GB2298147A - Device for treating exhaust gases - Google Patents

Abstract

The device consists of concentric cylinders 2, 16 providing an annular space 17 in which is located alloy treating element 17'. Outer cylinder 2 has end covers 3, 4 apertured to accept the ehaust inlet pipe 6 and also to admit air to the annular space 17. The gas, after passing through expansion chamber 16', passes to the atmosphere through pipe 6' and truncated cone 11 which, together, form a venturi drawing air through annular space 17 and so over element 17'. The heat of the gas passes through the wall of the inner cylinder to the element, which shifts the infra-red frequency. This so affects the air that reactions between it and the exhaust gases occurs in after-burner chamber 12. Bi-metallic valves 20 permit some of the exhaust gas to escape from chamber 16' and pass over element 17' with the air. This only applies, however, when the device is employed with a petrol engine; when used with a diesel engine, the valves remain closed.

Description

DEVICE FOR THE CONTROL OF THE EMISSION OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE EXHAUST GASES This invention refers to a device for the control of the emission of internal- combustion engine exhaust gases.

It Is known that the demographic growth. and the tendency of vehicles to concentrate In big cities result In a high concentration of contaminante that come from the use of fossil fuels. Being this the main cause of atmospheric contamination by derivatives1 such as carbon monoxide1 free hydrocarbons, and black smoke. amongst others.

It is known by the specialists that the geometric figure per excellence that best represents the atmospheric pollution Is the pyramid which on Its base the grealost amount and density of harmful products concentrate.

The progressive deterioration of the quality of the air that wc breathe gave rise to the design of devices for the control of emission of harmful gases. most of them based on the traditional contact catalysis for transparent gaseous derivative such as CO. Hn Cn, NOx, etc., and particle-retaining filter for diesel smoke (Free Carbon) The novel concept ol our invention is the use of the absorption of infrared energy by the organic derivatives to convert them into harmless elements.

Consequently, this invention relers to a device for the control of the emission of exhaust gases of internel-combustion engines1 whether they are previous or progressive internal-combustion engines to be installed between the outlet of the engine gases and the exhaust pipe of the vehicle, characterized by a pair of cylindrical hollow bodies coexielly arrenged respectively, provided with oxternal wails transvorsal to said closing taxis of seme there being between said bodies a metallic annular clement. being the ends of said bodies crossed by a conduct for the outlet of the engine gases. with the welts corresponding to said ends of the external body having atmospheric air inlets being in turn the closing conduit and with openings in correspondence with said catalytic element, with this conduit leading into a Venture tube having an intermediate wall between bath walls of the roar closing bodies, being the Venturi tube oxtended by moans of a conduit for the exit of the burnt gases to the exterior.

This invention also comprises other accessory objeclives which shall be S progressive understood in the course of Ihis descriptive report.

In order that this invention be clearly underslood and easily implemented. It hes been represented by way of example. and in one of ils preferred embodiments In the drawings that accompany this report end in which: Figure 1 represents a schematic view of an internal-combustion engine to which the device ol tis invention he. been applied. and Figure 2 represents a view according to a longitudinal section of the device.

In the figures mentioned above, the same reference numbers indicate the same Or corresponding parts With relation to Figure 1, the same illustratos schermatically an internal.

combustion engine (A) which possesses a gas exhaust manifold (C) with a gas control device (D) intercalated in said piping. The invention which consists as represented in Figure 2 of r tubular metallic body (1) delimited by an annular sleeve (2) which in one of its ends has r pair of discoidal laminar pieces (3) end (4) that form a sealing or closing cover ol the sleeve (2) with holes for the Inlet of air angularly separated.

Both covars (3) and (4) face eech other end ere partially separated among themselves end joined lo a pipe for the inlet of the burn gases (6) which communicates by means ol the piping (C) with the gas exhaust manifold (B) of the engine (A). having the opposite end of the sleeve (2) r number of laminar discoidal pieces concentrically arranged (7). (8) and (9). partially separated among themselves that define piece (7) c cover of the expansion chamber centrally provided with n tubular piece with generatrices slightly bent that form a constricting pipe for the outlet ot the gases ol the expansion chamber which is coaxially orrongod with a tubular piece (10) delimited by a portion in the shape of a truncated cone (11) by way of a Venturi tube which continues Ina cylindrical portion (12) forming a post combustion chamber that terminate in a curved portion (13) lor the outlet of the exhaust gases to the atmosphere, being the tubular pioco (10) fixed by en annular wing (14) to the interior surface of the chamber (2) and partially out of phase with relation to piece (8).

The sleeve (2) remains closed in the end holding the tubular piece (10) by the cover (9) that has a hole (9 ) coinciding with the smallest base of the truncated cone-shape part (11) there being a cylindrical tubular body of less diameter (16) in the interior of the tubular body (1) and coacially which extends from piece (7) that contains the colaloguing element in combination with the holes (7 ) angularly separated made in the cover (7).

