Apparatus and method for mat protection of non-thermal plasma reactor

• US 7,078,000 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2001
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delphi Automotive Systems LLC (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Li, Robert X., Nelson, David E., Foster, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, HIEN THI
• Application Number:
  US09/881,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20020192130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,860 Days
• Field of Search: 422/177, 422/179, 422/180, 422/186.04, 422/174, 422/186
• US Class Current: 422/186.04
• 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 non-thermal plasma reactor is provided. The non-thermal plasma reactor includes a plasma-generating substrate, a housing and a mat. The plasma-generating substrate has one or more flow paths for an exhaust gas. The housing has an inlet and an outlet. The mat retains the plasma-generating substrate in the housing such that the one or more flow paths are in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. A voltage is supplied to the plasma-generating substrate to generate a plasma field. An electrically insulating layer is disposed between the plasma-generating substrate and the housing for preventing an arc of electricity from the plasma-generating substrate and/or the voltage to the housing.

Claims

1. A non-thermal plasma reactor, comprising:

a plasma-generating substrate having one or more flow paths for an exhaust gas;

a housing having an inlet and an outlet such that said one or more flow paths are in fluid communication with said inlet and said outlet;

a mat disposed about said plasma-generating substrate for retaining said plasma-generating substrate in said housing;

a voltage supplied to said plasma-generating substrate for generating a plasma field; and

an electrically insulating layer disposed between said mat and said housing for preventing an arc of electricity from said plasma-generating substrate and/or said voltage to said housing.

2. The non-thermal plasma reactor of claim 1, further comprising a diffusion header for diffusing said exhaust gas to said plasma-generating substrate and away from said mat.

3. The non-thermal plasma reactor of claim 1, wherein said insulating layer is a mica layer.

4. The non-thermal plasma reactor of claim 2, wherein said diffusion header comprises an end spaced apart from the plasma-generating substrate.

5. The non-thermal plasma reactor of claim 4, wherein said end is spaced apart from said plasma-generating substrate by between about 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm.

6. The non-thermal plasma reactor of claim 1, wherein said plasma-generating substrate includes peripheral extensions in close proximity to said inlet and said outlet.

7. The non-thermal plasma reactor of claim 2, further comprising a sealant on said mat at an interface of said diffusion header said plasma-generating substrate.

8. A non-thermal plasma reactor, comprising:

a plasma-generating substrate having one or more flow paths for an exhaust gas;

a housing having an inlet and an outlet, said housing comprising an end plate;

a mat retaining said plasma-generating substrate in said housing;

a voltage supplied to said plasma-generating substrate for generating a plasma field; and

a compression stop disposed about said plasma-generating substrate apart from housing, whereby said mat is compressed to a density greater than 0.3 grams/cc between said end plate and said compression stop and a density less than 0.3 grams/cc laterally about said plasma-generating substrate.

9. The non-thermal plasma reactor of claim 8, further comprising an enhanced diffusion header spaced apart from said compression stop.

10. The non-thermal plasma reactor of claim 9, wherein said diffusion header comprises an end spaced apart from said compression stop by about 0.5 and 1.5 mm.