Including Waste Gas Flow Distributor Upstream Of Reaction Site And Within Reaction Chamber Modifying Velocity Profile Of Gas Patents (Class 422/176)
  • Patent number: 7481982
    Abstract: A carbon monoxide oxidizer comprises an oxidant supply unit (4) that supplies an oxidant gas to a reformate gas, a mixing unit (5) that mixes the reformate gas with the oxidant gas, and a preferential oxidation catalyst unit (6) that removes carbon monoxide from a mixed gas using catalytic action. The mixing unit (5) comprises a stacked body (9) of plates (100A-100F). A rotating passage (101) that is formed in the stacked body (9) to rotate the flow of the mixed gas, thereby promoting mixing of the reformate gas with the oxidant gas by a rotating flow formed by the rotating passage (101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasushi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7473403
    Abstract: Device for treatment of a gas flow including at least one body (3), at least one first opening (4, 4?) for entrance of an incoming gas flow to the body (3) and at least one second opening (5, 5?) for the exit of an outgoing gas flow from the body (3). The body (3) is provided with a plurality of gas flow passages (11a, 11b) arranged to permit heat exchange between the gas flows in adjacent passages. The device has at least one distribution section (26, 26?) in communication with the first opening (4, 4?) and with the gas flow passages (11a, 11b) to distribute the incoming gas flow to the gas flow passages (11a, 11b), and at least one gas flow passage section (27, 27?) including the gas flow passages (11a, 11b), which passage section (27, 27?) primarily is adapted to permit heat exchange and to cause a conversion in the composition of the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignees: Volvo Technology Corporation, Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Jobson, Anna Holmgren Hägg
  • Publication number: 20090004071
    Abstract: A gas conduit for venting high temperature reactor comprising a conduit portion in direct communication with the reactor for receiving gas therefrom where the conduit includes a Venturi for creating a high pressure zone in the area prior to exit of the reactor. The conduit, accordingly, has a portion having first and second diameters, where the second diameter less than the first diameter and is dimensioned in order to provide an area of high pressure in the region of the first diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: Plasma Waste Recycling, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodrigo B. Vera
  • Patent number: 7461505
    Abstract: An exhaust pipe 1 having a circular cross section is connected to a circular cylindrical housing 2 which creates part of pipe conduit. The housing 2 forms a storage space 21 having a diameter larger than the diameter of the exhaust pipe 1 and connecting to the rear connection part 22. The connection part 22 is tapered toward the downstream exhaust pipe 12 and the diameter of the connection part 22 is gradually reduced and its opening is welded into the opening of the downstream exhaust pipe 12. And a cylindrical honeycomb catalyst carrier 3 is stored in the storage space 21 so that the outer surface of the catalyst carrier is in contact with the inner surface of the storage space 21. An expanded portion 23 having a diameter larger than the diameter of the storage space 21 is outwardly expanded from the outer circumference of the housing 2 and connectingly provided on the front face of the storage space 21.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Nakagawa Sangyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukihiro Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 7449157
    Abstract: A catalytic exhaust gas decomposition spirals an exhaust gas containing therein a substance to be decomposed and a reactant gas, rectifies the spiral flow, and lets the substance to be decomposed react with the reactant gas after the spiral flow has been rectified. For rectifying the spiral flow of the exhaust gas and the reactant gas, a plate-like baffle wall has therein a through hole at a portion near its center. The spiral flow is allowed to pass through the through hole so as to be centralized temporarily. The spiral flow then passes through an enlarged section of a flow path downstream of the through hole before being introduced into the catalyst bed. The method helps minimize variations in gas velocity of the exhaust gas flowing into the catalyst bed, thereby allowing a desired decomposition rate to be obtained substantially consistently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Kanno, Shin Tamata, Kazuyoshi Irie, Kenji Yamamoto, Masayuki Taniguchi, Osamu Ito, Hironobu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7441332
    Abstract: To provide a method for recovering performance of a discharge gas processing apparatus, the method being capable of recovering NOx removal performance of a deteriorated NOx removal catalyst without replacing the deteriorated NOx removal catalyst with a new catalyst and without adding a new catalyst. After a honeycomb catalyst 1 having gas conduits for feeding a gas to be treated has been placed and used in a discharge gas conduit of a discharge gas processing apparatus 10, the honeycomb catalyst 1 is rearranged such that a portion of the honeycomb catalyst 1—the portion being on the upstream side in terms of the flow of the gas to be treated and extending to cover a predetermined range is transferred from the inlet side of the discharge gas conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: The Chugoku Electric Power Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shimada, Yousuke Oka
