Effect of dilution on catalytic oxidation: model validation through experiments and predictions of operation regimes

The effect of dilution on H-2/O-2/N-2 oxidation over platinum is studied in a stagnation flow geometry. Experimental catalytic autotherms are compared to simulations, for model validation and to extract a realistic heat loss parameter. The comparison shows good agreement between theory and experimen ts regarding the autothermal temperatures, the occurrence and location of t he surface stoichiometric point, and the upper flammability limit. Upon mod el validation, operation regimes for catalytic oxidation are predicted as a function of N-2 dilution. In particular, dilution is proposed as a strateg y to control catalytic autothermal temperatures at fixed H-2/O-2 ratios, an d its effects on reactor safety such as reactor startup and flame flashback are discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.