Catalytic converter structures with electrohydrodynamic heat and mass transfer
First Claim
1. A catalytic converter component comprising a honeycomb substrate body having a plurality of passages therein for the passage therethrough of exhaust gas, an emitter electrode at an upstream location in the flowing exhaust gas and a collector electrode at a downstream location in the flowing exhaust gas for collecting electrons in the flowing exhaust gas, and an energizing circuit to generate free electrons at the emitter electrode and to receive the free electrons at the collector electrode at least one of the electrodes being a metal mesh at an end of the substrate body, the mesh having apertures, the mesh apertures having areas greater than the cross-sectional areas of the passages, whereinthe at least one of the electrodes further includes metal in at least some of the plurality of passages, the metal electrically and physically connected to the mesh.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catalytic converter assembly has a ceramic substrate body with a plurality of cells for passage therethrough of exhaust gases. An emitter electrode for emitting free electrodes is mounted adjacent the substrate body for intercepting exhaust gas flowing at an upstream location of the catalytic converter. A collector electrode for collecting electrons is mounted adjacent the substrate body to intercept exhaust gas flowing at a downstream location of the catalytic converter. An energizing circuit is used to apply a high voltage between the emitter and collector to stimulate the generation of free electrons.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A catalytic converter component comprising a honeycomb substrate body having a plurality of passages therein for the passage therethrough of exhaust gas, an emitter electrode at an upstream location in the flowing exhaust gas and a collector electrode at a downstream location in the flowing exhaust gas for collecting electrons in the flowing exhaust gas, and an energizing circuit to generate free electrons at the emitter electrode and to receive the free electrons at the collector electrode at least one of the electrodes being a metal mesh at an end of the substrate body, the mesh having apertures, the mesh apertures having areas greater than the cross-sectional areas of the passages, wherein
the at least one of the electrodes further includes metal in at least some of the plurality of passages, the metal electrically and physically connected to the mesh.
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7. A process for treating exhaust gases in a catalytic converter comprising generating free electrons by applying a voltage between an emitter electrode located in an exhaust gas flow upstream of a honeycomb catalytic converter substrate and a collector electrode located in the exhaust gas flow downstream of the catalytic converter substrate, the free electrons flowing from the emitter to the collector, the passage of such electrons through the flowing exhaust gas being such as to introduce or increase turbulence in the flowing exhaust gas, wherein,
the substrate body is made of ceramic material and at least one of the electrodes is a metal mesh at one end of the substrate body, the mesh has apertures, the mesh apertures have areas greater than the cross-sectional areas of the passages, and the at least one of the electrodes further includes metal in at least some of the plurality of passages, the metal electrically and physically connected to the mesh.
Specification