  • Patent number: 7438876
    Abstract: A selective catalytic reduction apparatus has at least first and last catalyst layers in series for reducing nitrogen oxides in a flue gas, at least one interstage heat exchanger located after the first layer and before the last layer, that lowers flue gas temperature, and that acts as a mixing body to lower the standard deviation of the NH3/NO ratio entering catalyst layers after the first catalyst layer, thus providing better consumption of both ammonia and NOx in the reactor than would be achieved in the absence of the at least one interstage heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventor: J. Edward Cichanowicz
  • Publication number: 20080241027
    Abstract: A method for reducing mercury emissions in combustion flue gas is provided. The method includes combusting coal such that a flue gas flow is created. The flue gas flow includes at least mercury and carbon-containing fly ash. The method further includes cooling the flue gas flow within a duct and creating turbulence in the flue gas flow. The mercury is removed from the flue gas flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Vitali Victor Lissianski, Peter Martin Maly, William Randall Seeker, Robert Warren Taylor
  • Publication number: 20080241036
    Abstract: A system for separating sulfur dioxide from a gas using an aqueous absorption liquid. The system includes a housing, an apertured plate, an outlet box, a distribution mechanism, a container, and a pump. The housing has an inlet and an outlet. The apertured plate is positioned between the inlet and the outlet and includes a lower side, an upper side, and apertures fluidly connecting the lower and upper sides. The outlet box includes a distribution mechanism that is arranged so that the absorption liquid draining from the outlet box contacts the gas from the inlet before the gas passes through the apertures in the apertured plate. The container contains the absorption liquid and is fluidly connected with the housing. The pump draws the absorption liquid from the container through the pump and through a conduit to the upper side of the apertured plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Dennis J. Laslo, Michael Chiang, David J. Muraskin, Michael J. Rini, Michael G. Varner
  • Patent number: 7429365
    Abstract: A method for continuously removing mercury from a supply of combustion gas is provided. The method includes introducing SO3 into the supply of combustion gas to oxidize at least a portion of elemental mercury within the supply of combustion gas into ionic mercury. A turbulent flow of combustion gas is produced to suspend particulate matter including fly ash contained in the supply of combustion gas. A substantial portion of the mercury is absorbed within the particulate matter. The supply of combustion gas is filtered to remove the particulate matter from the mercury. The introduction of SO3 into the combustion gas is controlled based at least partially on at least one of an oxidation rate of mercury and an absorption rate of mercury.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert W. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7416713
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with a device of destroying ozone in gases by employing a recuperative plate heat exchanger (1) and an integrated electrical heating element (19, 21). The recuperative plate heat exchanger (1) is equipped with at least two planes, a preheating plane (11) and a recooling plane (13), whereby the flow direction of the gas treated in the recooling plane (13) is reversed relative to the ozone-containing gas in the preheating plane (11). Preferably, the flow directions of the preheating plane (11) and the recooling plane (13) cross over. The electrical heating element (19, 21) is situated in a reaction chamber (3) and heats up the ozone-containing gas preheated in the heat-exchanger up to temperatures of 350° C. or more, and thus destroys the ozone within the gas almost to completion. The plate heat exchanger (1) works almost without pressure losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Anseros Klaus Nonnenmacher GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Nonnenmacher, Guido Rohrbach
  • Publication number: 20080173176
    Abstract: A fluid scrubber in the form of a submerged gas reactor includes a reaction vessel, a gas delivery lube partially disposed within the reaction vessel to deliver a gas into the reaction vessel and a scrubbing liquid inlet that provides a scrubbing liquid to the reaction vessel at a rate sufficient to maintain a controlled, constant level of fluid within the reaction vessel. A weir is disposed within the reaction vessel adjacent the gas delivery tube to form a first fluid circulation path between a first weir end and a wall of the reaction vessel and a second fluid circulation path between a second weir end and an upper end of the reaction vessel. During operation, gas introduced through the tube mixes with the scrubbing liquid and the combined gas and liquid flow at a high rate with a high degree of turbulence along the first and second, circulation paths defined around the weir, thereby promoting vigorous mixing and intimate contact between the gas and the scrubbing liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Michael J. Rutsch
