X Wang

Bio: X Wang is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Combustion & Gasoline. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 2 publications receiving 2 citations.

Catalytic reactor studies

Abstract: A literature search identified design and safety concerns for plug flow, pressurized reactors. A modular plug flow reactor was designed. The vaporizer and mixing section were constructed. Thermodynamic calculations show the influence of the water-gas shift reaction on the increased oxidation of carbon monoxide with increased fuel water content. The impact of water on nitrogen oxide (NO) formation can be roughly explained by the sensitivity of the thermal NO mechanism to decreasing combustion temperature with increasing water-fuel content. Three major pathways exist for gas-phase ethanol combustion based on the three radicals formed when a hydrogen (H) atom is stripped from one of the three backbone atoms in the molecule (C1, C2 or O). Acetaldehyde, ethene, and formaldehyde are stable intermediate products depending on the pathway, with the acetaldehyde path dominating. In the presence of the catalyst, H atoms are stripped off the ethanol molecule because of the proximity effect of the platinum (Pt) surface. Pt surface reactions produce stable products, radicals, and heat. Products, radicals and heat diffuse from the surface to promote the initiation of gas-phase ethanol. HCT, a finite-difference code that calculates one-dimensional time-dependent problems involving gas hydrodynamics, transport, and detailed chemical kinetics, has been ported from UNIX to a Windows environment.

Catalytic ignition of aquanol

Abstract: Aqueous fueled engines have the potential for lower emissions and higher engine efficiency than engines fueled with gasoline or diesel fuels. Past attempts to burn aqueous fuels in over-the-road vehicles have been unsuccessful due to difficulties in initiating combustion under varying environmental conditions. Ethanol-water mixtures, called Aquanol, require no special emulsifications to create and should provide significant emission reductions in CO and NOx, while producing no net CO2 emissions. Aldehydes, a part of the hydrocarbon emissions, are expected to increase with alcohol-based fuels. Understanding what parameters affect aldehyde formation will help create reduction strategies. Detailed detection of exhaust emissions is necessary for a quantitative comparison. Redundant measurements with two special purpose detectors will be used for emission comparisons. A van supplied by Valley Transit of Lewiston, Idaho has been converted to catalytic ignition. In order to make the vehicle operate on either gasoline or Aquanol, modifications to the fuel handling, engine management, and ignition system were necessary. A three-part vehicle test plan is currently underway to compare performance, fuel economy, and emissions between Aquanol and gasoline fuels.

Modelling of multiple steady-states for the oxidation of aqueous ethanol with oxygen on a carbon supported platinum catalyst

Abstract: Multiple steady-states data were used for the construction of a kinetic model for the oxidation of aqueous ethanol with oxygen on a carbon supported platinum catalyst. A model, incorporating reversible creation of oxygen adatoms on the catalyst surface from surface hydroxyl as well as reversible formation of subsurface oxygen from oxygen adatoms, could describe quantitatively all the observations. It was essential that the reaction rate coefficients for the formation of atomic and subsurface oxygen strongly depend on the corresponding degrees of coverage introducing positive and negative feedback features.