Computational Analysis for the Catalytic Combustion of Hydrocarbons

Abstract

Combustion is a rapid exothermic reaction process that liberates a substantial amount of energy. The high temperature exothermic reaction occurs between fuel-air mixture usually atmospheric oxygen. Complete combustion occurs when there is a lot amount of oxygen in the reaction. VOCs are the volatile organic compounds that are mostly emitted during highly combustible reactions. These compounds are considered to be very dangerous for our environment. Hence, these substances are important to eliminate from the environment. In order to eliminate this substance from the environment, Catalytic combustion is considered to be the most efficient technique. Catalytic combustion is an environmentally friendly technology which has attained the stage of commercialization in the last few years. This is a phenomenon in which a catalyst is added to the reaction to enhance the performance of the process to reduce the number of undesired substances that are produced during the reaction. CFD Computational Fluid Dynamics is a fluid mechanics branch which numerically describes the fundamentals and fluid regimes of the process. Many types of research and developments regarding numerical simulation are being done because of the rapid increase in depending on computer models to help save resources and decrease product development time. In this research, a CFD Two-dimensional code (2D) and Threedimensional code (3D) has been developed for the combustion reactor under catalytic surface activity. This process describes the fluid regimes of the catalytic combustion phenomenon. Platinum group metals highly recommended in Natural gas drove gas turbines because of their superior activity with methane combustion. These catalysts are best known for their efficiency in conversion of catalytic combustion of methane into carbon dioxide and byproduct water. Combustion involving catalytic surface activity depends on the different aspects of the reaction, for example, the fuel-air ratio, the material support using for the catalytic surface and the material pre-treatment for loading on the surface for catalytic activity. Several fundamental issues are still open, and their understanding would result in an improvement of the technology. Therefore, this research majorly emphasizes at the identification of some of the parameters which govern the methane combustion activity of the platinum group metals. Currently, Catalytic Combustion of methane simulated under the influence of Platinum group metals as a catalyst where different fluid regimes, contours of static temperature and mass fractions profiles of CO, O2, H2, CO2, H2O, and CH4 are obtained. Keywords: Catalytic Combustion; Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD); Laminar Finite Rate Species Transport Model.