HIGH EFFICIENCY LONG LIFE CATALYTIC OXIDATION SYSTEM

PRECISION COMBUSTION IS DEVELOPING HIGHLY COMPACT AND MORE EFFECTIVE CATALYTIC METAL MONOLITH AND CATALYTIC INCINERATION TECHNOLOGY. AN EPA SBIR PHASE I PROJECT (COMPLETED 4/90) DEMONSTRATED VERY HIGH CATALYTIC CONVERSION OF EXHAUST GASES, WITH LOW AMOUNTS OF ELECTRIC HEATING CAPABLE OF PROVIDING RAPID INITIAL HEAT-UP AS WELL AS SUPPLEMENTARY HEAT ADDITION WHEN NEEDED (PHASE II PROPOSAL PENDING). A TACOM SBIR PHASE I PROJECT USED A SIMILAR PROTOTYPE FOR DIESEL IGNITION, SHOWING RAPID IGNITION OF VERY COLD FLOWING FUEL/AIR MIXTURES USING LOW LEVELS OF ELECTRIC POWER (PHASE II PROJECT TO START 9/90). AT HIGHER TEMPERATURE, AN NSF SBIR PHASE I DEMONSTRATED VERY HIGH DESTRUCTION (BEYOND DETECTOR LIMITS) IN CATALYTIC INCINERATION OF METHYL CHLORIDE IN ETHANE; MODELING ESTIMATED ACTUAL DESTRUCTION OF AT EIGHT TO FIFTEEN NINES (PHASE II PROJECT TO START FALL 1990). WE PROPOSE ADAPTING THESE TECHNOLOGIES TO PROVIDE A SUPERIOR, HIGHLY COMPACT AND DURABLE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FOR MEETING ARMY HELICOPTER BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL PROTECTION OBJECTIES. IN PHASE I, WE WILL BUILD A PROTOTYPE, OPERATE WITH A SIMULANT, AND CHARACTERIZE THE SYSTEM. DEMONSTRATING HIGH DESTRUCTION EFFECTIVENESS AND EXPLORING TRADE-OFFS WHILE PROVIDING A PRELIMINARY SYSTEMS DESIGN FOR PHASE II.