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Title: Plasma regenerated particulate trap and NO.sub.x reduction system

Abstract

A non-catalytic two-stage process for removal of NO.sub.x and particulates from engine exhaust comprises a first stage that plasma converts NO to NO.sub.2 in the presence of O.sub.2 and hydrocarbons, and a second stage, which preferably occurs simultaneously with the first stage, that converts NO.sub.2 and carbon soot particles to respective environmentally benign gases that include N.sub.2 and CO.sub.2. By preconverting NO to NO.sub.2 in the first stage, the efficiency of the second stage for NO.sub.x reduction is enhanced while carbon soot from trapped particulates is simultaneously converted to CO.sub.2 when reacting with the NO.sub.2 (that converts to N.sub.2). For example, an internal combustion engine exhaust is connected by a pipe to a chamber where carbon-containing particulates are electrostatically trapped or filtered and a non-thermal plasma converts NO to NO.sub.2 in the presence of O.sub.2 and hydrocarbons. Volatile hydrocarbons (C.sub.x H.sub.y) from the trapped particulates are oxidized in the plasma and the remaining soot from the particulates reacts with the NO.sub.2 to convert NO.sub.2 to N.sub.2, and the soot to CO.sub.2. The nitrogen exhaust components remain in the gas phase throughout the process, with no accompanying adsorption.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [3]
  1. San Ramon, CA
  2. Fremont, CA
  3. Livermore, CA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
872921
Patent Number(s):
6038854
Assignee:
Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01D - SEPARATION
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F01 - MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL F01N - GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
plasma; regenerated; particulate; trap; reduction; non-catalytic; two-stage; process; removal; particulates; engine; exhaust; comprises; stage; converts; presence; hydrocarbons; preferably; occurs; simultaneously; carbon; soot; particles; respective; environmentally; benign; gases; preconverting; efficiency; enhanced; trapped; converted; reacting; example; internal; combustion; connected; pipe; chamber; carbon-containing; electrostatically; filtered; non-thermal; volatile; oxidized; remaining; reacts; convert; nitrogen; components; remain; gas; phase; throughout; accompanying; adsorption; environmentally benign; gas phase; internal combustion; combustion engine; non-thermal plasma; engine exhaust; volatile hydrocarbons; benign gases; plasma converts; occurs simultaneously; two-stage process; catalytic two-stage; regenerated particulate; containing particulate; exhaust comprises; trapped particulate; volatile hydrocarbon; containing particulates; /60/422/423/

Citation Formats

Penetrante, Bernardino M, Vogtlin, George E, Merritt, Bernard T, and Brusasco, Raymond M. Plasma regenerated particulate trap and NO.sub.x reduction system. United States: N. p., 2000. Web.
Penetrante, Bernardino M, Vogtlin, George E, Merritt, Bernard T, & Brusasco, Raymond M. Plasma regenerated particulate trap and NO.sub.x reduction system. United States.
Penetrante, Bernardino M, Vogtlin, George E, Merritt, Bernard T, and Brusasco, Raymond M. Sat . "Plasma regenerated particulate trap and NO.sub.x reduction system". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872921.
@article{osti_872921,
title = {Plasma regenerated particulate trap and NO.sub.x reduction system},
author = {Penetrante, Bernardino M and Vogtlin, George E and Merritt, Bernard T and Brusasco, Raymond M},
abstractNote = {A non-catalytic two-stage process for removal of NO.sub.x and particulates from engine exhaust comprises a first stage that plasma converts NO to NO.sub.2 in the presence of O.sub.2 and hydrocarbons, and a second stage, which preferably occurs simultaneously with the first stage, that converts NO.sub.2 and carbon soot particles to respective environmentally benign gases that include N.sub.2 and CO.sub.2. By preconverting NO to NO.sub.2 in the first stage, the efficiency of the second stage for NO.sub.x reduction is enhanced while carbon soot from trapped particulates is simultaneously converted to CO.sub.2 when reacting with the NO.sub.2 (that converts to N.sub.2). For example, an internal combustion engine exhaust is connected by a pipe to a chamber where carbon-containing particulates are electrostatically trapped or filtered and a non-thermal plasma converts NO to NO.sub.2 in the presence of O.sub.2 and hydrocarbons. Volatile hydrocarbons (C.sub.x H.sub.y) from the trapped particulates are oxidized in the plasma and the remaining soot from the particulates reacts with the NO.sub.2 to convert NO.sub.2 to N.sub.2, and the soot to CO.sub.2. The nitrogen exhaust components remain in the gas phase throughout the process, with no accompanying adsorption.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2000},
month = {1}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Reduction of Nitric Oxide in Flue Gases by Point to Plane Corona Discharge with Catalytical Coatings on the Plane Electrode
journal, July 1990