CHALLENGE: One of our clients, a producer of household pellet and wood stoves, needed effective solutions to reduce fine particulate matter (PM) emissions from their appliances. With increasingly strict environmental regulations and the need to stay competitive, they faced growing challenges in meeting these standards and maintaining a competitive edge.
SOLUTION: We developed an advanced catalytic technology to effectively limit carbonaceous particulate (soot) formation in household pellet stoves, enhancing their performance. The project began with research to identify the most suitable catalyst: traditional formulations based on noble metals like platinum and palladium, commonly used for oxidizing unburnt residues, are prone to rapid sintering and/or fouling in these appliances, making them quickly ineffective over time. Our team instead identified metal oxide-based materials that are more temperature-resistant and effective in oxidizing soot and its precursors. In the project’s second phase, we developed an innovative technique to distribute the catalyst within the combustion chamber, utilizing optimally the high temperatures generated by combustion. This solution was patented by the client.
CHALLENGE: The client wanted to invest in indoor air purification technologies, a field that gained significant interest following the 2020 pandemic. However, without prior experience in this sector, they needed a reliable partner to design the device from scratch.
SOLUTION: We focused on the ability of titanium-based materials to degrade volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through photocatalysis, a reaction activated by UV radiation at a specific wavelength. Based on the kinetic laws obtained, we designed an indoor air purifier specifically for VOC reduction. To optimize device performance, we developed an advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model that couples reaction kinetics with airflow dynamics and UV ray distribution within the device. This approach improved the contact between VOCs and the catalyst, maximizing removal efficiency. The equipment was patented by the client.
