A Study on the Enhancement of Catalytic Combustion by Electric Field

Abstract

Heat rating of a diffusive catalytic combustor is limited by the diffusion of oxygen. Therefore, corona wind made by electric discharge was applied in order to supply air to the burning surface effectively. The temperature and concentration profiles were measured, and it was shown experimentally that the corona wind enhances combustion, especially in the region of high heat rating. The mechanism of this enhancement was identified as a forced convective effect by comparison with the equivalent air jet. From the measurement of the electric field by an electrostatic probe, the effect of ions in the combustion field was also clarified.