  • Patent number: 7384609
    Abstract: A catalytic converter device for cleansing exhaust gas emitted from an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The catalytic converter device includes an elongated body having a longitudinal axis. An inlet area is located at one end of the elongated body, wherein the exhaust gas enters the elongated body in the inlet area. A sleeve extends from the inlet area. The sleeve has a catalytic material formed thereon. The sleeve has an active surface for reacting with the exhaust gas, wherein the size of the active surface increases as a distance from the inlet area increases. The sleeve includes a plurality of openings formed therein and at least one depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gunter Zauner
  • Patent number: 7374733
    Abstract: A method for continuously removing mercury from a supply of combustion gas is provided. The method includes adjusting a power input to an electrostatic precipitator to control a quantity of fly ash emitted from the electrostatic precipitator. A turbulent flow of combustion gas is produced to suspend particulate matter including the quantity of fly ash contained in the supply of combustion gas. A substantial portion of the mercury is absorbed within the particulate matter including the quantity of fly ash. The supply of combustion gas is filtered to remove the particulate matter from the mercury. A quantity of absorption sites available for absorbing mercury is controlled by monitoring an emission of fly ash from the electrostatic precipitator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert W. Taylor, Vitali Victor Lissianski, William Randall Seeker
  • Patent number: 7357901
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine with an exhaust gas purification device is provided in which the NOx held in a NOx catalyst can be efficiently reduced and purified, and a sufficient amount of NOx can be reduced, thereby making it possible to regenerate the NOx catalyst over a wide range thereof. When processing of releasing and reducing the NOx held in the NOx catalyst 33 for purification, light oil is injected by an addition valve 37 so as to be supplied to the NOx catalyst 33 together with the exhaust gas, and after the droplet-like light oil adheres to the entire area of the NOx catalyst 33, the flow rate of the exhaust gas is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichiro Nakatani
  • Patent number: 7351383
    Abstract: Device for catalytic treatment of a gas flow including at least one body (1) that includes a catalytic material. The device has a number of first openings (5) for either entry of gas into or exit of gas from the catalyzer body (1), and a second opening (6) for either exit of the gas entering through the first openings or entry of gas into the catalyzer body (1) for subsequent exit through the first openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Edward Jobson, Tommy Simonsson, Sören Udd
  • Patent number: 7338552
    Abstract: A process and device for separating oil and volatile organic components from pressurized gases of a compression system in which, before oxidation-catalytic separation, a physical separation is performed to protect the oxidation-catalytic separator against a large amount of oil being entrained in a surge in the pressurized gases. The resulting oil which has been separated in this physical oil separation is then fed back into the pressurized gas flow which is flowing to oxidation-catalytic separation in metered amounts. This results in the oil concentration in the pressurized gas entering the oxidation-catalytic separation means being maintained such that oxidation-catalytic separation can be carried out effectively and under optimum operating conditions without there being an adverse effect on operation by oil concentrations which are suddenly high for an instant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: BAUER COMP Holding AG
    Inventor: Heinz Bauer
  • Patent number: 7332136
    Abstract: An air box in a regenerative thermal oxidiser has one or several beds of a heat-storing and heat-transferring material. The air box is connected with a gas inlet/outlet and comprises a gas permeable surface that is turned towards one of the beds. The air box has distribution devices provided in the air box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Megtec Systems AB
    Inventor: Bjorn Heed
  • Patent number: 7303730
    Abstract: An apparatus having a baffle device and used for treating an exhaust gas, the apparatus comprising: (a) an inlet duct through which the exhaust gas is flowed in, (b) a bend portion, and (c) a catalyst duct connected to the inlet duct through the bend portion and having a catalyst disposed therein and used for purifying the exhaust gas and, the baffle device being a baffle lattice having a height of A and disposed at the inlet of the catalyst duct in the direction of the cross section of the catalyst duct, wherein the baffle lattice is provided, for supporting the lattice, with an outer frame having a height of B and disposed so that the upper ends of the outer frame become the same level with the upper ends of the baffle lattice; the outer frame is provided, on its lower ends for supporting the frame, with beams; and the relation between the height A and the height B satisfies the following equation: A<B, in which apparatus, occurrence of channeling (nonuniform flow distribution) of an exhaust gas at
