No abstract

The combustion of CH(4)/H(2)/HC mixtures in a very small space represents an alternative, innovative way to produce thermal/electrical energy. Pd/NiCrO(4) catalysts are lined on SiC monoliths via in situ solution combustion synthesis (SCS), and the monoliths are then tested by feeding CH(4), H(2), and lean CH(4)/H(2) mixtures into a lab-scale test rig at an output thermal power of 7.6 MW(th) m(-3). In all cases, the combustion temperature shifts to values lower than those observed in non-catalytic combustion. When the power density is kept constant (by adding H(2) to the gas mixture), the value of CH(4)-T(50) (the half-conversion temperature of CH(4)) decreases relative to that of pure CH(4), and the slope of the conversion curve becomes steeper. The higher the H(2) concentration is, the higher the reactivity of the mixture towards CH(4) oxidation-probably due to a higher production of H(2) reactive radicals (OH).