Packed-bed radial-flow non-thermal plasma reactor

• US 20060087243A1
• Filed: 09/01/2005
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
• Inventors: Gabehart, Thomas R., Anderson, Andy M., Zhan, Rijing
• Granted Patent: US 7,767,166 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/111.210
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2240/28 a plasma reactor
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/2406 using dielectric barrier discharges, i.e. with a dielectric interposed between the electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/246 the plasma being activated using external electrodes H05H1/245 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A non thermal plasma reactor for treating gases. The reactor has a tubelike housing, which contains four concentric channels. A central channel is a gas inlet channel. Two inner channels are a non thermal plasma reactor channel and a catalytic channel. The outer channel is a gas outlet channel.

Claims

1. A radial flow non-thermal plasma reactor for treating a gas, comprising:

a tubed shaped housing with an input end and an output end;

a central channel within the housing, operable to receive the gas from the input end;

a first electrode screen bounding the central channel;

a first inner channel concentric with the central channel, operable to receive the gas after the gas flows radially through the first electrode screen;

wherein the first inner channel is a non-thermal plasma reactor;

a second electrode screen bounding the first inner channel;

a second inner channel concentric with the first inner channel, operable to receive the gas after the gas flows radially through the second electrode screen;

wherein the second inner channel contains a catalytic material;

an outer channel operable to receive the gas after the gas flows radially through the second inner channel, and further operable to channel the gas to the output end of the housing.

2. The reactor of claim 1, wherein the first electrode screen is a high voltage electrode screen, and the second electrode screen is a low voltage electrode screen.

3. The reactor of claim 1, wherein the first inner channel is a packed bed reactor.

4. The reactor of claim 1, wherein the first inner channel is filled with dielectric material.

5. The reactor of claim 1, wherein the reactor is operable to treat engine exhaust emissions.