CATALYTIC COMBUSTION APPARATUS

Abstract: Flame port (5) with an ignition electrode (6) and a flame rod (7) nearby, is on the downstream of a mixing chamber (4) where the fuel and the air are mixed together. A catalyst layer (8) having many communication holes (8a) is provided on the downstream side, ignition means (6) is operated to form flame at the flame port (5), supply of the fuel is once stopped after a predetermined period of time has passed to extinguish the flame, and the fuel is supplied again without operating the ignition means (6) such that the combustion reaction takes place on the surface of the catalyst layer (8). When the flame is formed at the flame port (5), it is detected that a predetermined current is not obtd. from the ionic current detect means (7). When the combustion reaction is started on the catalyst layer (8), on the other hand, the current that is obtd. is detected to stop the combustion.

Description: The present invention relates to a catalytic combustion apparatus for effecting an oxidising reaction of fuel on a solid oxidising catalyst. Heretofore, several apparatuses for effecting an oxidising reaction of liquid or gaseous fuel on a solid oxidising catalyst have been proposed, for example, an apparatus as shown in Fig. 1 (Catalyst, Vol.29, No.4, 313, 1987). In Fig. 1, numeral 101 denotes a fuel pipe, numeral 102 ejection ports, numeral 103 an insulator layer, numeral 104 an electric heater, numeral 105 a catalyst layer, and numeral 106 a cover. Fuel is supplied through the ejecting ports 102 formed in the fuel pipe 101 in a distributed manner, and passes through the porous insulator layer 103 to the catalyst layer 105 which is preheated by the electric heater 104. Air is supplied to the underside of the cover 106 by means of convection. Near the surface of the catalyst layer 105, the fuel and the air mix with each other by diffusion, and catalytic combustion is effected on the fibered porous catalyst layer 105. A catalytic combustion apparatus of this type, however, has the following problems. Firstly, it is necessary to heat the catalyst layer 105 to a temperature at which the catalytic reaction starts, and it takes a long time to heat the catalyst layer to this predetermined temperature by the electric heater 104, unless a heater of a great capacity is used. Secondly, since the catalyst layer 105, from the surface of which heat is radiated outwards, is only partly covered by the cover 106 made of a porous metal or the like, there is a danger that combustion will be interrupted by a gust of a spray of water, frequently causing imperfect combustion and producing an offensive smell and harmful carbon monoxide. Thirdly, when the apparatus is used for a long time and the activity of the catalyst layer deteriorates, there occurs a danger that imperfectly burned fuel flows out, and an offensive smell and a great amount of harmful carbon monoxide are continuously produced due to this imperfect combustion, because there is not provided any means for detecting the deterioration of the catalyst layer. Fourthly, in the case where the fuel is burned in a closed space such as a room, burning is not stopped whilst the temperature of the catalyst layer is maintained within a predetermined range, even when the oxygen density has decreased to a level having an adverse influence on human health, thereby continuing to cause oxygen starvation and imperfect combustion. A catalytic combustion apparatus is described in Japanese patent specification No. JP-A-59-13821. This apparatus comprises a catalytic combustion apparatus including a mixing room for mixing fuel with air, flame ports arranged downstream of said mixing room, a catalyst layer disposed downstream of said flame ports and formed with a plurality of communication holes, and an ion current detecting means and an igniting means both disposed near said flame ports, the arrangement being such that for starting the combustion apparatus the igniting means is operated for igniting said fuel mixed with air to form a flame at the flame ports, the flame is extinguished by stopping the supply of fuel, and then a combustion reaction on the surface of the catalyst layer is started by supplying fuel again without operating the igniting means. This apparatus uses flame combustion to provide heat for preheating a catalyst layer prior to catalytic combustion on the surface of said layer. The flame is extinguished once it is detected that the catalyst layer has reached a predetermined temperature. A further catalytic combustion apparatus is described in Japanese patent specification No. JP-A-60-233415. This apparatus comprises a catalytic combustion apparatus including two catalysts, a pilot flame injection port, a thermocouple and a flame rod. The combustion start-up operation for this apparatus is generally similar to the start-up operation for JP-A-59-13821. However, an insufficient oxygen environment during catalytic combustion is detected by the thermocouple. The present invention is characterised over JP-A-59-13821 in that in said starting-up of the combustion apparatus the flame burns for a predetermined period of time and during this period