By Electrolysis, Electrical Discharge, Electrical Field, Or Vibration Generator Patents (Class 60/275)
  • Patent number: 8327634
    Abstract: An exhaust heat recovery system (10) includes: an exhaust heat exchanger (18) that is communicated with a catalytic converter (16) through an exhaust gas pipe (14A), and that recovers exhaust heat into a coolant; and heat transfer restriction means (50) provided between the catalytic converter (16) and the exhaust heat exchanger (18). The heat transfer restriction means (50) includes a heat insulator (56) disposed between a first exhaust gas pipe (52) and a second exhaust gas pipe (54) that constitute the exhaust gas pipe (14A), and. restrains a released heat from the catalytic converter (16) from reaching the exhaust heat exchanger (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Orihashi, Tadashi Nakagawa, Yoshio Hasegawa, Yasuhiro Kaya
  • Publication number: 20120285146
    Abstract: A gas treatment device includes an electric discharger, an electromagnetic wave oscillator, an antenna, and a fan. The electric discharger ionizes gas in a target space. The electromagnetic wave oscillator oscillates an electromagnetic wave to be radiated to the target space. The electromagnetic wave is radiated by the antenna toward a gas ionization region in which gas ionized by the electric discharger is provided. The electric discharger ionizes gas and the antenna radiates the electromagnetic wave thereto to generate plasma. The fan moves at least a part of the electric discharger, thereby changing a location of the gas ionization region, thereby moving the location of the plasma.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: IMAGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Yuji Ikeda, Shigeo Miyake
  • Patent number: 8308846
    Abstract: Liquid and/or particle-shaped impurities are precipitated from a stream of gas, for example, from a stream of gas that originates from a crankcase of an internal combustion engine and is directed to the engine's intake side. The stream of gas is passed through a gas discharge section between two electrodes. The stream of gas is passed between an emission electrode which is formed by electrode tips and an opposing electrode at a distance therefrom. A direct voltage which exceeds the breakdown voltage is applied to the electrodes using a direct current high voltage source, and the current which occurs over the gas discharge section between the electrodes is limited. A stable low energy direct current plasma is formed in the space between the two electrodes. The impurities are electrically charged and attracted to the opposing electrode by means of electrical field forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: WOCO Industrietechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Marcel Op de Laak, Franz Knopf
  • Publication number: 20120272641
    Abstract: A particulate matter control system includes: an electrode that is provided in an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine; a power supply that is connected to the electrode and that applies voltage; a particle number detecting unit that detects the particle number of particulate matter on a downstream side of the electrode; a calculation unit that calculates a reduction rate of the particle number at the time when voltage is applied on the basis of the particle number detected by the particle number detecting unit at the time when voltage is applied and the particle number detected by the particle number detecting unit at the time when no voltage is applied; and a determination unit that determines that there is a failure when the reduction rate of the particle number, calculated by the calculation unit, is smaller than a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Mitani, Hiroshi Nomura, Eiji Murase
  • Patent number: 8297045
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treating apparatus includes an adsorption tower (20) that has an adsorption layer filled with an adsorbent and a heat transfer path through which heat is transferred to the adsorption layer. The apparatus performs switching among the following processes: an adsorption process of introducing an exhaust gas from an engine (10) into the adsorption layer of the adsorption tower so that target components to be treated, including NOX, in the exhaust gas are adsorbed by the adsorbent; a desorption process of introducing the exhaust gas into the heat transfer path of the adsorption tower to heat the adsorption layer and introducing a desorption gas into the heated adsorption layer so that the target components are desorbed from the adsorbent, and a cooling process of introducing a cooling gas into the adsorption layer of the adsorption tower to cool the adsorption layer and introducing the cooling gas that has passed through the adsorption layer into an inlet of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignees: Osaka Prefecture University Public Corporation, Japan Science and Technology Agency
    Inventors: Keiichiro Yoshida, Masaaki Okubo
  • Publication number: 20120255284
    Abstract: A particulate matter treatment system includes an electrode provided in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, a power supply connected to the electrode and operable to apply a voltage to the electrode, a particle number detector that detects the number of particles of particulate matter downstream of the electrode, and a determining device that determines that the system is at fault when an absolute value of the amount of change in the number of particles of particulate matter detected by the particle number detector when the voltage applied from the power supply to the electrode is changed is smaller than a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Mitani, Hiroshi Nomura, Eiji Murase
