LAMINAR-FLOW OF A REACTING GASEOUS MIXTURE THROUGH A VERTICAL DUCT WITH CATALYTIC WALLS

Numerical analysis has been performed for predicting the onset and est ablishment of a steady state flow of a reactive hydrogen/air-vapour mi xture through a two-dimensional vertical duct of finite length with it s side walls coated by catalytic material. The flow is initiated by th e exothermic reaction of hydrogen with air oxygen on the catalytic wal l, that causes the hot gases to flow upwards through the vertical duct and by continuity sucks fresh mixture through the lower end of the du ct. The flow is always laminar and the two-dimensional governing trans port differential equations are solved by means of the numerical finit e volume method, using a collocated variable arrangement. Comparisons between calculated and experimental data are presented, showing good a greement between them. The method is employed for various initial mixt ure compositions and duct geometries.