the flame is extinguished and hence combustion stopped when the ion current detecting means detects that a predetermined ion current value is not obtained, but during this period combustion is allowed to continue when the ion current detecting means detects that a predetermined ion current value is obtained, and after the flame has burnt for said predetermined period of time the flame is extinguished by stopping the supply of fuel and the catalytic combustion reaction is then started by supplying fuel again, and that the apparatus also comprises control means provided to shut down the combustion apparatus when the environment of the combustion apparatus has an insufficient oxygen percentage, said control means being provided to activate during catalytic combustion of the apparatus the igniting means at predetermined intervals for generating a flame at the flame ports for a predetermined time, restart the catalytic combustion through the steps of temporarily stopping the fuel supply and resupplying the fuel when the ion current detecting means detects that the predetermined ion current value is obtained, but stop the fuel supply and shut down the combustion apparatus when the ion current detecting means detects that the predetermined ion current value is not obtained. The features of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following descriptions of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a structural view of a prior art catalytic combustion apparatus, Fig. 2 is a structural view of a catalytic combustion apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are structural views of catalytic combustion apparatii according to second, third, fourth and fifth embodiments of the present invention, respectively, Fig. 7 is an illustration showing the variation of transforming rates in the oxidising reaction on kerosine or carbon monoxide due to a composition of precious metals, Fig. 8 is an illustration showing the influence of the ratio of the auxiliary catalyst volume to the catalyst layer volume on the transforming rates in the oxidising reaction on kerosine or carbon monoxide, and Fig. 9 is an illustration showing the influence of the number of cells of the auxiliary catalyst layer on the transforming rate in the oxidising reaction. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Figs. 2 to 6 relate to embodiments of the present invention, and in these figures, the same constituent members are identified with the same numerals. Figs. 7 to 9 relate to catalytic performances showing influences of the structure of the catalyst layer or the auxiliary catalyst layer and composition of precious metals on the oxidising reaction for kerosine or carbon monoxide. In Fig. 2, numeral 1 denotes a liquid fuel tank, numeral 2 a fuel pump, numeral 3 an air blast fan, numeral 4 a mixing room. At the exit of the mixing room 4 flame ports 5 are provided, and near the flame ports 5 are provided an ignition plug 6 and an electrode for measuring the ion current in the flame, i.e. a so-called flame rod 7. Above the flame ports 5 is a vertically arranged catalyst layer 8 which includes an active composition of platinum metal carried on a honeycomb-like ceramic flat plate mainly composed of silica-alumina and formed with a plurality of communicating holes 8a. Upstream of the catalyst layer 8 (front side) is a transparent window 9 made of a glass plate located opposite to the catalyst layer 8. Numeral 10 denotes a control section for the pump 2, numeral 11 a thermocouple for detecting the temperature of the catalyst layer 8, and numeral 12 a combustion control circuit. Next, the operation will be described in detail. The fuel (kerosine) supplied from the fuel pump 2 is vaporised in the mixing room 4, sufficiently premixed with the air supplied from the fan 3, and transferred to the flame ports 5 located above. Firstly, the mixed gas is ignited at the flame ports 5 by the ignition plug 6, thereby forming a flame. The high temperature exhaust gas flows upwards passing through the communicating holes 8a and flows to the downstream side, and the temperature of the catalyst layer is raised. When, after burning for a predetermined length of time, the thermocouple 11 detects that the temperature of the catalyst layer 8 has reached a sufficiently high temperature, the pump 2 is stopped in order to put out the flame, and is then started again. In this process, the premixed gas coming from the mixing room 4 flows to the catalyst layer 8 which is arranged vertically above. Since the catalyst layer 8 has been sufficiently heated, the mixed gas effects catalytic combustion mainly at the upstream side (front surface) surface, and the combusted exhaust gas flows to the downstream side (rear surface) through the communicating holes 8a. A part of the reaction heat generated at the surface of the catalyst layer 8 penetrates through the transparent window 8, and another part of the reaction heat heats the transparent window 8 and is radiated from the window as secondary radiation, these heats being radiated from the front side for room heating or the like. At the time of ignition when the flame is formed at the flame ports 5, the