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Babcock-Hitachi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Shishido, Takao Asami, Masato Mukai, Katsuhiro Yashio
  • Patent number: 7288230
    Abstract: A catalytic converter unit includes walls defining a treatment zone, first and second transfer zones and at least one through-flow zone, which zones are adjacent each other. The walls include a partition wall that divides the treatment zone into first and second segments. The first transfer zone is plugged upstream of the partition wall and the second transfer zone is plugged downstream of the partition wall. A catalytic converter element is disposed in the first segment of the treatment zone, spaced from the partition wall. The first segment of the treatment zone is in flow communication with the first transfer zone and the second segment of the treatment zone is in flow communication with the second transfer zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Wartsila Finland Oy
    Inventors: Ulf Grandlund, Ulf Nordmyr
  • Patent number: 7276211
    Abstract: A process for producing a one-piece, structured metal sheet having an interior with a hole, provides a predetermined, curved outer contour and inner contour that delimits the hole. A smooth, shaped blank is produced, having an outer edge substantially concentrically outside the predetermined outer contour and an inner edge substantially concentrically outside the predetermined inner contour. A structure, which preferably has formations running substantially radially, is then stamped into the metal sheet so that the sheet is formed with an approximately uniform degree of deformation in an inner boundary region and an outer boundary region. A metal sheet for a catalyst carrier body has an interior hole, an outer contour, an inner contour delimiting the hole and a structure with formations running approximately in radial direction. The metal sheet is produced in one piece and in particular is seamless.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brück, Jörg Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 7276212
    Abstract: Provided is a base metal undercoat containing catalyst and an exhaust article containing the catalyst. The catalyst contains a base metal undercoat with an oxygen storage component, and at least one catalytic layer. Also provided are methods for preparing the catalyst and methods for monitoring the oxygen storage capacity of an exhaust article containing the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventors: Zhicheng Hu, Patrick L. Burk, Shau-Lin F. Chen, Harold N. Rabinowitz, Christopher M. Minnella, Aaron N. Israel
  • Patent number: 7238327
    Abstract: A catalytic converter and method for its assembly including an external shell formed in two halves containing a catalytic substrate, two internal shields and two-piece inlet and outlet cones. The inlet and outlet cones are attached as halves to each side of the external shell, and are assembled to each other as the external shells are assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Automotive Components Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Carl Irving, Joseph Michael Lanzesira, Chris Darr, Houliang Li, Darren Nance
  • Patent number: 7210287
    Abstract: A method of reducing exhaust emission from a catalytic converter apparatus of a vehicle, the apparatus including at least one catalytic converter, each of the at least one catalytic converter having a catalyst brick positioned within a predefined length of the vehicle. The method includes directing exhaust to pass more than once through the predefined length through at least one of the at least one catalyst brick. The converter apparatus can accelerate catalyst conversion reactions and thus accelerate converter system light-off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Bolander, Jeffrey J. Allen, Alexander J. Roberts
  • Patent number: 7204964
    Abstract: A fuel cell system is proposed which is provided with a CO oxidizer having a compact agitator executing uniform mixing. The fuel cell system is provided with a reformer (2) performing reformate reactions to produce a hydrogen-rich reformate gas containing CO, a CO oxidizer (1) reducing the CO concentration in the reformate gas produced in the reformer (2), and a fuel cell performing power generation using reformate gas with a reduced CO concentration from the CO oxidizer. The CO oxidizer is provided with a CO removal catalyst (6) promoting oxidizing of CO. An oxidizing agent inlet (5) and an agitator (4) are provided upstream of the CO removal catalyst (6). The oxidizing agent inlet (5) supplies oxidizing agent to the reformate gas and the agitator (4) has a plurality of curved passages (8) having at least two curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasushi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7198763
