Method for generating a highly reactive plasma for exhaust gas aftertreatment and enhanced catalyst reactivity

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2002

OSTI ID:874599

Whealton, John H ^[1]; Hanson, Gregory R ^[2]; Storey, John M ^[1]; Raridon, Richard J ^[1]; Armfield, Jeffrey S ^[3]; Bigelow, Timothy S ^[4]; Graves, Ronald L ^[4]

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1. Oak Ridge, TN
2. Clinton, TN
3. Ypsilanti, MI
4. Knoxville, TN

A method for non-thermal plasma aftertreatment of exhaust gases the method comprising the steps of providing short risetime, high frequency, high power bursts of low-duty factor microwaves sufficient to generate a plasma discharge and passing a gas to be treated through the discharge so as to cause dissociative reduction of the exhaust gases and enhanced catalyst reactivity through application of the pulsed microwave fields directly to the catalyst material sufficient to cause a polarizability catastrophe and enhanced heating of the metal crystallite particles of the catalyst, and in the presence or absence of the plasma. The invention also includes a reactor for aftertreatment of exhaust gases.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-96OR22464
• Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 6422002
• OSTI ID: 874599
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
generating
highly
reactive
plasma
exhaust
gas
aftertreatment
enhanced
catalyst
reactivity
non-thermal
gases
comprising
steps
providing
risetime
frequency
power
bursts
low-duty
factor
microwaves
sufficient
generate
discharge
passing
treated
dissociative
reduction
application
pulsed
microwave
fields
directly
material
polarizability
catastrophe
heating
metal
crystallite
particles
presence
absence
reactor
plasma discharge
non-thermal plasma
enhanced catalyst
reactive plasma
/60/204/422/