  • Patent number: 8281577
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system, which upgrades exhaust gas purification while curtailing an increase in an operating cost, is disclosed. The exhaust gas purification system comprises an SCR catalyst for reducing and removing nitrogen oxides in an exhaust gas from an engine (10) by bringing the nitrogen oxides into contact with a reducing agent, oxidation catalysts (11, 17) for oxidizing gas components in the exhaust gas, a water electrolysis device (24) for producing oxygen by electrolyzing water, and an oxygen supply pipe (29) for supplying the oxygen produced by the water electrolysis device (24) to the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masazumi Tanoura, Shuuji Fujii, Masatoshi Katsuki, Daishi Ueno, Yuko Ujihara
  • Patent number: 8272206
    Abstract: A reduction system for particulate materials in exhaust gas, which is connected to a tailpipe of an engine that burns a hydrocarbon-based fuel supplied from a fuel storage tank, and collects and removes particulate materials within the exhaust gas, may include a plasma reactor having a gas inlet and an outlet, and a DPF (diesel particulate filter) trap having a filter. The tailpipe of the engine may communicate with the gas inlet of the plasma reactor, and the outlet of the plasma reactor may communicate with the DPF trap. The exhaust gas exhausted from the engine may be transferred to the DPF trap after being heated while passing through the plasma reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials
    Inventors: Dae-hoon Lee, Kwan-tae Kim, Young-hoon Song, Min-suk Cha, Jae-ok Lee
  • Patent number: 8266895
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to produce O3 to be supplied to the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine while suppressing deterioration of the fuel economy. An O3 production apparatus according to the present invention is an O3 production apparatus that produces O3 to be supplied to the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine by generating a plasma, when the operation state of the internal combustion engine is a decelerating operation state in which the engine load becomes lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Tsujimoto, Shinya Hirota
  • Patent number: 8252096
    Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus and a method for separating solid particles from fluids and particularly gas flows. The apparatus is particularly for use in conjunction with an internal combustion engine or vacuum cleaner. The apparatus includes a cyclone separator which has at least two axial common cyclone separator elements, an inner and outer element, in conjunction with a two-stage electrostatic precipitator. The apparatus allows the filtration of fluid effectively, even if the flow varies over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventor: Lucas Horne
  • Publication number: 20120186233
    Abstract: A device for treating exhaust gas containing soot particles, includes at least one ionization element for ionizing soot particles and at least one separation device having a surface precipitator for depositing ionized soot particles. The at least one surface precipitator includes at least two at least partially electrically conductive neutralization regions that are electrically insulated from each other in order to neutralize ionized soot particles. A method for converting soot particles of an exhaust gas includes applying different electric potentials. A motor vehicle includes the device and carries out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: EMITEC GESELLSCHAFT FUER EMISSIONSTECHNOLOGIE MBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang MAUS, Peter HIRTH, Rolf BRÜCK
  • Patent number: 8205441
    Abstract: An exhaust system that processes exhaust generated by an engine is provided. The system includes: a particulate filter (PF) that is disposed downstream of the engine and that filters particulates from the exhaust; and a grid that includes electrically resistive material that is segmented by non-conductive material into a plurality of zones and wherein the grid is applied to an exterior upstream surface of the PF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Frank Ament, Michael J. Paratore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8191353
    Abstract: A device for controlling an internal combustion engine comprises a device for trapping particulate matter (PM) in exhaust gas in an exhaust passage, means for supplying ozone to the particulate matter trapping device from the upstream thereof to oxidize and remove PM deposited in the device, and means for interrupting the fuel injection of the internal combustion engine upon the execution of ozone supply by the ozone supply means. It is possible to prevent components consuming ozone, such as NOx, from being contained in the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine, whereby ozone is effectively usable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaru Kakinohana, Hirohito Hirata, Masaya Ibe
  • Publication number: 20120124969
    Abstract: It is possible to provide a device and a method for combusting particulate substances which particulate matters discharged from an internal combustion engine can be effectively combusted, and the device configuration is simple and does not become large and heavy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: UTSUNOMIYA UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Takeshi Nagasawa
  • Publication number: 20120102926
