Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a method of separating variations in the mass flow of gas through a catalyst from the thermal load observed by the temperature control system in a test bench. The method may include separating the temperature control component from the mass flow control component.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    N/A 
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]    1. Field of the Disclosure 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to a laboratory test device and, more particularly, to a method for controlling test gas temperatures in a test bench. 
         [0004]    2. Background Information 
         [0005]    Catalysts may need to be tested to evaluate their performance and their response to parameter changes. Devices of use in testing catalysts may include one or more combustion engines; however, the use of these engines may be expensive, require higher maintenance than desired, and be more time consuming. Additionally, the use of these engines may not allow individual parameter variations or calibrations of use when testing catalysts. Other test devices suitable for testing catalysts may include Laboratory Scale Reactors, commonly referred to as Test Benches, and may allow a greater control over the testing conditions of the catalyst. 
         [0006]    However, Laboratory-scale reactors may experience difficulties in separating control of one or more individual parameters or calibrations, including the separation of control of mass flow through the sample from temperature control of the gas flowing through the sample. This may limit the conditions laboratory scale reactors may produce for testing suitable materials. 
         [0007]    As such, there is a continuing need for improvements in test devices so as to allow a greater range of testing conditions. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    The present disclosure may include a method for separating temperature control and mass flow control in a test bench of use in testing catalysts. 
         [0009]    The method may include isolating the thermal load perceived by the heating elements from the variation of the gas flow perceived by the catalyst being tested, where excess gas may undergo any suitable venting, including venting over a catalyst holder, venting to a confined environment, venting to the general environment, or any suitable combination. This may allow the space-velocity of gas processed by the heater to vary independently from the space-velocity of the gas flowing through the sample. 
         [0010]    Numerous other aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure may be made apparent from the following detailed description, taken together with the drawing figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    These and further features, aspects and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a flow chart of a method for separating mass flow control from temperature control in a laboratory scale reactor. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a method for controlling temperature and mass flow through a sample in a laboratory scale reactor. 
       
    
    
       [0014]    It should be understood that these drawings are not necessarily to scale and they can illustrate a simplified representation of the preferred features of the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Definitions 
       [0015]    As used here, the following terms have the following definitions: 
         [0016]    Mass flow controller (MFC) refers to any computer controlled analog or digital device of use in controlling the flow rate of fluids and/or gases. 
         [0017]    Temperature controller refers to any device of use in controlling temperature in a process. 
         [0018]    Laboratory Scale Reactor/Test Bench refers to any apparatus suitable for testing a material with a test gas. 
         [0019]    Oxidizing agent refers to any substance that may take electrons from another substance in a redox chemical reaction. 
         [0020]    Reducing agents refers to any substance that may give electrons to another substance in a redox chemical reaction. 
         [0021]    Gas mixture refers to the mixture obtained from combining oxidizing agents, reducing agents, inert gases, or any other suitable gases. 
         [0022]    Water-gas mixture refers to the mixture obtained from combining water vapor with a gas mixture. 
         [0023]    Test Gas refers to any gas mixture of use in chemically testing an interaction between it and one or more materials. 
         [0024]    Catalyst refers to one or more materials that may be of use in the conversion of one or more other materials. 
         [0025]    The description of the drawings, as follows, illustrates the general principles of the present disclosure with reference to various alternatives and embodiments. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be limited to the embodiments here referred. Suitable embodiments for other applications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a flowchart of a method for testing a material in a Laboratory Scale Reactor. In Testing Method  100 , a suitable test gas may be generated in Test Gas Generation  102 . The test gas may then be heated to any suitable temperature in Temperature Control  104 . Any suitable portion of test gas heated in Temperature Control  104  may then undergo Interaction with Sample  106 , where any portion not undergoing Interaction with Sample  106  may undergo any suitable venting in Vent  108 . Any portion having undergone Interaction with Sample  106  may then undergo any suitable Analysis  110 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  shows Temperature and Flow Control Method  200 , having Input  202 , Heater  204 , Temperature Controller  206 , Catalyst Sample  208 , Catalyst Holder  210 , Mass Flow Controller  212 , Pre-treatment Device  214 , and Output  216 . 
         [0028]    Input  202  may provide any suitable test gas to Temperature and Flow Control Method  200 , where gas flowing from Input  202  may then be heated in Heater  204 . Heater  204  may be any suitable heating device, including a serpentine heater, which may be controlled by any suitable Temperature Controller  206 , including thermocouples, thermistors, or any suitable combination thereof. 
         [0029]    Any suitable portion of test gas heated by Heater  204  may then flow through Catalyst Sample  208  held by Catalyst Holder  210 , where Catalyst Sample  208  may be any material suitable for being tested with test gas provided by Input  202 . Any suitable portion of test gas not flowing through Catalyst Sample  208  may be vented in any suitable way, including venting through Catalyst Holder  210  and venting to the environment. 
         [0030]    Any suitable portion of test gas flowing through Catalyst Sample  208  may be controlled by any number of suitable Mass Flow Controllers  212 , where any the flow between Catalyst Sample  208  and Mass Flow Controllers  212  may undergo treatment in one or more suitable Pre-treatment Devices  214 , where suitable devices may include heat blocks and cooling baths. Any portion of test gas flowing through one or more Mass Flow Controllers  212  may then exit the control system through one or more Outputs  216 , where the portion may then undergo any suitable Analysis  110 . Suitable analyses may include Flame Ionization Detection, NOx detection, CO detection, Hydrocarbon detection, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and any suitable combination thereof, where suitable analyses may include any suitable treatments required to perform the analyses. 
         [0031]    Any suitable portion of test gas flowing through Catalyst Sample  208  and Pre-treatment devices  214  not flowing through Mass Flow Controllers  212  may exit the control system through one or more Outputs  218 , where the portion may then undergo any suitable Analysis  110 . Suitable analyses may include Flame Ionization Detection, NOx detection, CO detection, Hydrocarbon detection, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and any suitable combination thereof, where suitable analyses may include any suitable treatments required to perform the analyses. 
         [0032]    Any suitable portion of test gas flowing through Catalyst Sample  208  not flowing through Pre-Treatment Devices  214  may exit the control system through one or more Outputs  220 , where the portion may then undergo any suitable Analysis  110 . Suitable analyses may include Flame Ionization Detection, NOx detection, CO detection, Hydrocarbon detection, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and any suitable combination thereof, where suitable analyses may include any suitable treatments required to perform the analyses.