Abstract
We have developed a molded catalyst bound by calcium aluminate. This catalyst was composed of alumina cement, fused silica, titanium dioxide as a carrier and a small amount of Pt and Pd. It showed good performance because it has high specific surface area in spite of the absence waschcoat and has been commercially used as a home-use catalyst. We have applied this catalyst for a kerosene space heater with a glass chimney.
We designed a new kerosene space heater (OS-XGM) with the molded catalyst which was designed to improve conversion of exhaust gas from the chimney. This kerosene space heater lies between the current kerosene heaters furnished with catalyst, and the catalytic combustors for kerosene fuel in the future. In this paper, the CO conversion efficiency, the effect of the heat-intercept-plate, the effect of the wick length, the effect of various kinds of catalyst sizes and the setting positions, have been investigated in relation to the catalytic performance in a sealed chamber. Principal results obtained were as follows;
1) The heat-intercept-plate set between the glass chimney and the catalyst, brought uniform distributions of CO and CO2, and maintained the catalyst temperature uniform, as the exhaust gas stream was allowed to diffuse into the catalyst through the intercept-plate.
2) Vaporization rate of kerosene from the wick increased about 5% of maximum value by setting the catalyst over the glass chimney.
3) This catalyst shows good performance in a sealed test chamber at the ventilation condition: n=0.31-0.83cycles/h.
4) Smell index was below 1 when the fire was forced to extinguish by the anti-earthquake extinguished mechanism.