    Abstract: A method and a device for treating exhaust gas containing particles, include a particle separator and at least one particle agglomeration device positioned upstream of the particle separator in exhaust gas flow direction. The particle agglomeration device includes at least one apparatus for forming an electrical field and a particle buffer storage device, through which the exhaust gas can flow. The particles are stored on top of each other at the particle buffer storage device in such a way that particle agglomerates are formed, which are removed from the particle buffer storage device again after a short period of time and supplied to the particle separator for conversion. A motor vehicle having the device and performing the method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: EMITEC GESELLSCHAFT FÜR EMISSIONSTECHNOLOGIE MBH
    Inventor: WOLFGANG MAUS
  • Patent number: 8156735
    Abstract: A facility for treating exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine (1) comprises catalytic oxidation means (3), a particle filter (4) placed downstream from the catalytic oxidation means (3), a reformer (5) to produce reformate. The reformate is introduced with the exhaust gases upstream of the catalytic oxidation means in order to obtain a pre-set recommended temperature Tcons of the gases heated upstream of the particle filter (4), so as to regenerate the particle filter (4) by raising the temperature of the gases, a calculated reformate flow Qref_calc is determined as a function of the recommended temperature Tcons, a discrepancy coefficient is determined as a function of the difference between the recommended temperature Tcons and a measured temperature Tmes upstream of the particle filter, and the reformer (5) is controlled with a recommended reformate flow Qref_cons as a function of the discrepancy coefficient a and the calculated reformate flow Qref_calc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Francois Fresnet, Nathalie Leiglon
  • Patent number: 8157902
    Abstract: The present invention is broadly directed to non-thermal plasma-based systems for reducing the amount of particulate matter in a gas stream, as well as to methods for using such systems. The present invention is particularly directed to such non-thermal plasma-based particulate matter reduction systems with self-cleaning surfaces. Particularly contemplated are self-cleaning surfaces that reduce particulate matter buildup such as is likely to cause the reduction of non-thermal plasma production in the system, and therefore the ability of such systems to reduce the amount of particulate matter in the gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Environmental Energy Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Ogut, Richard Backus
  • Patent number: 8151742
    Abstract: Provided is an exhaust gas cleaner by which nitrogen oxides contained in an exhaust gas can be efficiently removed in a wide temperature range from a low temperature. The exhaust gas cleaner (10) is for use in purifying the exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion engine (15) in which fuel is fed under periodical rich or lean conditions and burned. The cleaner (10) comprises: a reforming means (11) which generates a reforming gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide; a means of low-temperature oxidation (12) which contains palladium and which thereby can oxidize and adsorb nitrogen oxides at low temperatures and oxidize the hydrogen and carbon monoxide; and a purifying means (13) which under lean conditions adsorbs nitrogen oxides and which under rich conditions releases the adsorbed nitrogen oxides and removes the released nitrogen oxides with the hydrogen and carbon monoxide present in the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Ishimaru, Jun Iwamoto, Go Motohashi, Hitoshi Mikami
  • Patent number: 8146343
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a reductant delivery and storage system in an emission control system is disclosed. The method comprises applying an ultrasonic field to a reductant-containing liquid in the reductant storage device to generate a mist of the reductant-containing liquid, and selectively introducing an amount of mist to an exhaust system coupled to the catalyst based on an engine operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Patterson, Paul M. Laing
  • Patent number: 8128884
    Abstract: A plasma reactor has high durability with performance to generate stable and uniform plasma. The reactor has a variety of advantages such as increasing the range of commercial applications since the reactor has a structure that allows simple and efficient installation and operation in a system at a position required by the system. The reactor includes a stack constructed by sequentially stacking plus and minus electrodes and spacers and a reactor body provided at one side of the stack to hold the stack. The plus and minus electrodes are arranged alternately with spacers to define passages through which gas is allowed to pass. Each of the plus and minus electrodes has deformation preventing means to disperse stress of the electrodes and to prevent a local thermal stress caused by thermal expansion and contraction, thereby increasing thermal shock-resistant performance. External terminals for connection to the plus and minus electrodes are provided on the reactor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: CMTech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung Sik Min, Young Geun An, Sung Jin Yang
  • Publication number: 20120042634
