Internal combustion engine exhaust treating apparatus and method

• US 6,240,725 B1
• Filed: 01/06/2000
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dominic E. Scappatura
• Original Assignee: Dominic E. Scappatura
• Inventors: Scappatura, Dominic E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Denion, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TU MINH
• Application Number:
  US09/478,477
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 602/74, 602/97, 602/98, 603/09, 603/10, 603/11, 606/48, 95/67, 951/56, 502/232
• US Class Current: 60/311
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 11/00 Monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus , e.g. for catalytic activity safety, indicating or supervising devices for internal combustion engines F02B77/08; testing of machines G01M13/00
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/009 having two or more separate purifying devices arranged in series
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2240/02 a heat exchanger
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2240/22 a condensation chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2530/04 Steel alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2570/04 Sulfur or sulfur oxides
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2570/14 Nitrogen oxides
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/005 for draining or otherwise eliminating condensates or moisture accumulating in the apparatus F01N3/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/02 for cooling, or for removing solid constituents of, exhaust by means of electric or electrostatic separators F01N3/01 ; mixing air with exhaust in tailpipes F01N13/082, F01N13/20
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/04 using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/043 without contact between liquid and exhaust gases
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/08 for rendering innocuous using electric or electrostatic separators F01N3/01; chemical aspects B01D53/92
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/30 Arrangements for supply of additional air control, e.g. using by-passes or variable air pump drives, F01N3/22
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

An apparatus and method for the removal of carbon particles (soot), odor, gas and particulate from the exhaust of a diesel engine. The method includes a carbon (soot) collector which collects the carbon (soot) and noxious odor which is connected to the catalytic converter of the engine, then enters a heat exchanger for cooling and condensing a major portion of the exhaust into a liquid condensate. The condensate enters a first reactor which neutralizes any acids present in the condensate and passes through an automatic drain into a holding tank. The non-condensed gases flow into a second reactor connected to a holding tank. Gases are reacted in the second chemical reactor with a substance which absorbs the carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide. The two reactors remove a large quantity of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. The treated gases then flow into a the soot bath for removal of minute carbon (soot) particles and thence into a vapor remover. The treated gases then are let out into the atmosphere through an exhaust outlet.

Claims

1. apparatus for removing diesel particulate and gases from a diesel internal combustion exhaust and apparatus comprising of:

a soot separator attached to a catalytic converter of a diesel exhaust system for receiving and removing particulate from the exhaust, whereas the soot separator removes particulate (soot) by a specially injected chemical (RP Super Filter Coat

     421) into a chamber to which the particulate will enter and be contained in a reservoir;

a heat exchanger attached to the soot separator (attached to a diesel exhaust system) for receiving and cooling exhaust passing there through and condensing at least a portion of the exhaust into a liquid condensate;

a first chemical reactor fluidly communicating with said heat exchanger for receiving and removing the condensate and draining into a holding tank associated therewith, the first chemical reactor exposing the condensate to a neutralizing agent contained therein to neutralize acids in the condensate;

at least one second chemical reactor fluidly communicating with said first chemical reactor for receiving non-condensed gases from said first chemical reactor and reacting carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxide contained in a non-condensed gases with a substance contained in said second chemical reactor which absorbs carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen acids and removes at least some of said particulate matter from the non-condensed gases and discharges a balance of said exhaust through an outlet, wherein said second chemical reactor drains into a first chamber fluidly communicating therewith;

a first drain conduit is connected to said heat exchanger and said first chamber to provide fluid communication there between for a portion of said liquid condensate formed in said heat exchanger; and

said first chamber fluidly communicate with said holding tank through a second drain conduit extending there between.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat exchanger is connected to receive coolant from a separate radiator and from a cooling compressor evaporator attached to the diesel engine to which said apparatus is attached.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat exchanger is connected to receive coolant from a separate radiator and from a cooling compressor evaporator attached to the diesel engine to which said apparatus is attached.

3. An apparatus for removing diesel particulate and gases from a diesel internal combustion exhaust and apparatus comprising of:

a soot separator attached to a catalytic converter of a diesel exhaust system for receiving and removing particulate from the exhaust;

a heat exchanger attached to the soot separator (attached to a diesel exhaust system) for receiving and cooling exhaust passing there through and condensing at least a portion of the exhaust into a liquid condensate, wherein said heat exchanger cools the exhaust to a temperature from approximately 5 to 10°

C. (40-50°

F.);

first chemical reactor fluidly communicating with said heat exchanger for receiving and removing the condensate and draining into a holding tank associated therewith, the first chemical reactor exposing the condensate to a neutralizing agent contained therein to neutralize acids in the condensate, said neutralizing agent in said first chemical reactor is a sodium carbonate (soda ash);

at least one second chemical reactor fluidly communicating with said first chemical reactor for receiving non-condensed gases from said first chemical reactor and reacting carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxide contained in a non-condensed gases with a substance contained in said second chemical reactor which absorbs carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen acids and removes at least some of said particulate matter from the non-condensed gases and discharges a balance of said exhaust through an outlet, said substance in said second chemical reactor is an alkali metal hydroxide in solid form, wherein said second chemical reactor drains into a first chamber fluidly communicating herewith;

a first drain conduit is connected to a said heat exchanger and said first chamber to provide fluid communication there between for a portion of said liquid condensate formed in said heat exchanger; and

said first chamber fluidly communicates with said holding tank through a second drain conduit extending there between.