Importance of Heat and Mass Transfer in
Catalytic Converters
Two processes are critical for the catalytic converter to work efficiently:
heat transfer and mass transfer.
A. Heat Transfer: Maintaining Optimal Temperatures
● Why is heat important?
The reactions inside the catalytic converter require a specific
temperature range (typically between 250°C and 900°C). If the
temperature is too low, the reactions won’t start, and the
emissions won’t be converted efficiently. Too high, and the
catalyst can degrade over time.
● How is heat transferred?
Heat is transferred from the exhaust gases (which are very hot)
to the catalytic material. This heat helps keep the converter at
the optimal temperature for the reactions to occur.
B. Mass Transfer: Bringing Exhaust Gases to the Catalyst
● Why is mass transfer important?
For the reactions to occur, the exhaust gases (CO, HC, NOx)
need to physically reach the catalytic surface.
● The efficiency of the converter depends on how quickly and
effectively the gases get to the catalyst surface where the
chemical reactions happen.
● How is mass transferred? The exhaust gases flow through the
catalytic converter, and as they do, they come into contact with
the catalyst, where they are broken down into less harmful
substances.
The catalytic converter needs to be designed to:
● Minimize heat loss so that the converter stays hot enough for
the reactions to continue.
● Distribute heat evenly to avoid hot spots or areas that are too
cold for reactions.
To improve mass transfer:
● Increase surface area: Catalytic converters have a honeycomb
structure, giving them a large surface area to maximize the
interaction between the gases and the catalyst.
● Optimize flow paths: Proper design ensures that gases flow
through the entire catalyst bed evenly and don’t bypass some
areas.
Equations for Heat Transfer:
For analyzing heat transfer, we rely on Fourier’s law for conduction
and Newton’s law of cooling for convection:
● Conduction: q=−k⋅dT/dx
Equations for Mass Transfer:
For mass transfer, Fick's law and the Sherwood number (analogous to
heat transfer’s Nusselt number) are commonly used.
● Fick’s Law for Diffusion:
J=−D⋅dC/dx
● Sherwood Number (Sh):
This dimensionless number relates mass transfer to convective
and diffusive processes:
● Sh=hmL/D
● Momentum Equation (Navier-Stokes Equation):
Describes how the exhaust gas moves through the catalytic converter,
accounting for pressure losses.
ρ( ∂u/∂t + (u⋅∇)u )=−∇p + μ∇^2u + Fr
p is pressure , μ is the dynamic viscosity , Fraccounts for friction due
to the porous catalyst
This describes how pressure changes and viscous drag as the gas
moves through the catalyst influence the velocity of the exhaust
gases.