    Abstract: A method for operating a device for the purification of exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine which is operated with an excess of air includes heating at least one heating apparatus of the device above a predetermined first setpoint temperature. The at least one heating apparatus is at least partially in contact with the exhaust gas, can be activated by electrical energy and is formed at least partially with an oxidation coating. At least the temperature of the at least one heating apparatus or of the exhaust gas is subsequently monitored. An increase in the hydrocarbon fraction of the exhaust gas is initiated if at least the temperature of the heating apparatus or of the exhaust gas has reached a threshold temperature or a low-load phase of the internal combustion engine is present. A motor vehicle having the device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicants: VOLKSWAGEN AG, EMITEC GESELLSCHAFT FUR EMISSIONSTECHNOLOGIE MBH
    Inventors: THOMAS NAGEL, CARSTEN KRUSE, GERHARD KAHMANN, THORSTEN DÜSTERDIEK
  • Patent number: 8104272
    Abstract: There is provided an exhaust purifying system for an internal combustion engine which can achieve a function of a catalyst without deteriorating a function of ozone at the time of oxidizing and removing PM by using the ozone. The exhaust purifying system for the internal combustion engine comprises a wall-flow type particulate filter (30) for collecting particulate matter in an exhaust gas inside an exhaust passage, wherein the catalyst (38) is supported only in a part of a partition wall (37) of the particulate filter defining a passage (36) on the downstream side of the partition wall (37). In consequence, when ozone is supplied, since the ozone is introduced on the upstream side of the partition wall (37) in which the PM is collected, the ozone does not contact the catalyst supported only in the part of the partition wall defining the passage (36) on the downstream side of the partition wall. Therefore, it is prevented that the ozone is decomposed, and a PM oxidation function is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirohito Hirata, Masaru Kakinohana, Masaya Ibe
  • Patent number: 8099950
    Abstract: The present invention provides, as one aspect, an exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine including a setting unit that sets commanded values of an amount and a period of injection from an additive fuel injector, an adding controlling unit that injects fuel from the additive fuel injector in accordance with the commanded values, a determining unit that determines whether a high-accuracy measurement state has been entered in which a difference between measurement values of first and second air-to-fuel ratio sensors is within a predetermined range, and a calculating unit that calculates, when the high-accuracy measurement state has been entered, a deviation between the commanded value and a true value of the amount of injection by the adding controlling unit as a correction value, from at least one of the measurement values of the first and second air-to-fuel ratio sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Kojima, Takahiro Ono
  • Patent number: 8096107
    Abstract: In-a vehicle energy management system engine belt or engine direct driven components are replaced with electrical motors. A main fan unit is replaced with smaller single function electrical components. The larger multipurpose heat exchangers such as the vehicle radiator are replaced with smaller single function heat exchangers associated with the smaller electric fans. The energy management system may involve a main vehicle engine crankshaft mounted generator. This generator creates high voltage DC electricity. In one embodiment, the converter is a closed loop converter that makes the conversion of DC to AC alternatively turning on and off at a varying frequency in order to produce a time averaged AC output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: Gerald L. Larson
  • Publication number: 20120000186
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust gas treatment device of a diesel engine that is capable of increasing the concentration of PM in the EGR gas, wherein an exhaust gas separator 2 has electrodes 12 and 13 having different polarities from each other to allow the PM in the exhaust gas 3 to be charged to a given polarity by means of corona discharge between the electrodes 12 and 13 and thus to permit a peripheral wall 14 surrounding the exhaust gas swirl chamber 9 to have the electrode 13 having the opposite polarity to the charged PM, and the charged PM in the exhaust gas 3 swirling the exhaust gas swirl chamber 9 is localizedly positioned around the peripheral wall 14 of the exhaust gas swirl chamber 9 through a centrifugal force and an electrostatic force to allow the exhaust gas 3 containing the localizedly positioned PM to be separated as the EGR gas 4 and sent to a terminal end portion 15 of the exhaust gas swirl chamber 9, while the exhaust gas 3 around the central cylinder 7 is being separated a
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Aketa, Satoshi Sugimoto, Masato Ueda, Yuki Yoshita, Takuya Yanagimoto, Masayuki Tochimoto
  • Patent number: 8051643
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system provided with a trapping device (6) arranged on an engine exhaust passage and trapping particulate matter in the exhaust gas, an ozone generator (21) for generating ozone, and an ozone adsorbent (22) able to adsorb ozone, wherein at least part of the ozone generated by said ozone generator is adsorbed by said ozone adsorbent and, when particulate matter trapped on said trapping device should be removed, ozone adsorbed on the ozone adsorbent is desorbed from the ozone adsorbent and supplied to the trapping device. Due to this, it is possible to use an ozone generator with a relatively low ozone generating ability to burn off PM trapped on a filter etc. efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirohito Hirata, Masaru Kakinohaha, Masaya Ibe
