| Method and apparatus for reducing combustion residues in exhaust gases -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Method and apparatus for reducing combustion residues in exhaust gasesUSPTO Application #: 20070037104Title: Method and apparatus for reducing combustion residues in exhaust gases Abstract: A method and an apparatus for reducing combustion residues, particularly pollutants, in exhaust gases generated from the combustion of fuels such as fossil fuels, wood and similar. The exhaust gases are treated before releasing them in the environment. The exhaust gases treatment includes performing a post-combustion process by submitting the exhaust gases to radiant heat in order to increase the exhaust gases temperature to a value sufficient to cause self-combustion. (end of abstract) Agent: Graybeal, Jackson, Haley LLP - Bellevue, WA, US Inventors: Lorenzo Musa, Mauro Spadaro Norella, Luigino Fiocco USPTO Applicaton #: 20070037104 - Class: 431005000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Combustion, Process Of Combustion Or Burner Operation, Burning Waste Gas, E.g., Furnace Gas, Etc. The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070037104. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
PRIORITY CLAIM [0001] This application claims priority to PCT Application No. PCT/EP2003/051113 filed Dec. 30, 2003, which claims priority to Italian Patent Application Nos. MI2003A000571 filed Mar. 21, 2003, MI2003A002179 filed Nov. 12, 2003, and MI2003A002180 filed Nov. 12, 2003, which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention generally relates to the field of reduction of environmental pollution, particularly air pollution caused by the emissions of apparatuses, such as internal-combustion vehicle engines (Otto cycle, Diesel cycle), burners for heating systems, generators of vapor for electric power generation plants, whose operation involves the combustion of fuels, for example fossil fuels such as hydrocarbon fuels or hydrocarbon containing fuels such as petroleum, including natural gas, coal, wood and similar. In particular, the invention relates to a method, and a related apparatus, for reducing combustion residues, particularly noxious pollutants, in exhaust gases. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The problem of environmental pollution is nowadays very felt by people and governments, and efforts are constantly made to find out solutions for reducing the various human activities impact on the environment. [0004] In particular, air pollution caused by the emissions of apparatuses such as internal-combustion vehicle engines (based on Otto cycle or Diesel cycle), burners for heating systems, steam boilers for electric power plants, whose operation involves burning fuels, particularly fossil fuels, such as hydrocarbon fuels or hydrocarbon containing fuels like petroleum, including natural gas, and coal, was probably the first aspect to be recognized in the more general problem of environmental pollution. [0005] Although the problem of massive emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere was starting with the invention of the steam-power machine at the industrial revolution dawn, it was the impressive growth of circulating vehicles in urban areas in the decades after the second world war which brought the problem in foreground. [0006] Thus, on one side, measures restricting vehicles circulation were and are still adopted when the situation reaches at crisis level. On the other side, and in parallel, under the pressure of governments and of the public opinion, vehicle manufacturers and research institutes have started to study solutions for the problem of emissions of noxious pollutants by internal-combustion engines. [0007] For example, in the European Union geographic area the maximum levels of tolerated vehicles emissions have been set by law, and a system of classification has been introduced for vehicles engines based on their respective level of pollutants emissions, in particular, since January 2001, the previous standards known as EURO1 (introduced in 1987) and EURO2 have been replaced by the more restricted standard EURO3, which will be replaced by the even stricter standard EURO4 since January 2006. This classification imposes that vehicles falling in the lower classes are not allowed to circulate in case restrictive measures are issued by governments or public administrations in consequence to a crisis situation approaching. [0008] The main pollutants present in exhaust gases of internal-combustion engines, particularly of Diesel type, are carbon oxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), uncombusted hydrocarbons (HC), various nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x), and Particulate Matter (PM), especially carbon particulate. [0009] Similar substances are found in the exhaust gases of heating implants and, more generally, of any apparatus whose action involves the combustion of fuels, particularly fossil fuel. [0010] Each one of the above mentioned substances is noxious to human health for one or more reasons, causing cancer, lung disease and others. Thus, it would be extremely important to reduce as far as possible, or possibly eliminate, these substances from the exhaust gases. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] In view of the state of art above outlined in the foregoing, an object of the present invention has been to provide an effective solution to the pollution problem due to the internal combustion engines emissions and, more generally, to the problem of environmental pollution due to the emissions of any apparatus whose action involves the combustion of fuels, particularly but not limitatively fossil fuel, such as hydrocarbon fuels or hydrocarbon containing fuels such as petroleum, including natural gas, and coal, or even wood, and generally any fuel that can be used in a combustion process. [0012] The Applicant has found that noxious pollutants (gases, dust, particulate material, particularly carbon particulate) which are normally produced by apparatuses whose operation involves the combustion of fuel, particularly but not limitatively fossil fuel, such as internal combustion engines and burners of heating systems of buildings, can be substantially reduced, not to say completely eliminated, if the exhaust gases are submitted to a treatment that involves a post-combustion of the exhaust gases, and particularly a radiant post-combustion, ignited by submitting the exhaust gases to radiant energy, providing for a relatively fast increase of the exhaust gases temperature to a value in a properly chosen temperature range, adapted to essentially destroy the pollutants present in the exhaust gases. [0013] For the purposes of the present description, by radiant combustion there is intended a combustion process that is ignited by a heat source not involving the presence of a flame, but irradiating electromagnetic energy, particularly in the range of wavelengths from InfraRed (IR) to UltraViolet (UV). [0014] In other words, the Applicant has found that by submitting the exhaust gases to radiant energy in a suitably designed radiant reactor, wherein the gases are subjected to a relatively fast increase of their temperature, up to a value in the properly chosen temperature range, a substantially perfect post-combustion is achieved, where, for the purposes of the present invention, by "perfect" there is meant a post-combustion that allows substantially the elimination of any noxious component or substance, such as CO, CO.sub.2, HC, nitrogen oxides, PM, in particular carbon particulate, sulphur oxides, from the exhaust gases that are originated by the combustion of fuels. [0015] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a method for reducing pollutants in exhaust gases generated from the combustion of fossil fuel as set forth in the appended independent method claim 1 is thus provided. [0016] Summarizing, the method comprises treating the exhaust gases before releasing them in the environment, by performing a post-combustion process according to which the exhaust gases are submitted to radiant energy so as to increase a temperature thereof to a value sufficient to ignite self-combustion. [0017] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is also provided an apparatus for reducing pollutants in exhaust gases generated from the combustion of fossil fuel, as set forth in the appended independent apparatus claim 16. [0018] In brief, the apparatus comprises means for treating the exhaust gases before releasing them in the environment, such treating means comprising a radiant combustion chamber wherein the exhaust gases are caused to pass through, so as to be submitted to radiant heat for increasing a temperature thereof to a value sufficient to ignite self-combustion, thereby a post-combustion process of the exhaust gases is performed before releasing them in the environment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent by the following detailed description of some embodiments thereof, provided merely by way of non-limitative examples, description that will be conducted making reference to the annexed drawings, wherein: Continue reading... Full patent description for Method and apparatus for reducing combustion residues in exhaust gases Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method and apparatus for reducing combustion residues in exhaust gases patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Method and apparatus for reducing combustion residues in exhaust gases or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Bisphenol compound and photothermographic material Next Patent Application: Method for low nox combustion of syngas/high hydrogen fuels Industry Class: Combustion ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Method and apparatus for reducing combustion residues in exhaust gases patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 3.95659 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Computers: Graphics , I/O , Processors , Dyn. Storage , Static Storage , Printers |
||
