Start-up behaviour of a passive auto-catalytic recombiner under counter flow conditions: Results of a first orienting experimental study

Under counter flow conditions, an earlier local start-up of the catalytic reaction on the upper edge of the catalyst sheets was observed. However, the establishment of full PAR operation required more time compared to the reference case. This delay is attributed to a partial inflow of the counter flow into the PAR outlet which interferes with the establishing of a chimney flow promoted by the exothermal catalytic reaction. Once a developed chimney flow inside the PAR is established, no negative effect on the PAR performance could be observed. As expected, the counter flow mixes immediately with the PAR outlet flow dissolving the characteristic plume of hot gases at the PAR outlet.