  • Patent number: 8043413
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a system for removing foreign objects from the airstream entering an inlet system of a turbomachine. The system may include an electrostatic system that may be configured to charge conductive, or partially conductive foreign objects that are in the airstream flowing through the system. This system may create an electric field to draw the charged foreign objects, allowing for a collecting section to remove the charged foreign objects from the airstream. An embodiment of the present invention may provide an automatic accumulation system for collecting the foreign objects removed from the airstream. An embodiment of the present invention may provide an automatic cleaning system for cleaning components of the collecting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rahul J. Chillar, Stephen D. Hiner, Aaron M. Smith
  • Patent number: 8038776
    Abstract: An inlet air filtration system for a gas turbine includes, in an exemplary embodiment, an air plenum, and a plurality of filter elements mounted inside the air plenum, with each filter element including a support structure. The inlet air filtration system also includes a plurality of electrodes positioned proximate the plurality of filter elements, where the electrodes are coupled to a power source which supplies a voltage to the electrodes. The voltage is sufficient to establish an electrostatic field between the electrodes and the filter elements, and is sufficient to produce a corona discharge from the electrodes, wherein an amount of current applied to the filter elements is about 0.1 ?A/ft2 to about 15 ?A/ft2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: BHA Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jamison W. Janawitz, Bradley S. Rogers, James Easel Roberts, Thomas Shannon Eckhoff, Robert W. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20110214413
    Abstract: A configuration for purifying or cleaning an exhaust-gas flow of an internal combustion engine includes at least an ionization device, an agglomeration device, and a (catalytically active) radial honeycomb body around a duct. The exhaust-gas is diverted from the duct into the radial honeycomb body, while the agglomerated particles are caught in a particle separator of the duct. A method for purifying or cleaning an exhaust-gas flow of an internal combustion engine and a motor vehicle including an exhaust system having the configuration, are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: EMITEC GESELLSCHAFT FUR EMISSIONSTECHNOLOGIE MBH
    Inventors: JAN HODGSON, ROLF Brück
  • Publication number: 20110146234
    Abstract: A power system is provided. The power system includes a power source configured to generate a flow of exhaust including particulate matter. The power system also includes a fuel supply line connecting a fuel supply and the power source, and being configured to direct a fuel flow from the fuel supply to the power source. An additive injector is configured to inject an additive into the fuel flow. An ionization device is at least partially disposed within the flow of exhaust, and is configured to apply a charge to the particulate matter and the additive. A particulate filter is configured to remove the particulate matter and the additive from the flow of exhaust.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Rynders, JR., Clifford Eugene Cotton, III, Brett Bailey
  • Patent number: 7963106
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for the defined regeneration of a sooty surface, in particular a ceramic sensor surface, in which the soot particles adhering to the surface are burned off by a dielectrically hindered discharge by of a discharge device, power of the dielectrically hindered discharge is set such that a higher rate of removal of the soot particles than their rate of deposition on the surface is effected, after the regeneration phase, the remaining soot deposit is detected by a measuring device mounted on the surface, wherein an undefined state of the sensor surface does not occur, and the discharge device and the measuring device may be mounted very compactly on one or two ceramic substrate elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Schmidt, Henrik Schittenhelm
  • Patent number: 7959883
    Abstract: Particulate pollutants such as carbonaceous particles are removed from an engine exhaust stream by passing the exhaust stream through an exhaust gas reactor, the exhaust stream first traversing a charging zone wherein the particles are charged via a corona discharge, and thereafter traversing a downstream collection zone wherein the charged particles are collected and eliminated by a collector/reactor having an oppositely charged reactive collecting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher W Drewnowski, Martin Andrew Sala
  • Patent number: 7950221
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for controlling catalytic processes, including catalyst regeneration and soot elimination. An alternating current is applied to a catalyst layer and a polarization impedance of the catalyst layer is monitored. The polarization impedance may be controlled by varying the asymmetrical alternating current. At least one of water, oxygen, steam and heat may be provided to the catalyst layer to enhance an oxidation reaction for soot elimination and/or to regenerate the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Catelectric Corp.
