Exhaust performance

The effect of exhaust performance on room air movement is limited compared to the effect produced by air jets. The distance from the opening to the point where air velocity drops to 10% of the initial velocity value (Fig. 7.14) is approximately equal to one characteristic si2e of the exhaust opening (D for the round duct) and 60 characteristic sizes for the supply outlet (60D for the round nozzle). 

Some ovens are set with one central exhaust flue, whereas others may be designed to have ports at both the tunnel entrance and exit. A dedicated manometer or other vent sensor should be installed in each exhaust line to monitor setup and routine exhaust performance. Blast gates in the exhaust line permit flow adjustment. It is customary to mount vent sensors after the flow damping device. Follow oven manufacturer s guidelines for exhaust requirements. Since the exhaust gases are laden with volatile materials, mostly from the solder paste, active exhaust systems should be checked routinely for performance. Impeller blades can foul... 

Fundamentally, there are two possible ways to integrate a heat engine exhaust. In Fig. 6.31 the process is represented as a heat sink and heat source separated hy the pinch. Integration of the heat engine across the pinch as shown in Fig. 6.31a is coimterproductive. The process still requires QHmm, and the heat engine performs no... 

In a general manner, diesel engines, jet engines, and domestic or industrial burners operate with lean mixtures and their performance is relatively insensitive to the equivalence ratio. On the other hand, gasoline engines require a fuel-air ratio close to the stoichiometric. Indeed, a too-rich mixture leads to an excessive exhaust pollution from CO emissions and unburned hydrocarbons whereas a too-lean mixture produces unstable combustion (reduced driveability and misfiring). 

Finally, sulfur has a negative effect on the performance of the catalyst itself. One sees for example in Figure 5.23 that the initiation temperature increases with the sulfur level in the diesel fuel, even between 0.01% and 0.05%. Yet, in the diesel engine, characterized by relatively low exhaust temperatures, the operation of the catalyst is a determining factor. One can thus predict an ultimate diesel fuel desulfurization to levels lower than 0.05%. 

CAUTION - Formaldehyde and ammonia solutions are extremely poisonous and quite noxious. Perform this step in a well-ventilated area (outside or with direct exhaust of the fumes) ... 

RCRA incinerator regulations include adrninistrative as weU as performance standards. Administrative standards include procedures for waste analysis, inspection of equipment, monitoring, and facihty security. Steps needed to meet adrninistrative standards are outlined ia the permit apphcation performance standards are demonstrated during a trial bum. Trial bum operating conditions are included in the permit to assure ongoing compliance with the performance standards. Performance standards include destmction and removal efficiency (DRE), particulate emissions limits, products of incomplete combustion emission limits, metal emission limits, and HCl and Cl emission limits (see Exhaust CONTROL, INDUSTRIAL). 

Electrochemical Microsensors. The most successful chemical microsensor in use as of the mid-1990s is the oxygen sensor found in the exhaust system of almost all modem automobiles (see Exhaust control, automotive). It is an electrochemical sensor that uses a soHd electrolyte, often doped Zr02, as an oxygen ion conductor. The sensor exemplifies many of the properties considered desirable for all chemical microsensors. It works in a process-control situation and has very fast (- 100 ms) response time for feedback control. It is relatively inexpensive because it is designed specifically for one task and is mass-produced. It is relatively immune to other chemical species found in exhaust that could act as interferants. It performs in a very hostile environment and is reHable over a long period of time (36). 

Catalyst Function. Automobile exhaust catalysts are perfect examples of materials that accelerate a chemical reaction but are not consumed. Reactions are completed on the catalyst surface and the products leave. Thus the catalyst performs its function over and over again. The catalyst also permits reactions to occur at considerably lower temperatures. For instance, CO reacts with oxygen above 700°C at a substantial rate. An automobile exhaust catalyst enables the reaction to occur at a temperature of about 250°C and at a much faster rate and in a smaller reactor volume. This is also the case for the combustion of hydrocarbons. 

The precious metals possess much higher specific catalytic activity than do the base metals. In addition, base metal catalysts sinter upon exposure to the exhaust gas temperatures found in engine exhaust, thereby losing the catalytic performance needed for low temperature operation. Also, the base metals deactivate because of reactions with sulfur compounds at the low temperature end of auto exhaust. As a result, a base metal automobile exhaust... 

Beyond the catalytic ignition point there is a rapid increase in catalytic performance with small increases in temperature. A measure of catalyst performance has been the temperature at which 50% conversion of reactant is achieved. For carbon monoxide this is often referred to as CO. The catalyst light-off property is important for exhaust emission control because the catalyst light-off must occur rehably every time the engine is started, even after extreme in-use engine operating conditions. 

Sulfur oxides resulting from fuel sulfur combustion often inhibit catalyst performance in Regions II, III, and a portion of Region IV (see Fig. 7) depending on the precious metals employed in the catalyst and on the air/fuel ratio. Monolithic catalysts generally recover performance when lower sulfur gasoline is used so the inhibition is temporary. Pd is more susceptible than Rh or Pt. The last is the most resistant. Pd-containing catalysts located in hotter exhaust stream locations, ie, close to the exhaust manifold, function with Httie sulfur inhibition (72—74). 

On-Board Diagnostics. State of California regulations require that vehicle engines and exhaust emission control systems be monitored by an on-board system to assure continued functional performance. The program is called OBD-II, and requires that engine misfire, the catalytic converter, and the evaporative emission control system be monitored (101). The U.S. EPA is expected to adopt a similar regulation. 

The emission control system for LPG is the same as is used for gasoline fueled engines with the exception of the fuel metering system. No evaporative emission system is required. Both Pt—Rh and Pd—Rh catalysts are good for emission control of LPG fuel exhaust. Pt provides the lowest light off temperature for C Hg. The sulfur content of LPG is also very low so that Pd catalysts perform very well. 

There are situations where thermal oxidation may be preferred over catalytic oxidation for exhaust streams that contain significant amounts of catalyst poisons and/or fouling agents, thermal oxidation may be the only technically feasible control where extremely high VOC destmction efficiencies of difficult to control VOC species are required, thermal oxidation may attain higher performance and for relatively rich VOC waste gas streams, ie, having >20 25% lower explosive limit (LEL), the gas stream s explosive properties and the potential for catalyst overheating may require the addition of dilution air to the waste gas stream (12). 

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