CATALYTIC COMBUSTION OF HYDROGEN - AIR MIXTURES IN STAGNATION FLOWS

The interaction between heterogeneous and homogeneous reactions arising when a mixture of hydrogen and air impinges on a platinum plate at elevated temperature is studied. A reasonably complete description of the kinetic mechanism for homogeneous reactions is employed along with a simplified model for heterogeneous reactions. Four regimes are identified depending on the temperature of the plate, on the rate of strain imposed on the flow adjacent to the plate and on the composition and temperature of the reactant stream: (1) surface reaction alone; (2) surface reaction inhibiting homogeneous reaction; (3) homogeneous reaction inhibiting surface reaction; and (4) homogeneous reaction alone. These regimes are related to those found earlier for other chemical systems and form the basis of future experimental investigations of the chemical system considered in the present study.