    Abstract: A method and a device for the distribution of gas. The method includes the steps of transferring the gas into a swirl chamber through an inlet section positioned tangentially to the swirl chamber, swirling the gas in the swirl chamber by passage through a number of equally displaced bent vanes, the surface of the upstream part of the vanes lying in a plane perpendicular to the swirl chamber's axis, the downstream part of the vanes being parallel to the swirl chamber's axis, and the vanes extending radially outward, and passing the gas through an outlet section positioned downstream the swirl chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/S
    Inventor: Olav Holm-Christensen
  • Patent number: 7195742
    Abstract: An apparatus for preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide in a reformate flow includes a reactor defining a flow path for a reformate flow; at least one catalyst bed disposed along the flow path; and a distributor for distributing oxygen from an oxygen source to the at least one catalyst bed, the distributor including a conduit positioned at least one of upstream of and through the at least one catalyst bed, the conduit having a sidewall permeable to flow of oxygen from within the conduit to the at least one catalyst bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: UTC Fuel Cells, LLC
    Inventors: Ke Liu, Sean C. Emerson, Richard James Bellows
  • Patent number: 7172731
    Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a vacuum system of semiconductor equipment is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a process tool and a gas-exploding unit. The process tool includes a gas reaction chamber, and the process tool is connected with a first gas piping to exhaust a waste gas in the gas reaction chamber. The gas-exploding unit includes a gas-exploding chamber, a gas valve, a pressure sensor, and a gas-exploding device for sealing an opening in a wall of the gas-exploding chamber. The gas-exploding chamber is connected with the first gas piping to receive the waste gas. The waste gas in the gas-exploding chamber is transported to a local scrubber through a second gas piping, and then exhausted to a central scrubber. The pressure sensor is used to detect a pressure in the gas-exploding chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chen-Tai Peng, Leo Lin, Eric T. Chuang
  • Patent number: 7153334
    Abstract: Carbonaceous material is removed from a catalyst within an autothermal reformer by introducing an isolated oxidant stream into the autothermal reformer prior to introduction of hydrocarbon fuel into the reformer. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into the autothermal reformer following removal of the carbonaceous material. A concurrent supply of the hydrocarbon stream and the oxidant stream to the autothermal reformer is maintained such that an exothermic reaction driven by the oxidant stream provides heat to an endothermic reaction driven by water vapor in the hydrocarbon stream. In accordance with 37 CFR 1.72(b), the purpose of this abstract is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract will not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Suzanne Rose Ellis, Jessica Grace Reinkingh, Jullian Elaine Bailie, David Wails, Michael Ian Petch
  • Patent number: 7153481
    Abstract: A device (1) for separating sulphur dioxide from a gas (4) by means of an absorption liquid has an inlet (2) for gas (4) containing sulphur dioxide, an outlet (18) for gas (16), from which sulphur dioxide has been separated, and as essentially horizontal apertured plate (8), which is arranged to allow passage from below of sulphur dioxide containing gas (4) and to carry, on its upper side (12), a flowing layer (14) of the absorption liquid. An outlet box (20) beside the apertured plate (8) is arranged to be passed by liquid, which is distributed in the gas (4) coming from the inlet (2). A first pumping means is arranged to feed a coolant flow to the outlet box (20) and a second pumping means is arranged to feed an absorption liquid flow, which is essentially independent of the coolant flow, to the apertured plate (8) to form the flowing layer (14). In a method of separating sulphur dioxide, the above-described device (1) can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Sune Bengtsson, Fredrik Jens Brogaard, Kerstin Forsgren, Rikard Hakansson, Kjell Nolin
  • Patent number: 7132088
    Abstract: A granular moving-bed apparatus is introduced to have an inlet louvered wall, an outlet louvered wall opposing to the inlet louvered wall, a granular path formed in between, a plurality of serial roof-shaped flow-corrective elements located along the granular path, and a predetermined type of granular materials flowing inside the granular path. The inlet louvered wall and the outlet louvered wall are particularly constructed to form serial hopper-shaped structures that define the granular path. The roof-shaped flow-corrective element is systematically displaced with respect to the hopper-shaped structure by specific criteria so that problems of corrosions, plaques and stagnant zones formed to the louvered walls of the apparatus can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Jiri Smid, Shu-San Hsiau, Jing-T. Kuo, Chuen-Shii Chou, Ching-Yu Peng, Hom-Ti Lee
  • Patent number: 7132087