flame rod 7 confirms that an ion current of a predetermined flow rate is flowing in the flame, whereby a misignition or a misfire can be detected. On the other hand, at the time when the flame at the flame ports 5 has been extinguished and the catalytic burning on the catalyst layer 8 has then started, the flame rod 7 confirms, in contrast with the above, that no flame exists at the flame ports 5, in other words, no ion current is flowing, thereby detecting that combustion has been completely switched to catalytic combustion, and there is no flame due to an incomplete extinguishment or a back-fire from the catalyst layer 8 to the flame ports 5 existing at the flame ports 5. By utilising the flame heat produced at the flame ports 5 for preheating the catalyst layer 8, all of the high temperature exhaust gas is passed through the communicating holes 8a of the catalyst layer 8, thereby uniformly heating the whole region of the catalyst layer 8. As a result, an efficient preheating can be achieved. For example, the time required for preheating the catalyst layer 8 to a predetermined temperature is about 3 to 5 minutes when using an electric heater of 1.5kW, while it is not more than one minute when using a flame of 1200 kcal/h. Further, in the case of an electric heater, the temperature is easily raised near the heater, but very slowly raised at regions remote from the heater, while in the case of a flame, the temperature is uniformly raised in a short time without any local unevenness in temperature. In addition, the problem that an electric heater suffers oxidising corrosion or heat damage near the catalyst layer 8 which is constantly at high temperature and oxidising condition is not encountered. Further, since an abnormality in flame ignition or in catalytic combustion is always detected by the flame rod 7, good life length, stability and safe combustion can be obtained. Although, in the abovementioned arrangement, the air for combustion is totally supplied to the mixing room 4, it is also possible to supply a part of the air adjacent to the flame ports 5 to obtain combustion of partially premixed gas. In this case, the variation of the ion current is significant, thereby improving the detecting precision of the flame rod 7 and ensuring a better detection of flame burning without deteriorating the perfect combustion features of the catalyst layer 8. The time period of flame burning required for preheating the catalyst layer 8 can be controlled by presetting it to a predetermined value which is large enough to sufficiently raise the temperature of the whole catalyst layer 8. However, it is better to detect the temperature of the catalyst layer 9 by means of a thermocouple 11 and thus confirm its temperature state. In the latter arrangement, in case of a reignition just after a flame extinguishment, where the temperature of the catalyst layer is comparatively high, there is obtained the advantage that excessive preheating can be omitted and a quick switch to catalytic combustion can be achieved. Further, the thermocouple 11 provided at the catalyst layer 8 for detecting the preheating temperature as mentioned above can also provide a temperature control function for catalytic combustion. For example, it is possible to detect abnormal combustion based on a drop in the temperature of the catalyst layer 8, when the activity of the catalyst layer 8 has deteriorated, or the catalyst layer has been partly damaged and the reaction has become imperfect. In detail, in the case where the catalytic activity has deteriorated, the central position of catalytic combustion shifts from the upstream side (front side) of the catalyst layer 8 to the downstream side (rear side), and results in a temperature distribution change such that the temperature at the upstream side is lowered, and the temperature at the downstream side is raised, or the temperature of the downstream exhaust gas is raised. By comparing these temperature distribution changes with a relationship between fuel supply rate and temperature distribution which is precalculated and stored in the control circuit 12, abnormal combustion can be detected, and combustion can be stopped as a result of the detected abnormality. In case of partial damage of the catalyst layer 8, fuel flows to the damaged portion, and the temperature of the catalyst layer 8 is lowered, thereby making it possible to detect the abnormality. On the other hand, in the case where the surface temperature of the catalyst layer 8 becomes significantly high due to an abnormality in the pump 2 or the fan 3, the temperature change is detected by the thermocouple 11, and a suitable control action such as indicating the abnormality or stopping combustion can be carried out, thereby ensuring safe and stable combustion. Although, in the above arrangement, a thermocouple is used as a temperature detecting means, any other temperature detecting means can be selected, for example, a resistance type thermometer such as a thermistor or a radiation type thermometer using light. As to the location of the thermometer, it is not always necessary to locate the thermometer near the catalyst layer 8, but it is