    Inventor: Victor Stancovski
  • Publication number: 20110113755
    Abstract: A filter device for filtering automobile exhaust gas includes a case, front and rear support flanges mounted inside the case, and the filter member mounted between the front and rear support flanges. The front and rear support flanges are fixed vertically to the front and rear end portions of the filter member, respectively. The filter member includes a laminated or rolled-up metallic foam filter and a metallic mat or a jacket wrapping around the metallic foam filter. The porous pipe mounted inside the filter member is formed with a plurality of holes. The porous pipe is structured such that the width thereof decreases gradually towards the rear end portion or increase gradually towards the rear end portion, or the holes in the rear end portion are smaller, or a conical member is inserted in the inside space, or a pyramidal member is inserted in the inside space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: ALANTUM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hyun Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 7921640
    Abstract: An exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger assembly for use along a main exhaust flow path of an exhaust system for an engine, and a method of operation, is disclosed. The exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger includes a sealed vacuum chamber, including a hydride pellet mounted in the chamber, and electrical leads extending from the hydride pellet. An exhaust chamber along the main exhaust flow path is located along an inner wall of the vacuum chamber. A housing surrounds the vacuum chamber and defines a heat receiving medium chamber. A heat receiving medium flows through the heat receiving medium chamber and absorbs heat from the exhaust flowing through the exhaust chamber when an electric current is applied to the hydride pellet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventor: Gregory A. Major
  • Publication number: 20110072786
    Abstract: There is provided an exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1a including: a tubular body 10 and a discharge electrode 12 disposed inside the tubular body. The tubular body 10 has a shape where an inner diameter of the tubular body 10 is gradually reduced in a predetermined range from a face 25 which contains a central point 24x of generation of corona discharge 24 generated by the discharge electrode 12 and which is perpendicular to the flow passage toward the downstream side 44 of the flow passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro TOKUDA, Takashi Egami, Takeshi Sakuma, Atsuo Kondo
  • Patent number: 7913486
    Abstract: An exhaust emission control device is disclosed. The device includes an NOx-occlusion reduction catalyst incorporated in an exhaust passage for reduction and purification of NOx, a fuel reforming catalyst structure and plasma fuel reforming unit for decomposition of the fuel into H2 and CO is arranged in the exhaust passage upstream of the reduction catalyst, so that the fuel is decomposed into H2 and CO such that NOx on the surface of the NOx-occlusion reduction catalyst can be efficiently reduced into N2. Thus, high NOx reduction ratio can be always obtained irrespective of variety of operational conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Hino Motors, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Shimoda, Yoshihide Takenaka
  • Publication number: 20110047976
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1a of the present invention includes: a tubular body 10, a discharge electrode 12 disposed inside the tubular body 10, and a stick-shaped dust collection electrode 14. The number of the particulates 22 suspended in the exhaust gas 20 is decreased by charging the particulate matter 22 contained in the exhaust gas passing through the tubular body 10 by corona discharge 24 caused by the discharge electrode 12, collecting the charged particulate matter 22a on the inner wall face 10a of the tubular body 10 by the electric field 26 generated by the dust collection electrode 14 to agglomerate the particulate matter 22a, and allowing the agglomerated particulate matter 22b to scatter again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Tokuda, Takeshi Sakuma, Takashi Egami, Atsuo Kondo
  • Patent number: 7891171
    Abstract: A method for reducing nitrogen oxides including NO and NO2 in an exhaust stream also comprising oxygen, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons at a temperature above about 150° C., the method including in embodiments oxidizing NO in the exhaust stream to NO2; reforming raw diesel fuel to produce OHC's from the fuel; adding diesel fuel hydrocarbons and their oxygenates to the exhaust stream for the reduction of nitrogen oxides; and contacting the exhaust stream with a reduction hybrid catalyst comprising BaY—Ag/Al2O3 to reduce the nitrogen oxides to N2. The method reduces NOx initially through the (HC+OHC)/SCR process producing N2, while also producing NH3 as a byproduct over Ag/Al2O3. The NH3 subsequently reduces NOx over the BaY—Ag/Al2O3 hybrid catalyst through the NH3/SCR process, producing more N2 and thereby enhancing the NOx reduction efficiency of the hybrid catalyst system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Byong K. Cho, Joon-Hyun Baik
