Abstract: A system for treating exhaust gases including NO, nitrogen and particulate matter comprises: a catalyst for generating NO2 from the NO; a plasma generator for generating at least one of: (1) NO2 from the NO or nitrogen or both; and (2) ozone; and a filter for trapping a desired proportion of the particulate matter which is combusted with at least one of NO2 or ozone. Methods for increasing levels of NO2 in an exhaust system to combust trapped particulate matter involve oxidising NO to NO2 over an oxidation catalyst at an optimum temperature range and using a plasma generator to generate NO2 from NO or N2 at temperatures outside of the optimum range, or using the plasma generator an increased amount of particulate matter is generated, regardless of the catalyst temperature. Reducing exhaust gas emissions is achieved by trapping the particulate matter and combusting it by reaction with NO2.

Abstract: For the regeneration of an NOx storage catalyst by means of hydrogen in a secondary hydrogen process, the hydrogen required for the regeneration is taken from a primary hydrogen process.

Abstract: Emission abatement system. The system includes a source of emissions and a catalyst for receiving the emissions. Suitable catalysts are absorber catalysts and selective catalytic reduction catalysts. A plasma fuel converter generates a reducing gas from a fuel source and is connected to deliver the reducing gas into contact with the absorber catalyst for regenerating the catalyst. A preferred reducing gas is a hydrogen rich gas and a preferred plasma fuel converter is a plasmatron. It is also preferred that the absorber catalyst be adapted for absorbing NOx.

Abstract: An exhaust emission purifier includes a catalyst unit disposed in an exhaust pipe of an engine. Electrodes (reaction adjustment unit) are provided on a honeycomb carrier of the catalyst unit in a layered form in order to apply an electric field to the vicinity of the catalyst surface to thereby adjust the catalytic reaction. An ECU serves as a status detection unit to detect factors which affect the exhaust gas purifying performance of the catalyst unit (i.e., operating conditions), and serves as a control unit which controls the electric field applied by the electrodes, on the basis of the detected operating conditions.

Abstract: A system for purifying exhaust gases from a diesel or like engine (1) comprises a filter (3) and a plasma generator (5). The plasma generator converts NO and/or N2 to NO2 and/or generates ozone, which is found to be particularly effective at causing low temperature combustion of soot trapped on the filter.

Abstract: A catalytic material for the plasma-assisted treatment of the exhaust gases from internal combustion engines, consisting of an activated alumina, which contains silver or molybdena (MoO3). For silver doped alumina, a preferred silver concentration is between 0.1% and 5% by weight. The preparation and use of silver doped alumina material also is described.

Abstract: A plasma exhaust gas treatment device of the present invention senses the emission conditions of two kinds of harmful components, which are included in exhaust gas exhausted from a cylinder fuel injection engine, according to the operating state, finds an energy consumption required for a plasma generating device to purify a plurality of harmful components to a predetermined reference value or less, outputs control commands so as to a voltage controller to generate the maximum energy consumption, and removes the plurality of harmful components with the minimum power consumption.

Abstract: An automatic condensed oil remover for an intercooler of a diesel engine has a flow restrictor that is positioned between the intercooler and the diesel engine, an oil sump in the intercooler, and an oil tube carrying condensed oil from the oil sump to the diesel engine. The flow restrictor creates a pressure drop sufficient to force the oil to flow from the oil sump through the oil tube to the diesel engine.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing the amount of NOx in an automotive vehicle combustion exhaust gas are disclosed. Accordingly, the system includes a first converter for forming aldehyde in a tributary fluid that includes fuel from the fuel tank of an automotive vehicle. Once the aldehyde is formed, the tributary fluid is combined with combustion exhaust of the vehicle to form an aldehyde/exhaust admixture. Thereafter, a second converter of the system is used to reduce NOx in the aldehyde/exhaust admixture to N2 gas and O2 gas.