possible to locate it in the exhaust gas passage as mentioned above for measuring the temperature of the exhaust gas, or to locate it outside the transparent window 9 for measuring the radiated heat amount. Since the catalyst layer 8 is located in a closed passage extending downstream of the flame ports 5, various external factors, for example, a gust blowing in or a water spray, can have no direct influence on the catalyst layer 8 and thus do not adversely affect combustion, and stable and perfect combustion can be maintained. In the case of kerosine catalytic combustion with an air ratio of about 1.5, the total amount of oxygen is sufficient, even if the oxygen density becomes as low as 15%, in other words, the oxygen excessive ratio, i.e. the ratio of actual oxygen amount to a theoretically required oxygen amount is maintained as high as about 1.1. In consequence, the combustion reaction is maintained at the catalyst layer 8. However, an oxygen density in a room below 16% falls in an unsafe range and can have a harmful influence on the human body. Here, during catalytic combustion, if a flame is formed at the flame ports 5 by applying an electric current to the ignition plug 6, and at the same time, the flame rod 7 is switched to the flame detecting mode as seen in the preheating process, an oxygen starvation state can be detected by measuring the change of the ion current flowing through the flame by means of the flame rod 7, because the state of the flame and the ion density in the flame vary according to the oxygen density. In the case where the ion current value is beyond a predetermined value, oxygen starvation is concluded and the pump 2 is stopped through the controller section 10 to interrupt combustion. Some flame ports have a feature that, when there is oxygen starvation, the formation of a stable flame becomes difficult and the flame blows out. In this case, oxygen starvation can be detected in a more certain manner. By setting a suitable electric current value, the combustion can be stopped when the oxygen density reaches 18% or 16%, thereby preventing unsafe operation. In this case, when the ion current value is not beyond the predetermined value, the fuel supply is temporarily interrupted similarly to the ignition phase for extinguishing the flame at the flame ports 5, and then the fuel supply is again started for continuing catalytic combustion at the catalyst layer 8. By conducting the abovementioned operation for a short time such as one to two minutes at intervals of such as 30 minutes or one hour, oxygen starvation can be detected. Further, since this operation is controlled by the ignition plug 6 which is normally used in the preheating process for the catalyst layer 8 and by the flame rod 7 which is normally used for detecting a misignition or a misfire, safety can be ensured in a simple manner. Next, a second embodiment will be described. Referring to Fig. 3, downstream of the catalyst layer 8 is arranged an additional auxiliary catalyst layer 13, which also has a thermocouple 14. The auxiliary catalyst layer 13 is a honeycomb-like ceramic plate carrying an active composition of precious metals and formed with a plurality of communicating holes 13a. Similarly to the abovementioned embodiment, combustion is started through the steps of forming a flame at the flame ports 5, preheating the catalyst layer 8 and the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 by using the combustion exhaust gas, extinguishing the flame by stopping the pump 2, and starting catalytic combustion at the catalyst layer 8 by activating the pump 2 again. The combustion exhaust gas flows further upwards to the downstream side, and contacts with the auxiliary catalyst layer 13, where unburned fuel, if any, is completely oxidised and thereafter exhausted upwards through the communicating holes 13a as a clean exhaust gas. In consequence, even when the fuel is not completely burned at the catalyst layer 8 due to uneven preheating or uneven temperature distribution, mixing is again effected and the gas contacts with the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 located downstream, thereby completing the reaction and preventing any unburned gas due to imperfect combustion from being exhausted. Further, even in the case where the activity of the catalyst layer 8 has deteriorated due to long use, the deterioration activity is compensated for by the catalyst layer 13, and stable performance can be maintained for a long time. In the case where the activity of the catalyst layer 8 drops, the reaction position gradually shifts from near the upstream side surface to the downstream side, and finally, the fuel cannot be burned perfectly, permitting a part of the fuel to pass therethrough in an unburned condition or permitting carbon monoxide, which is considered as an intermediate dissolved composition or a reaction intermediate composition, to be mixed into the exhaust gas. Accordingly, the temperature of the catalyst layer 8 detected by the thermocouple 11 becomes low. On the other hand, at the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 located at the downstream side, a combustion reaction of the