  • Publication number: 20110030347
    Abstract: Provided is an after-treatment apparatus for exhaust gas right after a combustion chamber, which apparatus comprises a discharge device with an electrode exposed to an exhaust port installed in a cylinder head, an antenna installed on the back face of a valve head, an electromagnetic wave transmission line installed in a valve stem with one end connected to the antenna and the other end, covered with an insulator or dielectric and extending to and connected to a power-receiving portion, which is positioned at a location fitting into the guide hole or at a location farther from the valve head in the valve stem, and an electromagnetic wave generator for feeding electromagnetic waves to the power-receiving portion. The after-treatment apparatus is configured such that discharge is generated with the electrode of the discharge device and electromagnetic waves fed from the electromagnetic wave generator through the electromagnetic wave transmission line are radiated from the antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: IMAGINEERING, INC.
    Inventor: Yuji Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20110023458
    Abstract: An after-treatment apparatus for exhaust gas in a combustion chamber includes a discharge device with an electrode exposed to the combustion chamber and installed in at least one of members constituting the combustion chamber, an antenna installed in at least one of the members constituting the combustion chamber so as to radiate electromagnetic waves into the combustion chamber, an electromagnetic wave transmission line installed in at least one of the members constituting the combustion chamber and with one end connected to the antenna and the other end covered with an insulator or dielectric and extending to a portion, in at least one of the members constituting the combustion chamber, distant from the combustion chamber, and an electromagnetic wave generator for feeding electromagnetic waves to the electromagnetic wave transmission line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: IMAGINEERING, INC.
    Inventor: Yuji Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7870723
    Abstract: A method for operating an international combustion engine, the engine also includes a first cylinder, a second cylinder, an exhaust system, and a fuel cell in the exhaust system. The method comprises operating the first cylinder lean to provide air to the fuel cell during at least one condition; and operating the second cylinder rich or stoichiometric to provide torque output and fuel to the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner
  • Patent number: 7866145
    Abstract: Particulate emission reducing devices reduce particulate emissions from a vehicle. A housing is attached to a vehicle's exhaust pipe downstream of its muffler by an intake funnel having a desiccant bed and check valve. An ionizer is connected to the intake funnel. A collection unit is removably inserted into the housing through a collection unit opening with support bar notches in the housing's top downstream of the ionizer. Contacts in the bottom of the housing negatively charge collector plates, which collect positively charged particulates from the exhaust stream. Exhaust gases are emitted by an exhaust funnel attached to the housing downstream of the collection unit. A handle attached to the access panel of the collection unit facilitates removal of the collector plates for cleaning. The vehicle may include an indicator light to remind the user to clean the collector plates. The vehicle's trunk may include an access opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Inventor: Douglas E. Lercher
  • Patent number: 7818959
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a power generation system that has an internal combustion engine that operates in a low temperature combustion mode to produce an engine exhaust that is low in NOx and particulate matter. The exhaust is treated by a fuel cell to remove organic compounds and CO while producing useful power. Another aspect of the invention relates to controlling the adiabatic flame temperature by EGR drawing from upstream of the fuel cell. A further aspect of the invention relates to treating engine exhaust with a reducing catalyst and then with a fuel cell. A still further aspect of the invention relates to treating exhaust with an intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell. A further aspect of the invention relates to a system equipped with a valve allowing exhaust to selectively bypass a fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Haoran Hu, Thomas Stover, Timothy J. Morscheck, Kathryn A. Miles, Patrick M. Watts, Diane C. Wiersma
