Catalytica, Inc.

Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.k.

Tanaka Kikinzoku K.k.

Scott A Magno

Toru Shoji

David K Yee

Ralph Albert Dalla Betta

Ralph A Betta

Thomas Rostrup-Nielsen

This invention relates to an electrically-heated catalyst (EHC) and a start-up method of a gas turbine engine for combusting a hydrocarbonaceous fuel/oxygen-containing gas mixture using this electrically-heated catalyst. The catalytic structure is electrically heated to a predetermined temperature prior to start up of the turbine so as to reduce emissions during the start-up of the system. The EHC unit is a stacked or spirally wound layering of flat and corrugated thin metal foils which forms a plurality of axially-extending, longitudinal channels. The channels are preferably coated on one surface with a catalytic material, leaving the other surface free from the reaction to act as a heat sink, making the design an IHE (integral heat exchange) catalytic unit. The preferred embodiment of the EHC has electrodes outside of the fuel/oxygen-containing mixture stream, and uses electrical power having a predetermined voltage in the range of 100 to 200 volts to heat the unit. A method for using the EHC in the start-up of a gas turbine is also disclosed wherein an electrical power is applied to heat the EHC a predetermined temperature prior to the fuel/oxygen-containing mixture being introduced and may be left on for a certain period of time after the introduction of the fuel/oxygen-containing mixture. The EHC may be maintained at the desired predetermined temperature by modulating the applied voltage. The electrical power is terminated when any one of several conditions are met including when the heat of the catalytic reaction is sufficient to maintain the catalyst at its steady-state condition or when a certain period of time has elapsed.

Electrically-heated combustion catalyst structure and method for

This invention is an improved catalyst structure and its use in highly exothermic processes like catalytic combustion. This improved catalyst structure employs integral heat exchange in an array of longitudinally disposed adjacent reaction passage-ways or channels, which are either catalyst-coated or catalyst-free, wherein the configuration of the catalyst-coated channels differs from the non-catalyst channels such that, when applied in exothermic reaction processes, such as catalytic combustion, the desired reaction is promoted in the catalytic channels and substantially limited in the non-catalyst channels. The invention further comprises an improved reaction system and process for combustion of a fuel wherein catalytic combustion using a catalyst structure employing integral heat exchange, preferably the improved structures of the invention, affords a partially-combusted, gaseous product which is passed to a homogeneous combustion zone where complete combustion is promoted by means of a flameholder.

Process and catalyst structure employing intergal heat exchange with

This invention is an improved catalyst structure and its use in highly exothermic processes like catalytic combustion. This improved catalyst structure employs integral heat exchange in an array of longitudinally disposed, adjacent reaction passage-ways or channels, which are either catalyst-coated or catalyst-free, wherein the configuration of the catalyst-coated channels differs from the non-catalyst channels such that, when applied in exothermic reaction processes, such as catalytic combustion, the desired reaction is promoted in the catalytic channels and substantially limited in the non-catalyst channels.

Catalyst structure employing integral heat exchange

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Dublin, CA, United States of America

Scott A Magno