuel-air distributions, degree of vaporization, pressure drop and air velocity profiles were measured. Three airblast injectors and an air-assist nozzle were tested. Air swirlers were used to improve the spatial fuel-air distribution. The work was done in a 12 cm tubular duct. Test conditions were: a pressure of 0.3 and 0.5 MPa, inlet air temperatures up to 800 K, air velocities of 10 and 20 m/s and fuel-air ratios up to 0.020. The fuel was Jet A. The best results were obtained with an air-blast configuration that used multiple cones to provide high velocity air for atomization and also straightened the inlet airflow. With this configuration, uniform spatial fuel-air distributions were obtained with mixing lengths greater than 17.8 cm. In this length, vaporization of the fuel was 98.5 percent complete at an inlet air temperature of 700 K. The total pressure loss was 1.0 percent with a reference velocity of 20 m/s and 0.25 percent at 10 m/s. The air velocity was uniform across the duct and no autoignition reactions were observed.

Tacina, R. R.↗

Catalytic hydrosolvation process converts coal to low-sulfur liquid fuel

Development of the catalytic hydrosolvation process for converting coal to low-sulfur fuel oil is described in this paper. Coal impregnated with catalyst was slurried with oil, and the mixture was hydrogenated at a temperature of 475 C, and 30 min residence time under 3600 psi pressure. A ton of coal yielded 3.5 bbl of fuel oil containing 0.2% sulfur, with naphtha and C1-C4 hydrocarbon gases as byproducts. A preliminary economic evaluation of the process indicated potential for further development.

Qader, S. A.↗

Advanced low emissions catalytic combustor program at Pratt and Whitney

The feasibility of employing catalytic combustion technology to control the emissions of oxides of nitrogen for subsonic, stratospheric cruise aircraft operations is the objective of this NASA contract. The existing Enivornmental Protection Agency standards for the landing and takeoff cycle were also required to be satisfied. Work for the first phase of a proposed three phase effort is reported and is concerned with analytical design studies.

Sturgess, G. J.↗

Catalytic trimerization of aromatic nitriles and triaryl-s-triazine ring cross-linked high temperature resistant polymers and copolymers made thereby

Triazine compounds and cross-linked polymer compositions are made by heating aromatic nitriles to a temperature in the range of from about 100 C to about 700 C, and preferably in the range of from about 200 C to about 350 C, in the presence of a catalyst or mixture of catalysts selected from one or more of the following groups: (1) organic sulfonic and sulfinic acids, (2) organic phosphonic and phosphinic acids, and (3)metallic acetylacetonates, at a pressure in the range of from about atmospheric pressure to about 10,000 psi and preferably in the range of from about 200 psi to about 750 psi. Aromatic nitrile-modified (terminated and/or appended) imide, benzimidazole, imidazopyrrolone, quinoxaline, and other condensation type prepolymers or their precopolymers are made which are trimerized with or without a filler by the aforementioned catalytic trimerization process into triaryl-s-triazine ring containing or cross-linked polymeric or copolymeric products useful in applications requiring high thermal-oxidative stability and high performance structural properties at elevated temperatures.

Hsu, L. C.↗

Effect of inlet temperature on the performance of a catalytic reactor

A 12-cm-diameter by 15-cm-long catalytic reactor was tested with No. 2 diesel fuel in a combustion test rig at inlet temperatures of 700, 800, 900, and 1000 K. Other test conditions included pressures of 300,000 and 600,000 Pa, reference velocities of 10, 15, and 20 m/s, and adiabatic combustion temperatures in the range from 1100 to 1400 K. The combustion efficiency was calculated from measurements of carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon emissions. Nitrogen oxide emissions and reactor pressure drop were also measured. At a reference velocity of 10 m/s, the CO and unburned hydrocarbons emissions and, therefore, the combustion efficiency were independent of inlet temperature. At an inlet temperature of 1000 K, they were independent of reference velocity. Nitrogen oxides emissions resulted from conversion of the small amount of fuel-bound nitrogen in the fuel. Up to 90% conversion was observed with no apparent effect of any of the test variables. For typical gas-turbine operating conditions, all three pollutants were below levels which would permit the most stringent proposed automotive emissions standards to be met.