  • Patent number: 7810313
    Abstract: A method for simultaneously measuring one or more properties (e.g. temperature, concentration of NOx and ammonia, etc) in an exhaust gas mixture. Signals from one or more sensors that are cross-sensitive to one or more gases can be combined. A decoupling observer algorithm can be applied, such that these cross-sensitivities are decoupled. The sensors simultaneously obtain an estimate of one or more gases in the diesel exhaust. A decoupling observer algorithm can be structured and arranged to be operable among a plurality of positions corresponding to several internal configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Edward Stewart, Francis Martin Haran
  • Patent number: 7776140
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating exhaust particulates from an exhaust gas stream, includes a ceramic honeycomb body with ducts through which exhaust gas can flow and which extend in the longitudinal direction of the honeycomb body, with the honeycomb body being provided with electrodes for generating an electric field which are each oriented transversally to the axis of the ducts. The electrodes are each formed by a group of ducts in which an electric conductor is introduced at least partly along their axial extension. It preferably includes a metallic coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventor: Carl M. Fleck
  • Publication number: 20100192542
    Abstract: A plasma reactor has high durability with performance to generate stable and uniform plasma. The reactor has a variety of advantages such as increasing the range of commercial applications since the reactor has a structure that allows simple and efficient installation and operation in a system at a position required by the system. The reactor includes a stack constructed by sequentially stacking plus and minus electrodes and spacers and a reactor body provided at one side of the stack to hold the stack. The plus and minus electrodes are arranged alternately with spacers to define passages through which gas is allowed to pass. Each of the plus and minus electrodes has deformation preventing means to disperse stress of the electrodes and to prevent a local thermal stress caused by thermal expansion and contraction, thereby increasing thermal shock-resistant performance. External terminals for connection to the plus and minus electrodes are provided on the reactor body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Hung Sik Min, Young Geun An, Sung Jin Yang
  • Publication number: 20100186376
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrically stimulated catalytic converter for treating engine exhaust from a vehicle engine. The electrically stimulated catalytic converter includes an exhaust conduit having one end thereof adapted to be connected to an exhaust pipe, and the other end thereof opened to the atmosphere outside the vehicle or connected to a reduced-size catalytic converter; and a corona charger apparatus operatively connected to the exhaust conduit. The corona charger apparatus is housed with a housing unit disposed between the ends the exhaust conduit. The corona charger is intrusively or non-intrusively associated with a main flow path defined by the exhaust conduit. The corona charger includes at least one electrode which may be recessed away from the main flow path. A plurality of corona chargers may be used in various combinations. The electrically stimulated catalytic converter is adapted to reduce exhaust pollution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas A. Hamade
  • Publication number: 20100186377
    Abstract: An exhaust gas control apparatus includes a PM trapping filter provided in an exhaust gas passage of an internal combustion engine, an oxygen concentration sensor provided upstream of the filter, a device that estimates the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas supplied to the oxygen concentration sensor, and a device that estimates the amount of PM trapped in the filter based on the estimated exhaust gas air-fuel ratio and the oxygen concentration sensor output. The amount of PM trapped in the filter is estimated using the fact that the oxygen concentration sensor output value changes according to the exhaust gas air-fuel ratio and the amount of PM accumulated on the oxygen concentration sensor. As a result, the structure of the exhaust passage is able to be kept simple because only an oxygen concentration sensor is added upstream of the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Shibata, Shinichiro Imamura
  • Patent number: 7739869
    Abstract: A method and system for improving the performance of diesel particulate filters. Before entering the filter, the exhaust gas is subjected to sonic waves to agglomerate the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Magdi Kaiser Khair, Martin B. Treuhaft, Imad S. Abdul-Khalek