    Abstract: An embodiment includes an apparatus and method of distributing gases within a catalytic converter assembly. Gases flow through at least one inlet into a housing and out of the housing through at least one outlet. A substrate is disposed at least partially between at least one of the at least one inlet and at least one of the at least one outlet. The mass flow rate of the gases across at least one surface of a deflector are substantially equalized as the gases flow through at least one of the at least one inlet into the housing and out of the housing through at least one of the at least one outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Mark W. Craig, Stephan D. Roozenboom
  • Patent number: 7097814
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating an exhaust gas comprising: (a) an inlet duct through which the exhaust gas is flowed in, (b) a bend portion, and (c) a catalyst duct connected to the inlet duct through the bend portion, and having a catalyst for purifying the exhaust gas and disposed in the catalyst duct, a baffle structure comprising plural baffle plates disposed at the inlet of the catalyst duct in the direction of the cross section of the catalyst duct, wherein the plural baffle plates are formed and arranged so that the heights of the baffle plates gradually increase in the direction from the side of the inlet duct toward the extremity of the bend portion to make the flow distribution of the exhaust gas uniform in the direction of the cross section of the catalyst duct at the outlets of the exhaust gas in the baffle structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Babcock-Hitachi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Shishido, Katsuhiro Yashiro
  • Patent number: 7033550
    Abstract: The catalytic exhaust gas decomposition apparatus spirals an exhaust gas containing therein a substance to be decomposed and a reactant gas, rectifies the spiral flow, and lets the substance to be decomposed contained in the exhaust gas react with the reactant gas after the spiral flow has been rectified. This arrangement rectifies the spiral flow of the exhaust gas and the reactant gas with a plate-like baffle wall having therein a through hole at a portion near the center thereof. The spiral flow is allowed to pass through the through hole so as to be centralized temporarily. The spiral flow then passes through an enlarged section of a flow path downstream of the through hole before being introduced into the catalyst bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Kanno, Shin Tamata, Kazuyoshi Irie, Kenji Yamamoto, Masayuki Taniguchi, Osamu Ito, Hironobu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7018590
    Abstract: A catalytic muffler having a housing with a first chamber and a second chamber fluidly communicating through a catalyst bed interspersed there between. A first baffle assembly in the first chamber extends between the catalyst bed and the housing. An inlet passage extends through the housing into the first chamber. An outlet passage extends through the housing into one of the first and second chambers. A second baffle assembly in the second chamber extends between the catalyst bed and the housing. The first and second baffle assemblies act in conjunction with the housing and the reactor bed to define a flow passage through the housing from the inlet passage through at least three discreet zones of the reactor bed to the outlet passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Environmental Control Corporation
    Inventor: Glenn Knight
  • Patent number: 6919050
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for supplying a waste heat exchanger with exhaust gas from a gas turbine are provided. The exhaust gas is guided through a diverter having a pivotable butterfly valve. When the valve is opened for initial entry of gas into the exchanger, the gas flows about the free edge of the valve. At least during initial entry of gas into the exchanger, the stream of gas is at least partially deflected downstream of the butterfly valve. This deflection is preferably eliminated after the initial entry of gas into the exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: NEM Power Systems
    Inventors: Martin Hettwer, Udo Feistel, Roy Swart
  • Patent number: 6905658
    Abstract: A device for channeling boiler flue gas flow and injecting controlled amounts of ammonia upstream of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) NOx removal system. A perforated plate and/or damper can be located within one or more channels to provide volumetric control through a channel. Flow conditioning devices such as static mixing tabs and/or flow straightening tube bundles can optionally be included in each channel to improve mixing and velocity profiles. Gas flow rate measurements made, for example via pressure taps, within one or more channels can be used to measure flow and provide feedback for improved ammonia-to-NOx mole ratio control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Kevin J. Rogers, Michael G. Varner, Kenneth F. Hoover
  • Patent number: 6887439
    Abstract: A variable flow regulator assembly comprises a first stationary exhaust pipe, a second stationary exhaust pipe concentrically disposed within the first stationary exhaust pipe, and a movable exhaust pipe concentrically disposed between the first and second stationary exhaust pipes. The first stationary exhaust pipe includes one or more interference tabs concentrically and circumferentially fitted about its interior surface. The movable exhaust pipe includes one or more interference tabs concentrically and circumferentially fitted about its exterior surface. The interference tabs complimentarily interact and restrict the movement of the variable flow regulator so that the flow maldistribution of the exhaust gas stream entering the catalytic converter can be variably controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul E. Jankowski, Stephen J. Myers
