Design and fabrication of a catalytic reactor for treating automobile exhaust

Abstract

A reactor was designed for the conversion of exhaust pollutants from an internal combustion engine using gasoline as fuel. A bed height of 420 mm was used with an internal diameter of 40 mm; a space-time of 23.6 s and a fractional conversion of 0.99 at a space velocity of 0.042 m/s was achieved. A catalyst formulation of PtO₂ (1%), Devarda alloy (Al, 45; Cu, 50 and Zn 5%) with NHVO₃ and <img src='/image/spc_char/gamma2.gif' border=0>-Al₂O₅ support was prepared to meet the reaction specification of particle length 0.28± 2 mm, and diameter of 0.15 mm. Performance evaluation of the pollutant conversion at 375°C ± 25°C showed 98% conversion of CO, 99% of HC and NO_x 98% with 100% hydrogen utilisation.