Electrolysis: processes – compositions used therein – and methods – Electrolytic material treatment – Gas – vapor – or critical fluid
Patent
1996-07-24
1998-07-14
Phasge, Arun S.
Electrolysis: processes, compositions used therein, and methods
Electrolytic material treatment
Gas, vapor, or critical fluid
205765, 204277, 204278, B01D 5332
Patent
active
057798796
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for reducing harmful substances in combustion gases, particularly nitrogen oxides, in combustion exhaust gases in a combustion process performed using a supplied oxygen-nitrogen-air mixture (atmosphere).
STATE OF THE ART
It is known that the oxygen in the air is used during combustion processes. For example, in internal combustion engines in motor vehicles, a fuel-air mixture is created that is ignited with the aid of an ignition agent to obtain the drive energy for the motor vehicle with the internal combustion engine. A number of combustion gases are formed from the fuel and air during this combustion process. The combustion gases formed from the fuel are typically separated out to a great extent by means of a catalytic converter, which reduces environmental pollution. The use of air results in the formation of nitrogen oxides during the combustion process due to the nitrogen component in the air. In terms of economics, these oxides are costly to eliminate with a catalytic converter, and therefore represent a significant form of environmental pollution. Moreover, the formation of nitrogen oxide does not allow an optimization of combustion in the lean range of the internal combustion engine.
SUMMARY AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
A reduction in the harmful substances, particularly nitrogen oxides, in the combustion exhaust gases performed using a supplied oxygen-nitrogen-air mixture (atmosphere), is achieved according to one aspect of the invention by an apparatus which comprises at least one supply conduit or chamber that conducts the oxygen-nitrogen-air mixture and which is associated with an exhaust gas conduit that is connected to a combustion chamber, an intermediate wall that separates the supply chamber from the exhaust gas conduit and which is selectively permeable to the oxygen (O.sub.2) of the oxygen-nitrogen-air mixture to cause oxygen from the oxygen-nitrogen-air mixture to be supplied to the combustion exhaust gas mixture, and a further conduit for conveying the oxygen containing combustion exhaust gas to the combustion chamber as the supply gas for combustion.
In contrast, the apparatus of the invention for reducing harmful substances in combustion gases, as described above, offers the advantage that the atmospheric nitrogen is not supplied to the combustion during combustion processes involving the supply of air, which prevents the formation of nitrogen oxides in the combustion gas. Because at least one conduit that conducts the oxygen-nitrogen-air mixture is associated with an exhaust gas conduit that is connected to a combustion chamber, the conduit being provided with a fresh air connection and an exhaust air connection and having a jacket that is permeable to the oxygen of the oxygen-nitrogen-air mixture, the combustion can advantageously be further performed with the supply of atmospheric oxygen taken from the atmospheric air, while the atmospheric nitrogen present in the atmospheric air does not come into contact with the combustion gases supplied to the combustion chamber.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the jacket comprises a material that conducts oxygen ions, and is preferably connected to a voltage source. The oxygen ions of the atmospheric oxygen can pass through the jacket of the conduit that conducts the oxygen-nitrogen-air mixture; however, the jacket represents an insurmountable barrier to the atmospheric nitrogen. With the application of a correspondingly-polarized voltage, the transport of the oxygen ions through the conduit jacket can be advantageously improved so that, if needed, the oxygen concentration can be influenced by a selectable voltage during the combustion process.
The method of the invention for reducing harmful substances offers the advantage that the combustion processes can be performed with the supply of atmospheric oxygen, as is known, and the atmospheric nitrogen that produces harmful substances can be kept out of the combustion process without necessitating co
REFERENCES:
patent: 3739553 (1973-06-01), Aine
patent: 4713152 (1987-12-01), Walsh
patent: 5118395 (1992-06-01), Chen et al.
Blankenhorn Wolfgang
Dieterich Klaus
Phasge Arun S,.
Robert & Bosch GmbH
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