unburned fuel is effected, and due to this reaction heat, the temperature of the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 detected by a thermocouple 14 becomes high. Thus, the temperature of the catalyst layer 8, which is much higher than that of the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 at an initial stage, is gradually lowered relative to the temperature of the auxiliary catalyst layer 13, and finally the temperature relationship between the two catalyst layers is reversed. Even in this reversed condition, since sufficient activity is maintained at the catalyst layer 13, no unburned fuel or carbon monoxide is contained in the final exhaust gas, thereby maintaining the exhaust gas in a clean state. Further, in the case where the temperature difference between the temperatures detected by the thermocouple 11 and the thermocouple 14 becomes smaller than a predetermined value, this difference is judged to indicate a limit to the life of the catalyst layer 8, and can be used as a signal for stopping the combustion. Thus, the deterioration of the catalyst layer can be detected, and any imperfect combustion can be prevented. The catalyst layer 8 may be arranged vertically as shown in Fig. 3 and may be provided with a transparent window on the upstream side for utilising the radiant heat, or may be, as seen in a third embodiment shown in Fig. 4, provided with an air blowing fan 15 for transforming the combustion heat into a warm wind for room heating. Thus, there is no limitation with respect to the arrangement of the catalyst layer 8 or to the form of utilising the reaction heat. Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. Referring to fig. 5, there is provided a secondary air tube 16 which branches from the outlet port of the fan 3 and connects to a secondary air port 17 opening at the upstream side of the auxiliary catalyst layer 13. Referring to an operational example where the catalyst layer 8 and the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 are preheated by burning the fuel at the flame ports 5, and then combustion is switched to kerosine catalytic combustion at the catalyst layer 8 with an air ratio 1.8 to 2.0, the surface temperatures of the catalyst layer 8 and the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 vary according to the change in oxygen density. In this case, the combustion reaction is substantially completed at the upstream side surface of the catalyst layer 8, and the surface temperature reaches about 860°C. At this instant, the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 is heated only by the exhaust gas discharged from the catalyst layer 8, and the surface temperature thereof is as low as about 550°C. Even when the oxygen density is further lowered, the temperature difference between the catalyst layer 8 and the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 is maintained almost constant, because the oxygen amount is still sufficient (the actual oxygen excessive rate is about 1.3 to 1.4 in the case where the oxygen density becomes 15%). If the air amount to be supplied to the mixing room 4 is decreased by about 30%, the air ratio at the catalyst layer 8 becomes 1.3 to 1.4. In this condition, for obtaining perfect combustion, oxygen density of more than 20% is required, and when the oxygen density becomes as low as 18%, the actual oxygen excess rate becomes 1.1 to 1.2, thereby causing a danger that carbon monoxide or unburned gas will be produced. These combustible compositions are mixed with the air supplied form the secondary air port 17 and flow towards the auxiliary catalyst layer 13, where a combustion reaction is effected. As a result, at the catalyst layer 8, the combustion reaction becomes weaker and the temperature becomes lower, while at the auxiliary catalyst layer 13, the combustion reaction becomes weaker at the catalyst layer 8 and stronger at the auxiliary catalyst layer 13. As a result, the temperatures of these two layers gradually approach each other, and will finally be reversed. Now, by presetting a suitable temperature difference value and controlling the pump 2 so as to stop the fuel supply when the temperature difference becomes lower than the preset value, combustion in an oxygen starvation state can be prevented, and any adverse effects on human beings and beasts can be avoided. Requirements, for setting the temperature difference depends on the target value of the oxygen density limit, the total amount of combustion, the ratio of area of the catalyst layer 8 to the catalyst layer 13, and the predetermined air ratio, and these may be set in the control circuit 12. A suitable action can be easily carried out in response to a change of the total combustion amount, if the predetermined temperature difference is previously stored in the control circuit 12. If the air supply rate to the mixing room 4 is maintained at the abovementioned limit value, the operation may be apt to become unstable when the fuel supply amount or the air supply amount changes. For effecting perfect combustion at the catalyst layer 8, it is preferred to supply sufficient air. Therefore, it is suitable to enact the abovementioned