METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING CONTAMINANTS FROM GAS STREAMS

• US 20040159232A1
• Filed: 02/14/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Moustafa Abdel Kader Mohamed
• Original Assignee: Moustafa Abdel Kader Mohamed
• Inventors: Mohamed, Moustafa Abdel Kader
• Granted Patent: US 6,824,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 95/28
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/32 by electrical effects other than those provided for in group B01D61/00
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/14 characterised by the additional use of mechanical effects, e.g. gravity B03C3/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/455 specially adapted for heat exchange with the gas stream B03C3/53 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/0892 Electric or magnetic treatment, e.g. dissociation of noxious components electric filters F01N3/01; regeneration of exhaust filters F01N3/023; heating catalytic converters F01N3/2006

Abstract

A method and apparatus for removing contaminants from gas streams. A first step involves selecting a contaminant to be removed from a gas stream and determining a characteristic ionizing energy value required to selectively ionize the selected contaminant with minimal effect on other contaminants in the gas stream. A second step involves applying the characteristic ionizing energy value to the gas stream and selectively ionizing the selected contaminant. A third step involves capturing the selected contaminant after ionization.

Claims

1. A method for removing contaminants from gas streams, comprising the steps of:

selecting a contaminant to be removed from a gas stream and determining a characteristic ionizing energy value required to selectively ionize the selected contaminant with minimal effect on other contaminants in the gas stream;

applying the characteristic ionizing energy value to the gas stream and selectively ionizing the selected contaminant; and

capturing the selected contaminant after ionization.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, the selected contaminant being captured after ionization by applying a magnetic field which directs the selected contaminant to a collector assembly.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, the collector assembly being charged with an electric charge having a different polarity to that of the selected contaminant after ionization, whereby the selected contaminant is attracted to the collector assembly.

4. The method as defined in claim 2, the magnetic field being applied at an angle to the motion of the selected contaminant to deflect the selected contaminant along an arcuate path to the collector assembly which can be predetermined based upon known data regarding mass and average drift velocity of the selected contaminant.

5. The method as defined in claim 2, the collector assembly including a charged metal substrate cooled below a characteristic liquifying temperature for the selected contaminant, thereby liquifying the selected contaminant.

6. The method as defined in claim 5, the charged metal substrate being positioned at an angle, with a collection vessel being positioned beneath the charged metal substrate, such that after liquefaction the selected contaminant flows down the charged metal substrate into the collection vessel.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, the selected contaminant being sulphur compounds.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, the collector assembly being charged with an electric charge having a different polarity to that of the selected contaminant after ionization, whereby the selected contaminant is attracted to the collector assembly.

8. A method for removing contaminants from gas streams, comprising the steps of:

selecting a contaminant to be removed from a gas stream and determining a characteristic ionizing energy value required to selectively ionize the selected contaminant with minimal effect on other contaminants in the gas stream;

applying the characteristic ionizing energy value to the gas stream and selectively ionizing the selected contaminant; and

capturing the selected contaminant after ionization by applying a magnetic field at an angle to the motion of the selected contaminant to deflect the selected contaminant along an arcuate path which can be predetermined based upon known data regarding mass and average drift velocity of the selected contaminant to a collector assembly, the collector assembly including a charged metal substrate with an electric charge having a different polarity to that of the selected contaminant after ionization, whereby the selected contaminant is attracted to the collector assembly, the charged metal substrate being cooled below a characteristic liquifying temperature for the selected contaminant, thereby liquifying the selected contaminant, the charged metal substrate being positioned at an angle, with a collection vessel being positioned beneath the charged metal substrate, such that after liquefaction the selected contaminant flows down the charged metal substrate into the collection vessel.

9. The method as defined in claim 8, the selected contaminant being sulphur compounds.

10. An apparatus for removing contaminants from gas streams, comprising:

an ionization assembly;

a tuner for selectively tuning the ionization assembly to produce an electric field having a characteristic ionizing energy value required to selectively ionize a selected contaminant with minimal effect on other contaminants in a gas stream;

a collector assembly for capturing the selected contaminant after ionization.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein a magnetic field generator is provided for applying a magnetic field to deflect the selected contaminant to the collector assembly, the magnetic field being applied at an angle to the motion of the selected contaminant to deflect the selected contaminant along an arcuate path to the collector which can be predetermined based upon known data regarding mass and average drift velocity of the selected contaminant.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 10, the collector assembly including a charged metal substrate cooled below a characteristic liquifying temperature for the selected contaminant, thereby liquifying the selected contaminant.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, the charged metal substrate being positioned at an angle, with a collection vessel being positioned beneath the charged metal substrate, such that after liquefaction the selected contaminant flows down the charged metal substrate into the collection vessel.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 10, the ionization assembly including a first body having a first set of conductive members, a second body having a second set conductive members, the first body and the second body extending through openings of an insulated support in parallel spaced relation, the first set of conductive members being intermeshed with the second set of conductive members.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 15, means being provided to effect relative movement of the first body and the second body toward and away from each other, thereby cleaning the first set of conductive members and the second set of conductive members by rubbing them against the insulated support.

17. An apparatus for removing contaminants from gas streams, comprising:

an ionization assembly including a first body having a first set of conductive members, a second body having a second set conductive members, the first body and the second body extending through openings in and being supported by an insulated support in parallel spaced relation, the first set of conductive members being intermeshed with the second set of conductive members;

a tuner for selectively tuning the ionization assembly to produce an electric field having a characteristic ionizing energy value required to selectively ionize a selected contaminant with minimal effect on other contaminants in a gas stream;

a collector assembly for capturing the selected contaminant after ionization, the collector including a charged metal substrate with an electric charge having a different polarity to that of the selected contaminant after ionization, whereby the selected contaminant is attracted to the collector assembly, the charged metal substrate being cooled below a characteristic liquifying temperature for the selected contaminant, thereby liquifying the selected contaminant, the charged metal substrate being positioned at an angle, with a collection vessel being positioned beneath the charged metal substrate, such that after liquefaction the selected contaminant flows down the charged metal substrate into the collection vessel; and

a magnetic field generator for applying a magnetic field to deflect the selected contaminant to the collector, the magnetic field being applied at an angle to the motion of the selected contaminant to deflect the selected contaminant along an arcuate path to the collector which can be predetermined based upon known data regarding mass and average drift velocity of the selected contaminant.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 17, means being provided to effect relative movement of the first body and the second body toward and away from each other, thereby cleaning the first set of conductive members and the second set of conductive members by rubbing them against the insulated support.