Anderson, D. N.↗

Correlations of catalytic combustor performance parameters

A 12-cm-diameter catalytic combustor test rig using propane fuel at an inlet temperature of 800 K, a pressure of 300,000 Pa, and reference velocities from 10 to 20 m/s was studied. Combustion efficiency at the test conditions is a function of the catalyst bed cell density, cell circumference, reactor length, and the reference velocity; the efficiency was also dependent on the adiabatic reaction temperature to the tenth power. The percentage pressure drop is proportional to the reference velocity to the 1.5 power and is also proportional to the reactor length and inversely proportional to the cell hydraulic diameter, fractional open area, and the pressure. The minimum adiabatic reaction temperature required to meet the emissions goals is proportional to the reference velocity to the 0.1 power and inversely proportional to the cell circumference, cell density, and reactor length to the 0.1 power. The parameters which are a function of a catalyst factor are reported.

Bulzan, D. L.↗

Direct /TEM/ observation of the catalytic oxidation of amorphous carbon by Pd particles

The catalytic oxidation of amorphous carbon substrates by Pd particles is observed by in situ transmission electron microscopy. Various modes of selective attack of the carbon substrate in the immediate neighborhood of Pd particles are observed, which can be correlated with different degrees of particle mobility. Using amorphous substrates we have been able to demonstrate that the particle-substrate interaction is influenced by the structure of the particle. This has not previously been noted.

Moorhead, R. D.↗

Catalytic honeycomb combustor - Steady-state model and comparison with experiment

A steady-state lean combustion model for monolithic catalytic combustors is given. The model, consisting of several semi-global chemical reaction steps in the gas-phase and on the surface, is capable of analyzing CO and THC emissions. In the model computation presented, the influence of operating and design parameters on the minimum combustor length is studied. Special attention is given to the effect of after-bed gas-phase reaction space. Comparison with experimental data indicates good agreement in the range of parameters covered.

Tien, J. S.↗

Experimental evaluation of catalytic combustion with heat removal at near stoichiometric conditions

Two concentric tube configurations were tested. Tests were conducted at an inlet pressure of 150,000 Pa, inlet fuel air mixture temperatures from 780 to 960 K, combustion air flow rates from 0.78 to 1.5 g/s, equivalence ratios up to 0.90, and a range of cooling air flow rates. Propane and propylene fuels were used. Both configurations used air flowing through the center tube for cooling and combustion in the annulus on the catalytic surface. One configuration had the catalyst applied to the outside surface of the inner tube. Conversion of the fuel was very low for this configuration. The other configuration had the catalyst applied to the inside surface of the outer tube. Conversion of the fuel was considerably better in this configuration.

Bulzan, D. L.↗

Catalytic combustion with incompletely vaporized residual fuel

Catalytic combustion of fuel lean mixtures of incompletely vaporized residual fuel and air was investigated. The 7.6 cm diameter, graded cell reactor was constructed from zirconia spinel substrate and catalyzed with a noble metal catalyst. Streams of luminous particles exited the rector as a result of fuel deposition and carbonization on the substrate. Similar results were obtained with blends of No. 6 and No. 2 oil. Blends of shale residual oil and No. 2 oil resulted in stable operation. In shale oil blends the combustor performance degraded with a reduced degree of fuel vaporization. In tests performed with No. 2 oil a similar effect was observed.

Rosfjord, T. J.↗

Carbon Cloth Supports Catalytic Electrodes

Carbon cloth is starting material for promising new catalytic electrodes. Carbon-cloth electrodes are more efficient than sintered-carbon configuration previously used. Are also chemically stable and require less catalyst--an important economic advantage when catalyst is metal such as platinum.

