Method and apparatus for using free radicals to reduce pollutants in the exhaust gases from the combustion of fuel
US6029442A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 7, 1997 |
| Grant date | Feb 29, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 7, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/12
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The invention is directed to an apparatus and a method for the reduction of pollutants in the exhaust stream of a combustion engine. Radicals are produced using a corona discharge in the combustion gas stream of the engine, either in the precombustion gas stream or from water in the exhaust gas. When the radicals are produced from the exhaust gas stream, the radicals may be produced using a corona discharge placed directly in the exhaust stream leading to the catalytic convertor, or a portion of the exhaust stream may be diverted to a remote corona discharge radical generator. The corona discharge in the generator produces radicals in the diverted exhaust gas, and the exhaust gas containing radicals is then conveyed to the exhaust gas stream at a point upstream of the catalytic convertor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.