  • Patent number: 6878347
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system of an internal combustion engine having a bypass exhaust gas passage, openable through a switch-over valve, branched from an exhaust pipe at a location downstream of a catalytic converter and again merged into the exhaust pipe at a downstream point, an adsorbent installed in the bypass exhaust gas passage which adsorbs unburned component of the exhaust gas, and an EGR pipe which recirculates the exhaust gas including the unburned components at a location upstream of the catalytic converter, wherein the EGR pipe is made of metal such as stainless steel and is connected to the bypass exhaust gas passage such that the recirculation pipe is brought into thermal contact with the exhaust pipe, thereby enabling to effectively prevent blocking or corrosion of the EGR pipe or switch-over valve from occurring. The inner wall of the recirculation pipe is formed with liquid repellent and oil repellent film so as to overcome moisture-related problems more effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Haga, Tadashi Satoh, Hideharu Yamazaki, Takuji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6846469
    Abstract: A method for extending the operating life of a fixed bed reactor for reacting a feedstock in which a feedstock is contacted with a fixed bed of catalytic material contained in the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ramesh Gupta, Salvatore Joseph Rossetti, David Charles Dankworth, Jeffrey L. Kaufman, David Lee Vannauker, James Philip Bailor
  • Patent number: 6833116
    Abstract: A gas treatment system comprises a variable flow regulator assembly placed in operable and fluid communication with a shell of a gas treatment device. The variable flow regulator assembly comprises two or more conduit portions comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion has a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than a first coefficient of thermal expansion of the first portion. The variable flow regulator assembly structurally changes shape to alter the flow maldistribution of an exhaust gas stream into the gas treatment device when light off is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. D'Herde, Carlos Gutierrez, Stephen J. Myers, Paul E. Jankowski
  • Patent number: 6773681
    Abstract: A weldless flanged catalytic converter includes a body having an exhaust inlet end and an outlet end, and a snorkel tube disposed at one or both the exhaust inlet and outlet ends. The snorkel tube has a first end extending from the converter body and a second, distal end having a weldless flange that is integrally formed from the snorkel tube. A movable flange is disposed about the snorkel tube prior to the formation of the weldless flange. A method for preparing the weldless flanged catalytic converter includes disposing a movable flange (configured with the required tapped holes or other connecting means) over the snorkel tube of the converter. A second, weldless flange is prepared by flanging out a portion of the catalytic converter snorkel tube using appropriate metal forming techniques. In use, the weldless flange is held between the movable flange on the snorkel tube and a connecting flange from, for example, the exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John Hrinevich, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6764660
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for contacting reactants with a particulate catalyst while indirectly heating the reactants with a heat exchange medium improves temperature control by using an intermediate heat exchange fluid and system to prevent overheating of reactants and maintain parallel heating characteristics through multiple reaction-heat exchange zones. The internal flow path minimizes the circulation of the reaction zone heat exchange fluid by incorporating interstage reheating of the reaction zone heat exchange fluid as it passes in series flow. A particularly useful application of the process and apparatus is in the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to produce styrene. The process and apparatus can also be used with simultaneous exchange of catalyst particles by an operation that restricts reactant flow while moving catalyst through reaction stacks in which the reactant flow has been restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: William Wiede, Jr., Kevin J. Brandner, Bruce A. Briggs, Donald E. Felch, Constante P. Tagamolila
  • Patent number: 6712869
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment device has a diffuser upstream of an aftertreatment element such as a catalyst element or a filter element such as a diesel particulate filter. The diffuser de-focuses centralized velocity force flow against the aftertreatment element from the inlet in a space efficient and flow efficient construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Fleetguard, Inc.
