Energy Institute team shows importance of taking an acid bath for oxidation catalysts
A team of researchers at the Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory at the Energy Institute are researching ways to improve the performance of oxidation catalysts, which reduce emissions in large natural gas engines.
In their project titled “Oxidation Catalyst Degeneration and Regeneration,” the team looks at how the catalysts degrade over time, and how periodically washing them in acid baths can extend lifespan and improve performance.
In a seminar that took place on February 9 at the Powerhouse, graduate student Bryan Hacklemore presented the results of the research. He illustrated how washing oxidation catalysts can help restore their capability to block harmful compounds from being released by engines. These catalysts are necessary for natural gas engines to be compliant with state and federal regulations that restrict the emission of compounds like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.
Oxidation catalysts are made of steel and ceramic, and are covered in platinum or palladium nano-particles. They are commonly used in engines that transport natural gas throughout the country and prepare it for household use.
The catalysts degrade over time due to the accumulation of poisons from fuel and exhaust gases. Hacklemore noted that engines can fail to meet regulations after just 90 days of usage, and replacing catalysts costs natural gas companies thousands of dollars per catalyst. However, applying an acid wash to catalysts helps remove the surface poisons and restore like-new performance.
The EECL team’s research is important because it quantifies the effectiveness of washing oxidation catalysts in acid baths. Although washing is a common practice in the industry, the ingredients of the baths and their effectiveness are often considered proprietary information by the company offering the service.
Natural gas companies may choose not to wash their catalysts due to this lack of available concrete information on the usefulness of the practice. This leaves these companies with the option of using degraded catalysts which emit more harmful compounds into the air.
Thanks to the work of Hacklemore and his group, natural gas companies will have more access to data that explains the process and proves the effectiveness of washing oxidation catalysts.
Bryan Hacklemore is part of a team led by Daniel B Olsen, the co-director of the Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory. More information about the EECL can be found here.