Lu, W. T. P.↗

Determination of a kinetic region in catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide

The catalytic activity of cupric oxide activated with ceric oxide in a braod interval of volumetric velocities was investigated. It was determined that for practical catalysts used in the diffuse region, dilution of the active substance by an inert diluent increases the effectiveness of the catalysts.

Sultanov, M. Y.↗

Evaluation of catalytic combustion of actual coal-derived gas

The combustion characteristics of a Pt-Pl catalytic reactor burning coal-derived, low-Btu gas were investigated. A large matrix of test conditions was explored involving variations in fuel/air inlet temperature and velocity, reactor pressure, and combustor exit temperature. Other data recorded included fuel gas composition, reactor temperatures, and exhaust emissions. Operating experience with the reactor was satisfactory. Combustion efficiencies were quite high (over 95 percent) over most of the operating range. Emissions of NOx were quite high (up to 500 ppm V and greater), owing to the high ammonia content of the fuel gas.

Blanton, J. C.↗

Evaluation of a non-catalytic coating for metallic TPS

A commercially available ceramic coating was evaluated for application to metallic heat shields for Shuttle-type entry vehicles. Coated Inconel 617 specimens were subjected to thermal shock cycles, surface emittances were measured, and surface equilibrium temperatures were measured for coated and oxidized specimens exposed to an arc-tunnel environment. The coating adhered very well to the metal and appeared to be very non-catalytic.

Pittman, C. M.↗

Modeling a Transient Catalytic Combustor

Transient model of monolith catalytic combustor presented in report done under NASA/DOE contract. Model assumes quasi-steady gas phase and thermally "thin" solid. In gas-phase treatment, several quasi-global chemical reactions assumed capable of describing CO and unburnt hydrocarbon emissions in fuel-lean operations. In steady-state computation presented, influence of selected operating and design parameters on minimum combustor length studied. When fast transient responses required, both steady and unsteady studies made to achieve meaningful compromise in design.

Tien, J. S.↗

Fuel rich catalytic comustion: The first stage of a two-stage combustor

An experimental program demonstrated that fuel-rich catalytic combustion can be accomplished soot free as long as the combustion temperature is less than the temperature at the rich limit of combustion. Although soot was not measured directly, three pieces of data strongly suggest that it was not present: (1) the product gases were completely transparent and produced no radiation characteristic of soot, (2) measured reaction temperatures followed closely those calculated for equilibrium with no soot present, and (3) over 99 percent of the carbon was accounted for in the measured reaction products. Data for two catalyst configurations were taken along with gas samples at two locations downstream of the catalyst bed.

Brabbs, T. A.↗

Development of a para-orthohydrogen catalytic converter for a solid hydrogen cooler

Design features of a tested catalytic converter for altering vented cryogenic parahydrogen used as a coolant on spacecraft into a para-ortho equilibrium for channeling to other cooling functions are described. The hydrogen is expected to be stored in either liquid or solid form. A high surface area Ni-on-Si catalyst was selected for tests at an operating pressure of 2 torr at a ratio of 1000 gr catalyst for a gr/sec hydrogen flow. Cylindrical and radial flow geometries were tried and measurements centered on the converter efficiencies at different operating temperatures when the converter was placed in the vent line of the H2 cooler. Efficiencies ranging from 10-100 percent were obtained for varying flow rates. Further testing is necessary to characterize the converter performance under a wider range of operating temperatures and environments.

Nast, T. C.↗

Production of an ion-exchange membrane-catalytic electrode bonded material for electrolytic cells

A good bond is achieved by placing a metal salt in solution on one side of a membrane and a reducing agent on the other side so that the reducing agent penetrates the membrane and reduces the metal. Thus, a solution containing Pt, Rh, etc., is placed on one side of the membrane and a reducing agent such as NaBH, is placed on the other side. The bonded metal layer obtained is superior in catalytic activity and is suitable as an electrode in a cell such as for solid polymer electrolyte water electrolysis.

Takenaka, H.↗