    Inventors: C. Raymond Cheng, Z. Gerald Liu, Randolph G. Zoran
  • Publication number: 20040052709
    Abstract: According to the present invention, the vapor evacuation device comprises a mobile housing encasing at least one fluid line configured to draw vapors from a tank via an inlet, and to feed these vapors through solution. This process yields a relatively benign liquid solution together with vapors which can be drained and vented, respectively, when convenient to the operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventor: Ernest L. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6698193
    Abstract: An exhaust gas cleaning system for an internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle has a catalytic converter housing with an associated exhaust catalytic converter and an inlet opening for connecting an exhaust pipe. A throttle element is arranged in the catalytic converter housing, in such a manner that a first reaction chamber, which lies between the throttle element and the inlet opening, and a second reaction chamber, which lies between throttle element and exhaust catalytic converter, are formed by the throttle element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Gerd Duerr, Joachim Karwath, Gerd Tiefenbacher
  • Patent number: 6692707
    Abstract: Monolith catalyst 42 is disposed in the reaction layer 40 of reformer 20, the monolith catalyst 42 carrying a copper-zinc catalyst which accelerates a water vapor reforming reaction and an oxidation reaction of methanol on a monolith carrier with a ratio of the length to the diameter between 5 and 18, more preferably 8 and 15, 600 to 3400 cells per square inch, more preferably 900 to 3000 cells per square inch, and formed from ceramics of low thermal conductivity at the region within 15 mm from the flow-in end of the mixture gas and from a metal of high thermal conductivity at the other portions. As a result, the degree of freedom of design and the efficiency of the water vapor reforming reaction can both be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20040018134
    Abstract: An apparatus for preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide in a reformate flow includes a reactor defining a flow path for a reformate flow; at least one catalyst bed disposed along the flow path; and a distributor for distributing oxygen from an oxygen source to the at least one catalyst bed, the distributor including a conduit positioned at least one of upstream of and through the at least one catalyst bed, the conduit having a sidewall permeable to flow of oxygen from within the conduit to the at least one catalyst bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventors: Ke Liu, Sean C. Emerson, Richard James Bellows
  • Publication number: 20040009108
    Abstract: Fluid/solids contacting in a fluidization reactor is enhanced by passing the fluidization fluid through a fine screen positioned below the fluidized bed of solid particulates, thereby decreasing axial dispersion in the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Paul F. Meier, Edward L. Sughrue, Jan W. Wells, Douglas W. Hausler, Max W. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20040005250
    Abstract: An exhaust-gas catalytic converter for the purification of exhaust gases from internal combustion engines comprising: a catalytic converter body having a multi-part jointed housing having a front end for receiving exhaust and a back end for expelling exhaust with the ends forming open cross-sections. The catalytic converter body cross-section has a profile with differing numbers of cells per unit area and to change in a region-specific manner. To control the inflow of exhaust gases into the catalytic converter, there is an inflow device for providing a variable focus which allows a portion of the catalytic converter body to receive exhaust at varying levels. This inflow device opens to varying levels to the catalytic converter body based on low or high exhaust gas outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Fischer, Olaf Kannapin, Andreas Rosenek, Andreas Wichmann