Said device works as follows: The exhaust gases from engine (A). Figure 1, run along the manifold (B) end penetrate into (C) through tube (6) and go to the expansion chambor (16 ) where they lose their sonorous component (silencing effect) and then go lo the constricting tube where they undergo end increase of pressure speed end temperature by constriction (strangulation), then they penetrate into piece (10) producing. by Venture cffoct a depression In the annular space (17) that contains the catalyzing element establishing an atmospheric air circulation therein The continuous flow of gases through the expansion chamber raises tho temperature of same producing an emission of infrared energy (heat) through the metallic cover (7).

Here we should explain the purpose en operativeness of the catalyzing element (17). The conlinuous flow of gases at e high temperalure in the interior of the expansion chember produces en emission of infrared energy through the motollic cover (16), Ihis omission comprises almost the whole infrared spectrum that is lo say, from same 600 cm -1 to 4000 cm-1. As il is known, of all the properties of en organic compound, that which provides the most information about its structure is the selective absorption in the infrared spectrum, so much so, that e region of same is called, most eppropriatoly, Dactyloscopic Region.This property (absorption in IR band) is taken advantage of in our invention for the promotion of chemical reections of contaminating elements present in the gaseous mass that comes from the engine.

The beem of electromagnetic radiation that comes from the metellic cover (16) crosses the metallic catalyst (17') where it undergoes a modiflcation in frequency by the action of the alloy of which it is made up (active E.l.R. filter of excellent effectiveness) and is led by the current of atmospheric air absorbed by the Venturi system, towards the post combustion chamber (12); in the interior of same It causes chemical reactions that give as a final measurable result, significant reductions of contaminants that come from the expansion chamber This explained by one of the characteristics proper to the organic molecules; these molecules vibrate constantly, their links arc lengthonod and contracted and ones bend with respect to others. The selective absorplion of E.l.R. (another of its characteristics) produce chenges in this equilibrium and it is possible lo direcl and manipulate oxidation and reduction reactions and even the decomposition of very stable elemenls such as CO20 heving plonty of the adequate wave length. We have verified by successive measurements that these reactions occur at very low temperatures as compared to those which would be necessary without an adequale conlrol of the E.l.R. length of maximum absorption of the reacting components.

Our invention may work with (Figure 2) or without (Figure 3) the bimetalic valves (20), since the main function of the element (17') is that.of.selective E.I.R. filter. The way in which gasescirculate through the same Is optional, it is used when no significant mass of gasses at reaction temperatures is available, or if direct heat is needed on (20). its use is forbidden in engines with free carbon in the exhaust (diesel engines), and is mainly used in gasoline engines 91 gasoline alcohol) The use of lead-based or sulphur content edditives of some fuels does not affect the operation Its use without bimetallic salvos (the ges does not circulate through (17)) is recommended for progressive internal-combustion engines and machines (diesel cycle), due lo the high content of black smoke (free carbon) of their emissions.

VVe call element (17) catalyst in spite of is function as filter ror E.l.R. band, since It behaves as if it were so.

These gases thus trotted go by suction to the truncated cone-shaped area (11) where they meet the gasses that come from the expansion chamber (10'), with low or zero content of oxygen. The mixture of same in the poet combustion chamber (12) allows, being conditions created, the elimination of the harmful elements The results obtained by our invention ensure significant percent reduclions of the following atmospheric contaminants coming from fixed or mobile sources 1. FREE CARBON (81ack Smoke) Reduction from 57% to 89% Measurement equipment employed; A) BOSCH FAW 65B Tester. Bacharach scale.

B) HARTRIDGE SMOKMETER MK3 Opacimeter.

2. CO (Carbon Monoxide) Reduction from 60.9% to 92 7% Non-dispersive infrared measurement equipmen(; A) THERMO ELECTRON MOD. 48 3. NOx(lolal Nilrogen Oxides) Reduction from 55.07% to 82W Non-dispersive infrared measurement equipment A) THERMO ELECTRON MOD. 10 4. Hn Cn (total free hydrocarbons) Reduction from 17.07% to 35.05% Measurement equipment: Ionization of flame BERKMAN INDUSTRIAL MOD. 400 A It is to be noted that a significant portion of the 11 C measured corresponds to CH (Methane). element of low contamination and greal stability 5. CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) Reduction from 2.77% to 24.3% with increase of free 02 at the exit of the conveltor of + 3.10% to 8.08%.

Measured with non-dispersive infrared.

CO2 and ZIRCONIUM CELL for evaluatioii of 02.

Claims (6)

1. A device for the control of the emission of exhaust gases from internal-combustion engines, to be connected between the outlet of the engine and the exhaust pipe of a vehicle characterised in that it has a pair of hollow cylindrical bodies coaxially arranged respectively, provided with external wall transversal to said closing axis thereof, there being a metallic catalytic annular element between said bodies to treat the gases.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the catalytic element is in only one annular wall.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the outlet conduit of the engine that leads into the interior body has a discoidal laminar piece whose diameter is less than a flange of the wall of the exterior body to delimit an annular passage of inlet of air to the openings of the closing wall of the exterior body.

4. Catalysis by selective infrared energy of contaminating organic elements.

5. Recovery of O2 by degradation of C02 in quasi-molecular 0, 2 + C of minimum crystalline structure.

6. Degradation of the macromolecules of free carbon from the diesel smoke in simple crystalline structures electronically balanced, of quasi-molecular configuration.