Causes, magnitude, and effects of temperature fluctuations (flickering) of catalytic wires and gauzes

An experimental study has confirmed a theoretical prediction that, when an exothermic mass transfer limited chemical reaction occurs on a single catalytic wire for which the parameter a [Equation (11)] is large, temperature fluctuations (flickering) of large amplitude must be induced by concentration fluctuations. A simplified model is presented for predicting the magnitude of flickering in industrial convertors for which the parameter a is usually large. The model should be useful in estimating the influence of improved mixing of the reactants on the reduction in precious metal loss from the gauze.