air flow change process only for a short time such as 2 to 3 minutes at constant intervals such as 30 minutes or one hour. Fig. 6 shows a fifth embodiment, having a flow controller 18 including an opening and closing valve located at the middle of the secondary air tube 16 for opening the flow tube for a short time at certain intervals. When the flow controller 18 is opened, a part of the air to be supplied to the mixing room 4 is supplied to the secondary air port 17 through the secondary air tube 16. As a result, the air supplied to the mixing room 4 is decreased, and at the same time, an air supply to the upstream side of the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 is initiated, thereby producing the same effects as in the fourth embodiment. In this embodiment, no special operation of the fan 3 is required, and since no excess of air is supplied from the secondary air port 17 in a normal combustion operation, the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 is not cooled, and can be maintained at a sufficiently high temperature, thereby ensuring a perfect cleaning efficiency for unburned fuel or carbon monoxide. Next, a sixth embodiment will be described. In this arrangement show in Fig. 3, platinum (Pt) is carried by the catalyst layer 8, and a composition produced by mixing palladium (Pd) and platinum at a weight ratio of 2 : 1 is carried by the catalyst layer 13. The thickness of the catalyst layer 13 is about 80% of that of the catalyst layer 8, and the area of the former is about 30% of that of the latter, and the external volume of the former is about 24% of that of the latter. The cell density (number of communicating holes 8a,13a per unit area) of the honeycomb which constitutes the carrier is 300 cells/in²(22/cm²) for the catalyst layer 8, and 400 cells/in²(30/cm²) for the catalyst layer 13, and accordingly, the diameter of the communicating holes 8a is smaller than that of the communicating holes 13a by about 30%. As mentioned above, the catalyst layer 8 and the catalyst layer 13 carry different precious metals, and there is also a difference between the reacting features of Pt and Pd on CO and kerosine as shown in fig. 7. Namely, Pd has a higher activity in oxidising CO (here, 400 ppm CO is contained in the air), and in particular, a superior activity at low temperature. On the other hand, Pt has a higher activity in oxidising kerosine (here, 2% kerosine vapor is contained in the air), and has a perfect reacting characteristic (activity at a condition of near 100% transforming rate) which is significantly different from that of Pd. Therefore, in the arrangement of fig. 3, Pt is used at the catalyst layer 8 for obtaining a superior combustion reaction with kerosine, while Pd is mainly used at the auxiliary catalyst layer 13, which has a low temperature, for purifying CO, which constitutes a main reactive composition, efficiently at a low temperature. Although the reaction starting characteristic of the catalyst layer 8 is expected to be improved by mixing Pd, it is desired, for improving the combustion reaction, to use Pt only or Pt as a main composition. On the other hand, at the auxiliary catalyst layer 13, although Pd only may be used for purifying CO, Pt is preferred due to the deterioration in activity or locally lowered temperature of the catalyst layer 8. With respect to the reactivity on the fuel, the abovementioned activity difference is seen in gaseous fuels such as propane or butane similarly to the abovementioned kerosine, and any gaseous fuel excluding methane has the same characteristics. Even if the volume of the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 is equal to that of the catalyst layer 8, there is no problem with respect to performance. However, since a large size of auxiliary catalyst layer 13 creates high cost, excessive size thereof is undesirable from a practical view point. The load on the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 is usually small, and a perfect reaction can be obtained, even if the gas flow speed is considerably increased. Fig. 8 shows a relationship between the volume ratio of the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 to the catalyst layer 8 and the transforming rate of the reactive substances. In an initial stage where the CO density is below 100 ppm, a perfect purification can be obtained, even when the volume ratio of the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 to the catalyst layer 8 is made as low as 10% and the gas flow speed is increased by about ten times. Even in a condition where no reaction is caused at the catalyst layer 8 (all fuel reaches the auxiliary catalyst layer 13), an almost normal combustion can be effected if the volume ratio of the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 is as great as 50%, thereby preventing a smell or CO from being exhausted, and preventing any abnormal conditions such as a back-fire. An abnormality of the catalyst layer 8 can be detected by measuring the temperature rise of the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 by means of the thermocouple 14, and in response to this detected abnormality, combustion can