Mathematical modeling of complex oscillatory phenomena during CO oxidationover Pd zeolite catalysts

A mathematical model, which simulates the complicated dynamic behavior expe rimentally observed during CO oxidation over Pd zeolite catalysts is presen ted. It describes the coupling of reaction rate oscillations, generated by various parts of the inhomogeneous catalytic layer through the gas phase. I t can be shown, that the resulting dynamic behavior depends upon the differ ence between natural frequencies of local oscillators and the strength of c oupling, which is defined mostly by the degree of conversion. Chaotic behav ior could be identified under the condition of weak coupling for local osci llators with widely different natural frequencies. In the range of strong c oupling the phenomenon of phase death has been obtained. A special type of intermittency chaos ("on-off" chaos) was observed in a small region of para meters under the conditions of strong coupling. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021- 9606(99)70841-X].