Enhanced combustion with nano-sized catalytically active particles

使用纳米级催化活性颗粒增强燃烧

• 批准号: 0755740
• 负责人: Howard Pearlman
• 金额: $ 33.75万
• 依托单位: Drexel University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-09-01 至 2010-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0755740&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Enhanced; combustion; nano; sized; catalytically

CBET-0755740Pearlman The research seeks to investigate scientific aspects of nanocatalytic combustion that are necessary for creating palm-size electric generators. Such portable power devices could be recharged quickly and fueled with high-energy-density liquid fuels (e.g., methanol: 22 MJ/kg, ethanol: 25 MJ/kg) compared to batteries (~0.5 MJ/kg), potentially valuable for many applications. One key is to use catalytic combustion, and the high reactivity of nano-sized catalytic metal particles could reduce the amount of catalyst needed, reduce the required operating temperatures, reduce heat loss, and increase overall system efficiency. In light of all of their advantages, too little is however known about the specifics that control the increased reactivity observed using nano-sized catalytic particles. To improve fundamental understanding of the reactivity of nano-sized catalytic particles and enable their use in commercial technology, proposed study would involve an experimental investigation of catalytic combustion utilizing nano-sized particles in a flow reactor. The PIs have conducted preliminary experiments to demonstrate low light-off temperatures and low-temperature oxidation of methanol in a quartz-tube reactor, and they now propose to study the effects of catalyst particle size, catalyst mass loading, and catalyst deactivation systematically. Proposed experiments will characterize the combustion process in the catalytic bed reactor from temperature measurements and the catalyst by ex-situ analysis using SEM and TEM. Additionally, design and characterization of a meso-scale reactor in a planar geometry is proposed, interfacing with a thermo-electric generator as a means of palm-size electric generator. Modeling will be carried out utilizing commercial computational-fluid-dynamics software coupled with the Surface CHEMKIN chemical-kinetics model.In additional to the scientific and technological impact of this work, it provides a valuable opportunity to train students in the promising area of catalytic combustion. Special attention will be given to attracting students from under-represented groups who might not otherwise consider advanced education or combustion science through existing programs at Drexel. Current outreach programs at Drexel University work with Philadelphia and Delaware Middle and High School teachers (MSP, RET) and will be enhanced with exercises in combustion, catalysis, nanotechnology and energy issues. By introducing these issues to a broad group of largely under-represented minority students, it will hopefully help them to further their interest in STEM fields.

CBET-0755740Pearlman 这项研究旨在研究纳米催化燃烧的科学方面，这对于制造手掌大小的发电机是必需的。与电池（约 0.5 MJ/kg）相比，此类便携式电源设备可以快速充电并使用高能量密度液体燃料（例如，甲醇：22 MJ/kg，乙醇：25 MJ/kg）提供燃料，这对许多应用具有潜在价值。 关键之一是使用催化燃烧，纳米催化金属颗粒的高反应活性可以减少所需的催化剂用量，降低所需的操作温度，减少热损失，并提高整体系统效率。然而，鉴于它们的所有优点，对于控制使用纳米尺寸催化颗粒观察到的增加的反应性的细节知之甚少。为了提高对纳米催化颗粒反应性的基本了解并使其在商业技术中得到应用，拟议的研究将涉及在流动反应器中利用纳米颗粒进行催化燃烧的实验研究。 PI 已经进行了初步实验，以证明石英管反应器中甲醇的低起燃温度和低温氧化，现在他们建议系统地研究催化剂粒径、催化剂负载量和催化剂失活的影响。拟议的实验将通过温度测量来表征催化床反应器中的燃烧过程，并通过使用 SEM 和 TEM 进行异位分析来表征催化剂。此外，还提出了平面几何中的中尺度反应器的设计和表征，该反应器与热电发电机连接作为手掌大小的发电机。建模将利用商业计算流体动力学软件与 Surface CHEMKIN 化学动力学模型相结合进行。除了这项工作的科学和技术影响之外，它还为在催化燃烧这一有前景的领域培训学生提供了宝贵的机会。我们将特别关注吸引来自代表性不足群体的学生，否则他们可能不会考虑通过德雷克塞尔现有的项目接受高等教育或燃烧科学。德雷塞尔大学目前的外展项目与费城和特拉华州初中和高中教师（MSP、RET）合作，并将通过燃烧、催化、纳米技术和能源问题方面的练习得到加强。通过向广大少数族裔学生介绍这些问题，有望帮助他们进一步提高对 STEM 领域的兴趣。