Mass Transfer Improvements in Catalytic Converter Channels: An Hybrid BGK-Finite Volume Numerical Simulation Method

For compliance with future LEV/ULEV emission standards in United States and Euro 2000/Euro 2005 standards in European Community, catalytic converter performance has to be remarkably improved. The development of simulation codes allows to investigate a high range of possible exhaust system configurations and engine operating parameters. In the present study an hybrid Lattice BGK-finite volume technique will be described, able to determine the mass transfer rates of the chemical species to the catalyzed wall of the monolith channels. The BGK code solves the fluid motion governing equations in a reduced form obtained by discretizing the continuum in a fixed number of particles. Each of them will be moved by a set of discrete velocities and collide with the neighbour particles according to a fixed pattern of particle-interaction. After evaluating the velocity field by means of the BGK method, the chemical species concentrations evolution will be evaluated into a converter channel using a finite volume technique. In the present study different monolith channel configurations will be examined in order to analyse the influence of wall shape on the mass transfer effectiveness.