Catalytic combustion: kinetics and reactor design

Catalytic combustion may find application in the removal of pollutants from exhaust gases or in the energy conversion field. Proper reactor design is needed for optimised operation, i.e. to fully convert the fuel. When the catalytic combustion of methane is coupled with a turbogas plant, further attention should be paid to control the combustor temperature. This is needed to avoid the formation of NOx and to preserve the catalyst from thermal deactivation. For all these reasons, a detailed knowledge of the kinetics of the process is welcome. Furthermore, some non trivial process layouts may be found for this application, such as those based on monolithic reactors. This contribution reviews some of the most typical applications of catalytic combustion, including noble metal or mixed oxide based catalysts. The discussion particularly focuses on kinetic aspects and reactor design.