Filtration and catalytic abatement of diesel particulate from stationary sources

This paper demonstrates that satisfying performance in carbon particulate abatement from stationary or quasi-stationary sources (e.g. power generation boilers based on combustion of fuel, wood, peat and coal, ferry boats, etc.), can be reached, at a lab-scale level, by coupling ceramic-foam filters with carbon combustion catalysts. The preparation, testing and the modelling of such reactors is addressed. A quite active Cs4V2O7 catalyst was deposited into zirconia-toughened alumina foam traps (pore size: 50 pores in(-1); thickness: 17 mm), whose abatement performance was evaluated in a specific pilot plant based on a Diesel engine. Good abatement efficiency (about 50%), coupled with low pressure drop across the trap ( < 100 mm. H2O) were obtained for superficial velocities (2 m s(-1)) and temperatures (about 400degreesC) of industrial interest. After measurement of key kinetic parameters for the catalytic combustion of carbon particulate (i.e. activation energy, oxygen reaction order), a mathematical model was validated using experimental data obtained with catalytic and non-catalytic traps. The model agreement with the experimental data was in both cases good, which is particularly promising for design purposes. Catalyst thermo-chemical stability issues are explored, as well, thus enlightening wide potential margins for the industrial application of the studied technology. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.