Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Incorporated in the Metal Mesh Used to Enhance the Heat Transfer Performance of the Catalytic Converter and to Reduce Emission

Abstract

Heating the catalysts chemically at a cold start is indeed an approach to achieving catalytic performance. The purpose of this effort is to reduce cold flow emissions to background levels during regular engine operation. To address this issue, a thermal model was created, and a temperature study of various configurations was performed utilizing the computational dynamics method. This was followed by a regression model to confirm the results of the experiment. The article discusses how using a computational fluid dynamic to simulate the transient temperature profile of a chemically heated catalytic converter (CHCC) in exhaust may aid in the development of a much more powerful and energy-efficient catalytic converter. In this research, nanoparticles have been used as a heat transfer enhancement agent to improve the thermal conductivity of the exhaust gases. This work has been proposed to calculate the flow behaviour and heat transfer of nanoparticles in the proposed catalytic converter. The nanomaterial composite, created by incorporating copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO2) on the surfaces of metal mesh, is used in the catalytic converter. The analytical technique has previously demonstrated its use in better predicting and comprehending the dynamic behaviour of a tightly linked catalyst and its thermally light-off period. The converter was evaluated in this study together with the SI (spark ignition) engine, and the data collected has been verified using analysis of regression. It is seen that in the converter with nanocopper oxide configuration, 50% carbon monoxide (CO) conversion efficiency is possible when the temperature of the main converter reaches 250°C and the CO is initially 2.7% Vol, and after reaching light off, it is 1.95% Vol. The time it takes to reach 250°C is 48 seconds after a cold start. In the case of hydrocarbons (HC), 50% HC conversion is reached during the test period of 168 seconds after the cold start. The HC is 605 ppm initially, and after light off, it is 130 ppm. The time taken to reach the HC light-off temperature is 300°C, with nanocopper oxide reaching this temperature in 168 seconds.