Development of Low-Emission Cooking Device Based on Catalytic Hydrogen Combustion Technology

The development of a prototype of a cooking device based on catalytic hydrogen combustion (CHC) is presented in this research. CHC is the catalytic reaction between hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2), generating heat and water vapour as the only by-product. In the developed prototype, only H2 gas is fed to the catalytic surface while air is entrained from the environment by convection (i.e., passive approach). Therefore, the convective mass transfer during the exothermic reaction between H2 and O2 allows a continuous H2/air mixture supply to the catalytic surface. In this prototype, 30 g of Pt/Al2O3 (0.5 wt% Pt) catalyst is used for the H2 combustion. The developed prototype performance was evaluated by determining its combustion temperature, H2 slip (amount of unreacted H2 in the flue gas), and flue gas composition with respect to NOx formation. Tests were performed at inlet H2 flows of 1–5 normal (N) L/min, which equates to a power output of 0.18–0.90 kW, respectively. The observed combustion temperature of the catalyst surface, determined using an IR camera, was in the range of 324.5 °C (at 1 NL/min) to 611.2 °C (at 5 NL/min). The H2 slip of <1.75 vol% was observed during CHC at 1–5 NL/min H2 flow. The maximum efficiency of 42% was determined at 1 NL/min H2 flow and a power output of 0.18 kW.