Development of a catalytic heating system for external combustion engines

Abstract

A catalytic heater design was proposed for an external combustion engine. This design is based on the partial oxidation or autothermal conversion of hydrocarbon fuel to syngas and its further oxidation with heat generation in a radial catalytic reactor integrated with a tubular heat exchanger. The theoretical analysis of operational regimes for a catalytic heater with a thermal power of 25–50 kW was performed with regard to the distribution of gas and the mathematical modeling of processes in a catalyst bed integrated with a heat exchanger, and some estimates were given for the performance of an external combustion engine. The conditions providing a uniform distribution of gas along the length of a radial reactor with suction of a reaction mixture into the catalyst bed were determined. A design of catalytic heating system elements was developed, and some layout solutions that provide a rational mutual arrangement of system components were created.