be stopped. In consequence, considering the cost requirement, it is required to make the size of the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 a minimum, and therefore, the volume ratio of the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 to the catalyst layer 8 may be preferably selected at 10 to 50% according to the precision of temperature detection and the allowable value for deterioration of the catalyst layer 8. The density of unburned fuel mix passing through the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 is far less than that through the catalyst layer 8. If the diameter of the communicating holes 13a of the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 is made smaller, in other words, the honeycomb cell density is made greater, the diffusion time of the unburned fuel mix can be shortened and reactivity is improved, resulting in a high transforming rate even at a low temperature, as shown in Fig. 9. In the case of the catalyst layer 8, excessive cell density causes a reaction heat concentration and an excessive temperature rise, thereby deteriorating the catalytic activity. In the case of the auxiliary catalyst layer 13, however, there is no such deterioration, because the heat produced is small due to the thin density of the gas. Fig. 9 indicates that if the cell density is increased, the reactivity is improved and purification becomes perfect, even in the case where the volume of the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 is small (gas flow speed is great). This structure is helpful for decreasing the size of the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 through which a gas of low temperature and low density passes. The greater density of the cells is accompanied with an increased flow resistance, and the cell density has an upper limit due to fabrication restrictions. However, by making the diameter of the communicating holes 13a of the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 smaller than that of the communicating holes 8a of the catalyst layer 8, it becomes possible to purify the exhaust gas efficiently with a small volume and at a low cost. In every case mentioned above, the carrier of the catalyst layer 8 or the auxiliary catalyst layer 13 is not limited to a ceramic honeycomb as shown in the abovementioned embodiments, but a ceramic honeycomb as shown in the abovementioned embodiments, but a ceramic foam, a braided body of anti-heat fibers, or a metal honeycomb can be used with the same advantage obtained. The abovementioned advantage is not influenced by the kind or the shape of the carrying body of the catalyst layer 8 or the auxiliary catalyst layer 13. As mentioned above, in a catalytic burning apparatus according to the present invention, uniform catalyst preheating can be effected in a short time, because the catalyst layer is preheated by utilising a flame burning which produces a hot exhaust gas. Further, since it is confirmed by means of ion current detecting means that a stable flame is formed in a flame burning stage, and no flame is formed in a catalytic burning stage, any effusion of unburned gas due to misignition or misfire can be prevented. In addition, in catalytic combustion, it can be confirmed that there is no backfire phenomenon, which may be caused by an overheating of the catalyst layer due to an abnormality of the pump or the fan and may form a flame at the flame ports. Further, by providing temperature detecting means for the catalyst layer, the preheat temperature of the catalyst layer can be suitably adjusted and catalytic combustion realising a perfect reaction can be started from the initial stage. In case of abnormal structure or an abnormal activity of the catalyst layer, the abnormality can be quickly detected and any smell or carbon monoxide due to imperfect combustion can be prevented from being produced. By conducting flame burning at certain intervals and confirming by ion electric current detecting means that a predetermined electric current is flowing, any abnormality of the oxygen density can be detected, and any oxygen starvation having a harmful influence on the human body can be prevented. By providing two stages of catalyst layers and detecting the temperature difference between these two catalyst layers, any deterioration in activity or damage of the catalyst layers can be detected, and further, by supplying secondary air to the upstream side of the catalyst layer (auxiliary catalyst layer) located at the downstream side, any oxygen starvation can be detected. By using Pt as a main composition for the upstream side catalyst layer, and Pd as a main composition for the downstream side catalyst layer, an optimum reaction suitable to the composition to be burned or the density of the same can be effected, thereby providing a combustion apparatus capable of effecting a perfect reaction. By making the volume of the downstream side catalyst layer smaller and having a smaller load, or making the cell diameter of the downstream side catalyst layer smaller and having a lower combustible gas density, efficient combustion and efficient exhaust gas purification can be effected at low cost.

