METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING COMBUSTION GASES

• US 3,748,830 A
• Filed: 05/19/1972
• Issued: 07/31/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rose Shuffman
• Original Assignee: Oscar Shuffman, Sigmund L. Ross
• Inventors: Ross, Sigmund L., Shuffman, Oscar
• Primary Examiner(s): Nozick, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US05/255,001
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 55/89,222,228,259,269,276 60/310,317,320 62/323 165/163
• US Class Current: 95/195
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 50/00 Combinations of methods or devices for separating particles from gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2230/00 Combination of silencers and other devices
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2240/02 a heat exchanger
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2490/06 the gases flowing longitudinally from inlet to outlet in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/04 using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/043 without contact between liquid and exhaust gases
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 5/02 arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/30 Exhaust treatment

Abstract

Waste combustion or exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine for motor vehicle or from other sources are directed into intimate, direct contact with the surface of ice which is supported by a subsurface and which presents an extended area of ice surface for travel of the combustion gases in contact therewith for accomplishing the deposition of particulate and other pollutants on the moist ice surface thereby provided. A moist sludge containing the pollutants is sloughed off of the ice surface and is collected, thereby separating the pollutants from residual combustion gases. As a result of passing residual combustion gases over the surface of the collected sludge unburned carbon contained therein is produced in a form having utility as a source of activated carbon and of carbon black.

Claims

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein movement of said sludge into said collection zone is assisted by the kinetic energy of residual gases in direct contact therewith.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the pressure of said exhaust gases is substantially reduced during travel through said travel zone.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the waste combustion gases are the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein one of said pollutants in the waste combustion gases that is deposited on and sloughed off from said ice surface is in the form of unburned carbonaceous particles and wherein the surfaces of said carbonaceous particles are modified by the action of the waste combustion gases that are swept over the sludge in the collection zone.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said body of ice is formed on a subsurface presented by a refrigerant line disposed in proximate spaced relation with respect to the inner surface of elongated conduit means and the combustion gases are passed through said conduit means in direct contact with the surface of the body of ice formed on the surface of said refrigerant line.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein a liquified gaseous material having a sufficiently low temperature is introduced into said chamber means causing rapid reduction in pressure and temperature within the chamber means and concomitant rapid chilling of said subsurface to the freeziNg temperature of the moisture contained in said combustion gases.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the residual combustion gases are directed through the collection zone so as to pass over said collection container and wherein the so directed residual gases are further chilled by contact with a chilled surface disposed above said collection container.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein said chilled surface is in the form of ice formed on a subsurface and the subsurface is maintained sufficiently cold to maintain ice thereon.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the exhaust gases directed through the collection zone while passing over the collection container in contact with ice on said subsurface are subjected to a succession of pressure drops which assist in completing the scavenging of pollutants from the exhaust gases.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein prior to contact of the combustion gas with the ice surface water is sprayed into the combustion gas with resultant increase in the water vapor content of said gases that condenses and freezes in the formation of the body of ice presenting said surface.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said combustion gases pass through a muffler prior to contact with the ice surface and wherein water is sprayed into the exhaust gases upstream in relation to the muffler.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein water is separated from the collected sludge and said water so separated is sprayed into said combustion gases prior to contact with the ice surface.

14. Apparatus for purifying waste combustion gases which comprises an ice contact chamber having an inlet and an outlet spaced from said inlet, elongated conduit means within said chamber, means for directing waste combustion gases through said inlet into said chamber, said chamber defining confining means for confining said gases for extended travel of said gases in intimate contact with the external surface of said conduit means during travel through said chamber from said inlet to said outlet, baffle means within said chamber to induce turbulence of said gases during travel through said chamber in intimate contact with said external surface of said conduit means, a refrigerating unit for directing a refrigerant through said elongated conduit means at a temperature sufficiently low to condense moisture in said combustion gases and convert at least a substantial proportion thereof to ice formed on the external surface of said conduit means in direct contact with said gases, continuous channel means comprised in said chamber extending from adjacent said inlet to said outlet, said channel means being disposed underneath said elongated conduit means for the reception therein of liquid and particulate accumulations released from the surface of said elongated conduit means and for travel therealong in the direction of travel of said gases toward and into said outlet, a collection container for said accumulations having an inlet and an outlet, conduit means connected between said chamber and said container which directs waste gases and said accumulations emerging from said outlet of said ice contact chamber into said collection container, said collection container including separating means for the retention of said accumulations therein while permitting the travel of waste gases therethrough from said inlet to said outlet of said collection container for discharge therefrom.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said collection container comprises a pressure reducing portion the cross sectional flow capacity of which for waste gases flowing therethrough in relation to that of said inlet of said collection container is such as to result in a reduction in pressure of gases after said gases enter said collection continer through said inlet thereof and which comprises in the region of said portion of said collection container through which gases flow an ice supporting member presenting an extended external surface disposed foR contact with said gases prior to emission of said gases from the outlet of said collection container and refrigerating means for maintaining said surface of said member at a temperature sufficiently low to condense thereon water vapor contained in said gases and convert same to ice.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said collection container downstream with respect to said pressure reducing portion comprises at least one contraction in the cross sectional flow capacity for said waste gases followed by a further pressure reducing portion wherein the waste gases come in contact with the external surface of said ice supporting member.

17. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said means for directing waste combustion gases through said inlet into said chamber comprises spray means for spraying water into said waste combustion gases prior to entry of said gases into said ice contact chamber.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said means for directing waste combustion gases through said inlet into said chamber includes a muffler through which said gases pass prior to passage through said inlet and wherein said spray means for spraying water into said gases is located so as to spray water into said gases prior to their passage through said muffler.

19. Apparatus according to claim 17 which comprises drain means for draining from said collection container free water collected in said container, water recycling means comprising a return line for directing water from said drain means through said return line to said spray means, and a pump for pumping water removed from said collection container by said drain means to said spray means.

20. Apparatus for purifying waste combustion gases which comprises elongated conduit means, a refrigerating unit for directing a refrigerant through said conduit means at a temperature sufficiently low to form ice on the surface thereof by the condensation and freezing thereon of moisture contained in gases in contact therewith, an ice contact chamber in the form of an elongated passage having an inlet and an outlet spaced from said inlet the inner surface of which is in proximate spaced relation with respect to the external surface of said elongated conduit means for extended travel of gases therethrough in contact with the external surface of said elongated conduit means, means for directing waste combustion gases into the inlet of said elongated passage for passage therethrough to said outlet, a succession of baffles within said passage which impart turbulence to said gases during their travel therethrough in contact with the external surface of said elongated conduit means, channel means comprises in said passage and disposed underneath said elongated conduit means for the reception of liquid and particulate accumulations released from the surface of said elongated conduit means, said channel means being adapted for the travel of said liquid and particulate accumulations received therein in the direction of travel of gases passing through said passage for discharge with said gases from the outlet of said passage, a collection container for said accumulations having an inlet and an outlet, conduit means connected betweeen said chamber and said container which is disposed to direct waste gases and said accumulations emerging from said outlet of said passage into said collection container through said inlet thereof, said collection container including separating means for the retention of said accumulations therein while permitting travel of waste gases therethrough from said inlet to said outlet of said collection container for discharge therefrom.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said elongated conduit means and said passage comprised in said ice contact chamber are respectively in coil form having a plurality of reaches disposed approximately horizontally.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said elongated conduit means is disposed substantially concentrically within said passage and whErein said baffles extend partially across said passage with the inner margin substantially vertically disposed and cut away to accommodate a portion of the external surface of said elongated conduit means, said baffles being disposed on opposite sides of said elongatee conduit means in staggered relation to provide support for said conduit means and leaving substantially unobstructed said channel means so as to permit travel of said liquid and particulate accumulations along said channel means to said outlet of the said passage comprises in said ice contact chamber.

23. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said collection container comprises an elongated passage for the travel of gases from said inlet to said outlet of said collection container, a receptacle for liquid and particulate accumulations disposed underneath said elongated passage, an elongated conduit means the external surface of which is in proximate spaced relation with respect to the inner surface of said passage in said collection container, and refrigerating means for directing a refrigerant through said elongated conduit means at a temperature sufficiently low to condense water vapor on said external surface thereof and convert it to ice.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said elongated conduit means in said passage in said collection container is an extension of the elongated conduit means within the passage comprised in said ice contact chamber.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24, which also comprises a container for a liquified gaseous material having a sufficiently low temperature and valve controlled means for injecting said liquified gaseous material from said container into said ice contact chamber, whereby on starting there is a rapid chilling of the ice contact chamber so as to produce ice therein substantially immediately.

26. Apparatus according to claim 25 which comprises an engine starting switch and means for actuating said valve controlled means responsive to actuation of said engine starting switch.