Research On Structure And Its Flow Filed In Automotive Catalytic Converter

The current developing status of catalytic converter internal flow field numerical simulation was reviewed. The performance evaluation, flow characteristics, pressure loss and construction design about converter were discussed.Based on the comprehensive study on the flow field, pressure loss and construction design of three-way catalytic converter (TWC), and aimed at improving the performance of TWC and researching the flow field and pressure loss, the three-dimensional fluid model had been established with STAR-CD, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software. The results of numerical simulation were validated with the testing ones. On this base, the effects of every structure parameter of monolith and TWC on velocity distribution and pressure loss had been discussed. Some advice was given for reasonable design of structure parameters.The calculation results show that at the same flowrate, the flow performance is improved by decreasing the inlet cone angle. The outlet cone angle and inlet pipe has little influence on flow distribution, and outlet pipe has the least influence. The moving distance of monolith from base line has very little influence on its flow performance. The distance between two couple monoliths have clearly influence on flow condition. The size proportion between two couple monoliths has more clearly influence on the first monolith than the second one.It is proved in this paper that the application of CFD together with experiments is a time and energy saving means as well as a more reasonable and important one. According to the results in this paper, a better flow distribution and lower pressure loss can be achieved so that the less negative effect on power and fuel economy, the improved converter efficiency, the quickened light-off and the lengthened life of TWC are followed if the appropriate structures of TWC are adopted. This indicates that this paper is of great theory significance and practical value in the study of lower exhaust and energy saving.The above work provides the foundation for structural optimization of...