The influence of a catalytic surface on the gas-phase combustion of H2+O2

The OH concentration outside a Pt catalyst at 1300 K, in a stagnation flow of 90% O-2 and 10% H-2, has been studied by planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF), and compared to measurements outside a heated glass surface. The total pressure in the system was varied from 0.2 to 120 torr. At low pressure, surface reactions were observed for the Pt surface, but not for the glass. At higher pressure, gas-phase ignition occurred for both systems, but not at the same pressure: ignition occurred at a lower pressure outside the inert glass surface. Computer modeling using CHEMKIN confirmed these results. The difference in gas-phase ignition is also seen in the modeling results, and it is due to the removal of atomic O and H from the gas by adsorption and reaction on the catalytic surface. The catalytic reaction mechanism on the surface plays an important role as it enhances the removal of radicals, compared to a surface where only radical recombination back to reactants is allowed. (C) 1999 by The Combustion Institute.