Claims: A catalytic combustion apparatus including a mixing room (4) for mixing fuel with air, flame ports (5) arranged downstream of said mixing room (4), a catalyst layer (8) disposed downstream of said flame ports and formed with a plurality of communication holes (8a), and an ion current detecting means (7) and an igniting means (6) both disposed near said flame ports (5), the arrangement being such that for starting the combustion apparatus the igniting means (6) is operated for igniting said fuel mixed with air to form a flame at the flame ports (5), the flame is extinguished by stopping the supply of fuel, and then a combustion reaction on the surface of the catalyst layer (8) is started by supplying fuel again without operating the igniting means, characterised in that in said starting-up of the combustion apparatus the flame burns for a predetermined period of time and during this period the flame is extinguished and hence combustion stopped when the ion current detecting means (7) detects that a predetermined ion current value is not obtained, but during this period combustion is allowed to continue when the ion current detecting means (7) detects that a predetermined ion current value is obtained, and after the flame has burnt for said predetermined period of time the flame is extinguished by stopping the supply of fuel and the catalytic combustion reaction is then started by supplying fuel again, and that the apparatus also comprises control means (12) provided to shut down the combustion apparatus when the environment of the combustion apparatus has an insufficient oxygen percentage, said control means being provided to activate during catalytic combustion of the apparatus the igniting means (6) at predetermined intervals for generating a flame at the flame ports (5) for a predetermined time, restart the catalytic combustion through the steps of temporarily stopping the fuel supply and resupplying the fuel when the ion current detecting means (7) detects that the predetermined ion current value is obtained, but stop the fuel supply and shut down the combustion apparatus when the ion current detecting means (7) detects that the predetermined ion current value is not obtained. A catalytic combustion apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that it further comprises temperature detecting means (11) for detecting the temperature of the catalyst layer (8), wherein the flame burning time is controlled such that, when the temperature of the catalyst layer (8) reaches a predetermined value, the burning time is ended with the flame being extinguished by stopping the supply of fuel and then catalytic combustion is started by supplying fuel again without operating the igniting means (6). A catalytic combustion apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that it further comprises an auxiliary catalyst layer (13) arranged downstream of the catalyst layer (8) and formed with a plurality of communicating holes (13a), temperature detecting means (11,14) for detecting temperatures of said catalyst layer (8) and said auxiliary catalyst layer (13), a secondary air supply section (16) having an opening (17) at the upstream side of the auxiliary catalyst layer (13), control means for decreasing the air supply to the mixing room (4) by a predetermined ratio at predetermined intervals, and control means (12) interconnected with said temperature detecting means (11,14) for stopping the fuel supply, when the temperature difference between the two catalyst layers (8,13) goes below a predetermined value. A catalytic combustion apparatus as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that it further comprises air supply means communicating with both of said mixing room (4) and said secondary air supply section (16), and flow control means (18) for making a communication with said secondary air supply section (16) at predetermined intervals for a predetermined time. A catalytic combustion apparatus as claimed in claims 3 or 4, characterised in that the catalyst layer (8) carries platinum or a mixed precious metal mainly consisting of palladium. A catalytic combustion apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the volume of the auxiliary catalyst layer (13) is 10 to 50% of that of the catalyst layer (8). A catalytic combustion apparatus as claimed in claims 3 to 6, characterised in that the diameter of the communicating holes (13a) of the auxiliary catalyst layer (13) is smaller than that of the communicating holes (8a) of the catalyst layer (8).

Inventors: HOSAKA MASATO, KAWASAKI YOSHITAKA, NISHINO ATSUSHI, SUZUKI JIRO, HOSAKA, MASATO, KAWASAKI, YOSHITAKA, NISHINO, ATSUSHI, SUZUKI, JIRO
Applicants: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC IND CO LTD, MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: F23N5
IPC codes: F23N5, F23C6, F23C13, F23D14