Abstract: Emission abatement system. The system includes a source of emissions and a catalyst for receiving the emissions. Suitable catalysts are absorber catalysts and selective catalytic reduction catalysts. A plasma fuel converter generates a reducing gas from a fuel source and is connected to deliver the reducing gas into contact with the absorber catalyst for regenerating the catalyst. A preferred reducing gas is a hydrogen rich gas and a preferred plasma fuel converter is a plasmatron. It is also preferred that the absorber catalyst be adapted for absorbing NOx.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purification device in a vehicle, wherein a reforming reactor is provided for extraction of hydrogen from fuel and the hydrogen is supplied to an exhaust gas stream of an internal combustion engine upstream of the exhaust gas catalytic converter, wherein the reforming reactor includes a supply device for oxygen and/or water, wherein the reforming reactor is connected with a side branch of the exhaust gas conduit and wherein oxygen and water for reforming are supplied in the form of an exhaust gas partial stream via the side branch.

Abstract: A system for converting particulate matter in exhaust gases, which system comprises a stoichiometrically-operated engine and an exhaust system including a plasma generator for converting water vapor in the exhaust gases into an oxidant and a filter downstream of the plasma generator. A method for converting particulate matter (PM) in exhaust gases by using plasma-treated water vapor as an oxidant to convert PM trapped on a filter disposed in an exhaust system, and/or to oxidize NO and/or N2 to NO2, in which water vapor, PM, NO and N2 are present in the exhaust gases of a stoichiometrically-operated gasoline engine. The NO2 is then used to combust the PM. Experimentally, the conversion of a gaseous hydrocarbon using a plasma with and without water vapor present can be followed using mass spectrometry.

Abstract: A filtration system adapted to prevent diesel soot carried with recirculated exhaust gas from being recirculated through internal combustion engine. The filtration system provides continuous elimination of soot, thus reducing its negative impact on engine life, lubrication oil quality, and on components in the exhaust gas recirculation system. The filtration system comprises a non-thermal plasma generator that periodically, or continuously, oxidizes carbon deposited, or trapped, within a carbon filter disposed downstream of the non-thermal plasma generator.

Abstract: An NOx reducing exhaust treatment system includes a non-thermal plasma reactor assembly which initiates NOx reduction reactions that are completed by a catalytic converter downstream of the reactor in the system. The reactor assembly includes a monolithic reactor element formed of insulating plates and spacers made of high dielectric material, such as alumina. Some of the plates carry electrodes and connecting conductors which may be painted on with conductive ink and baked on as a surface coating. The electrodes are patterned to provide a distance between the electrodes and the connectors of alternate electrodes that is sufficient to prevent arc over. The plates and spacers form a plurality of thin gas passages each lying between a pair of electrodes, one to be charged with an AC voltage and the other grounded to impress the alternating voltage across each passage.

Abstract: An exhaust treatment system is provided for use with an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The exhaust treatment system includes a parallel plate, monolithic plasma reactor for reducing nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas from the engine, an electric power source for providing an electrical signal to the electrodes of the plasma reactor, and a controller interconnected between the electric power source and the plasma reactor for modulating the electrical signal to the plasma reactor. More specifically, the electric power source provides an alternating current electrical signal and the controller modulates the electrical signal off in accordance with a predetermined duty cycle, thereby achieving uniform barrier discharge in the plasma reactor.

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

Abstract: A system and method for treating a combustion exhaust stream includes admitting an exhaust stream into a non-thermal plasma reactor having at least one segmented non-thermal plasma element. The segmented element includes plurality of individually energizable electrode segments defining a plurality of corona volumes. in a preferred embodiment, the electrode segments are progressively smaller in size in the exhaust flow direction to provide optimum plasma volume variation. Individually energizable electrodes are selectively activated to effect variable corona volumes for treating an exhaust stream. Additional reactor segments are activated only as needed, such as during periods of high exhaust flow, for efficient treatment of the exhaust stream so as to maintain optimized high space velocity in the active corona volume.

Abstract: A device for purifying exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine featuring improved purifying efficiency even in a lean operating condition without deteriorating the fuel efficiency. The device comprises an electrochemical catalyst 5 installed in the exhaust system 3 of the internal combustion engine 1, the electrochemical catalyst 5 containing an electron conducting substance and an ion conducting substance, the oxidizing reaction and the reducing reaction being promoted by the conduction of ions and electrons, thereby to electrochemically purify the exhaust gas G in the exhaust system.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purification apparatus and method is applied to an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine generates an exhaust gas to be introduced to an exhaust system thereof. There is provided a reformer and controller. The reformer introduces a fuel and a part of the exhaust gas and generates a reformed gas including at least hydrogen and the controller is programmed to control a fuel supply amount of the fuel introduced to the reformer and an exhaust gas introduction amount of the exhaust gas introduced to the reformer in accordance with a demanded hydrogen amount of the reformer and operating conditions of the internal combustion engine. The exhaust gas is purified while controlling the fuel supply amount and the exhaust gas introduction amount.

