Hydraulic Design of Diffuser of Catalytic Converter

Abstract

Air pollution generated from automobile source is playing a vital role in green house effect so it is a problem of general interest. The pollutants like carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbons (HC), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), oxides of sulfur (SOx), and particulate matters are generated at the end of the combustion in the engine. These pollutants have negative impacts on the environment, air quality, and health. To control these pollutants, various stringent norms of pollutants emission are applicable in various countries. Most promising method of converting these gases into less harmful form is after treatment of it in the catalytic converter. To improve the performance of the catalytic converter, hydraulic phenomenon occurring in it needs to be studied. In present work, a numerical study using finite volume approach is carried out for catalytic converter with conventional diffuser for four diffuser angle. Three-dimensional steady-state analysis of catalytic converter is carried out using Ansys Fluent software. Based on the CFD results, it is found that 20° conventional geometry gives the minimum pressure drop, minimum peak pressure, and better uniformity index.