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Title: NO.sub.x reduction method

Abstract

A method of reducing oxides of nitrogen (NO.sub.X) in the exhaust of an internal combustion engine includes producing oxygen enriched air and nitrogen enriched air by an oxygen enrichment device. The oxygen enriched air may be provided to the intake of the internal combustion engine for mixing with fuel. In order to reduce the amount of NO.sub.X in the exhaust of the internal combustion engine, the molecular nitrogen in the nitrogen enriched air produced by the oxygen enrichment device is subjected to a corona or arc discharge so as to create a plasma and as a result, atomic nitrogen. The resulting atomic nitrogen then is injected into the exhaust of the internal combustion engine causing the oxides of nitrogen in the exhaust to be reduced into nitrogen and oxygen. In one embodiment of the present invention, the oxygen enrichment device that produces both the oxygen and nitrogen enriched air can include a selectively permeable membrane.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Naperville, IL
  2. West Bloomfield, MI
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
870470
Patent Number(s):
5526641
Assignee:
University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01D - SEPARATION
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01J - CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY
DOE Contract Number:  
W-31109-ENG-38
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
reduction; method; reducing; oxides; nitrogen; exhaust; internal; combustion; engine; producing; oxygen; enriched; air; enrichment; device; provided; intake; mixing; fuel; reduce; amount; molecular; produced; subjected; corona; discharge; create; plasma; result; atomic; resulting; injected; causing; reduced; embodiment; produces; selectively; permeable; membrane; oxygen enrichment; oxygen enriched; molecular nitrogen; atomic nitrogen; nitrogen enriched; permeable membrane; internal combustion; combustion engine; enriched air; selectively permeable; reduction method; enrichment device; producing oxygen; /60/123/423/

Citation Formats

Sekar, Ramanujam R, and Hoppie, Lyle O. NO.sub.x reduction method. United States: N. p., 1996. Web.
Sekar, Ramanujam R, & Hoppie, Lyle O. NO.sub.x reduction method. United States.
Sekar, Ramanujam R, and Hoppie, Lyle O. Mon . "NO.sub.x reduction method". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/870470.
@article{osti_870470,
title = {NO.sub.x reduction method},
author = {Sekar, Ramanujam R and Hoppie, Lyle O},
abstractNote = {A method of reducing oxides of nitrogen (NO.sub.X) in the exhaust of an internal combustion engine includes producing oxygen enriched air and nitrogen enriched air by an oxygen enrichment device. The oxygen enriched air may be provided to the intake of the internal combustion engine for mixing with fuel. In order to reduce the amount of NO.sub.X in the exhaust of the internal combustion engine, the molecular nitrogen in the nitrogen enriched air produced by the oxygen enrichment device is subjected to a corona or arc discharge so as to create a plasma and as a result, atomic nitrogen. The resulting atomic nitrogen then is injected into the exhaust of the internal combustion engine causing the oxides of nitrogen in the exhaust to be reduced into nitrogen and oxygen. In one embodiment of the present invention, the oxygen enrichment device that produces both the oxygen and nitrogen enriched air can include a selectively permeable membrane.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Effect of nitrogen-containing plasmas on stability, NO formation and sooting of flames
journal, February 1976