Simplified design methods of reverse flow catalytic combustors for the treatment of lean hydrocarbon–air mixtures

Three simplified models for reverse flow reactor design proposed in the literature have been compared with a detailed and experimentally validated 1D heterogeneous dynamic model. The model proposed by Cittadini et al., has been found to be the most accurate at the considered operation conditions. Maximum reactor temperature, an important parameter for preventing damage to the catalyst or detecting reactor extinction, has also been determined for all the designs.The costs associated to different RFR design alternatives for the combustion of the compounds studied are also evaluated, in order to determine the optimal economical design.