Effects of Operating Parameters on Catalytic Oxidation Process of Coal Mine Ventilation Air Methane

Based on the preheating catalytic oxidation device designed and built by Shandong University of Technology of China, the catalytic oxidation process of ventilation air methane in a honeycomb ceramic oxidation bed coated by catalyst Pd was numerically investigated. Influences of catalyst, methane volume concentration, preheating temperature and space velocity on catalytic oxidation process were analyzed. The results show that the catalyst can significantly improve the temperature rise of the oxidation bed and methane conversion rate. Higher inlet methane volume concentration and preheating temperature both increase the temperature rise of the oxidation bed, so the determination of the minimum volume of methane concentration and preheating temperature can guarantee the normal operation of the preheating catalytic oxidation device. With increasing space velocity, the temperature of the ceramic bed rises more slowly which causes temperature peak shift to the downstream, and the methane conversion rate decreases, so the preheating temperature should be reduced to ensure adequate temperature rise of the oxidation bed at low space velocity. Among the operating parameters, the methane volume concentration has an obviously greater effect on the oxidation bed heat dissipation flux density than space velocity and preheating temperature.