Compact Catalytic Convertor Reactor System

Project number: 
21079
Sponsor: 
UA Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
Academic year: 
2020-2021
Project Goal: Design an optimized compact catalytic reactor system for diesel powered vehicles to capture and remove carbonaceous particles.

Because of incomplete combustion, diesel-powered vehicles emit carbonaceous particles. The carbonaceous particles, or PM, contain microscopic solids and liquids less than 10 micrometers in diameter. The particles can go deep into the lungs and bloodstream and cause serious health problems. They also are a major environmental concern.

A diesel particulate filter, or DPF, can be installed in the exhaust system to reduce PM emissions to a level that meets U.S Environmental Protection Agency regulations. In this design, the DPF has a cordierite substrate in a monolith channel configuration to capture 95% of PM. A monolayer catalyst, which combines a transition metal and a noble metal, is applied to the substrate using an impregnation method to aid the regeneration process that oxidizes the PM and controls the thickness of the carbon deposit layer. System pressure and temperature sensors monitor the engine and filtration to prevent failure.

DPF simulations used mathematical models that imitate the flow of exhaust gases through the wall and carbon deposit layer.

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