Power plants – Internal combustion engine with treatment or handling of... – Methods
Patent
1997-09-22
2000-02-29
Dolinar, Andrew M.
Power plants
Internal combustion engine with treatment or handling of...
Methods
60299, 55259, 422177, F01N 300, F01N 310
Patent
active
06029440&
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The Turbulent Flow Precipitator principle consists of passing a fluid in turbulent flow in a channel past a large number of narrow and deep spaces at least partially bounded by solid surfaces, which are positioned alongside of the channel and communicate freely with the fluid flowing there. Fine particulates suspended in the fluid follow the turbulent velocity fluctuations and are carried thereby into said narrow and deep spaces, where the turbulence dies out and where the particles deposit on the solid surfaces by inertial impaction, interception or Brownian diffusion. UK Patent No. GB 2 264 655B discloses such a principle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the existing patent, the Turbulent flow Precipitator (TFP) principle has been described particularly with reference to the collection of fine particles from gas streams. The present invention is concerned with more specific details for one specific application of the TFP principle, for trapping and subsequently oxidising particulate pollutants present in exhaust gases from internal combustion engines, such as diesel or gasoline engines. Trapped pollutants may be oxidised naturally by exhaust heat or by application of burners or heaters, including electric heaters. The temperature required for oxidation may be decreased by the application of suitable fuel additives or by a suitable catalyst deposited on the collector surfaces or otherwise.
For the purpose of trapping internal combustion engine exhaust emissions of motor vehicles, the TFP must satisfy some special requirements. It must be able to collect and trap ultrafine soot particles which are in the size range of less than 0.5 micrometers, with a good efficiency (at least 70%), it must be of compact size, comparable with the dimensions of a typical muffler, it must treat relatively large gas flows, typically in the range of about 50 L/s to about 500 L/s, it must operate with relatively low pressure losses to avoid the adverse effects on engine performance, fuel consumption and, therefore, pollutant emissions; and it must be regenerable conveniently while in place in the vehicle, without requiring stopping either the engine or the vehicle. In the case of stationary sources, there are no stringent limitations of permissible TFP size.
A number of possible TFP designs, meeting with the above requirements, have been prepared. All designs have the following features in common. They consist of a channel, or several parallel channels, of a diameter typically in the range of about 5 mm to about 30 mm, although other dimensions are possible. Each channel is surrounded by a large number of spaces, or recesses, which are deep in the direction perpendicular to, and narrow in the direction parallel to, the duct axis. These spaces may, or may not, connect channels lying alongside of each other. Any connections between channels lying alongside of each other must be small enough to permit no cross-flow between flow channels; The exhaust gases flow in the channel(s), typically in the range of from about 5 m/s up to about 50 m/s velocity, although other velocities are possible, in a turbulent state, whereas turbulent velocity fluctuations carry the particulate emission into the spaces surrounding the channel(s) where it deposits on the walls constituting the spaces. The spaces constitute the traps for the particulate emissions, whereas the channel(s) remain(s) unobstructed and permit(s) unhindered exhaust gas flow. Lower operating temperatures result in higher collection efficiencies and are, therefore, to be preferred to high operating temperature of the TFP. The TFP may be constructed of suitable metals, capable of resisting high temperatures, such as 310 stainless steel, or ceramics.
In other words the present invention consists of an apparatus for collecting internal combustion engine exhaust emission particulates comprising at least one channel, preferably several parallel unobstructed flow channels, of about 3 mm to 30 mm diameter, and a length of about 10 cm to 100 cm, said channel bei
REFERENCES:
patent: 4292050 (1981-09-01), Linhardt et al.
patent: 4407785 (1983-10-01), Pfefferle
patent: 5240470 (1993-08-01), Wright
patent: 5567395 (1996-10-01), Okabe et al.
patent: 5658536 (1997-08-01), Okabe et al.
patent: 5674460 (1997-10-01), Plog et al.
patent: 5820832 (1998-10-01), Huttenhofer et al.
patent: 5866080 (1999-02-01), Day
Dolinar Andrew M.
Gimie Mahmoud M.
Institut Francais du Pe'trole
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