Abstract: A two-stage method for NOx reduction in an oxygen-rich engine exhaust comprises a plasma oxidative stage and a storage reduction stage. The first stage employs a non-thermal plasma treatment of NOx gases in an oxygen-rich exhaust and is intended to convert NO to NO2 in the presence of O2 and hydrocarbons. The second stage employs a lean NOx trap to convert such NO2 to environmentally benign gases that include N2, CO2, and H2O. By preconverting NO to NO2 in the first stage with a plasma, the efficiency of the second stage for NOx reduction is enhanced. For example, an internal combustion engine exhaust is connected by a pipe to a first chamber in which a non-thermal plasma converts NO to NO2 in the presence of O2 and hydrocarbons, such as propene. A flow of such hydrocarbons (CxHy) is input from usually a second pipe into at least a portion of the first chamber.

Abstract: A highly reactive reducing gas mixture is produced from vehicle fuel and introduced into the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine operated at lean burn conditions and passed over a reducing catalyst to convert NOX emissions to benign emissions. Preferably, fuel with oxygen present in a carrier gas is metered into a plasma reactor having a bed of dielectric particles which prevent formation of coke as the fuel is reacted. The plasma induces a number of simultaneous reactions with the fuel to produce a substantial amount of oxygenated and non-oxygenated, unbranched organic molecules at relatively low temperatures that are highly reactive and ideally suited for use as a reducing agent in an SCR catalyst.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling J/L specific energy deposition in accordance with either measured or estimated values of engine or vehicle operational parameters in order to optimize emission reduction versus energy cost over a driving cycle. A typical strategy varies the J/L specific energy deposition in relation to a measured or estimated value of a relevant parameter such as engine-out NOx concentration to improve energy cost versus emission performance over a driving cycle.

Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator has a high voltage electrode including multiple wire segments that are positioned within a surrounding electrically conductive porous media having a central axis and wherein the electrode assembly extends along the central axis. The electrode assembly has a plurality of wire lengths positioned to extend in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the porous media, and the wire segments being arranged to have a substantially longer total length than the length of extension along the longitudinal axis. An aerosol containing droplets is passed into the interior of the porous media, and across the electrode, which is charged with a high voltage. The porous media is at a substantially lower or different voltage from the high voltage electrodes. Flow of the aerosol containing particles charged by the electrode passes through the porous media to the outlet and the charged particles are precipitated by the porous media.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for enhancing the rate of a chemical reaction in a gas stream. The apparatus includes at least one heterogeneous catalyst having an upstream end and a downstream end, and at least one surface having a plurality of catalytically active sites on the surface, where the catalyst is positioned so that at least a portion of the gas stream contacts at least a portion of the catalytically active sites on the surface. At least one device for producing radicals or other active species from at least one of water vapor or other gaseous species, such as a corona discharge device or a UV light source is used to produce radicals or other active species, which are introduced into the gas stream at a position upstream of the downstream end of the catalyst.

Abstract: Deactivated atomic nitrogen generated by an electron beam from a gas stream containing more than 99% N2 is injected at low temperatures into an engine exhaust to reduce NOx emissions. High NOx reduction efficiency is achieved with compact electron beam devices without use of a catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention is based upon the discovery that microporous catalysts, especially zeolites in the class of metallic Faujasites, Linde Type A (LTA) and combinations thereof having a pore size greater than 3 angstroms in combination with a plasma are capable of catalyzing conversion of NOx to N2 in a real or actual exhaust stream without any gas phase additive.

Abstract: A non-thermal plasma reactor element is provided comprising a multi-cell stack prepared from a plurality of formed building blocks of dielectric material, the walls of the building blocks defining a cell having an exhaust passage for flowing gas to be treated therethrough. A conductive print forming an electrode and connector is disposed on at least one wall of each of the cells and outer insulative plates, disposed on opposite ends of the multi-cell stack, are provided to protect the conductive print. The simplified design eliminates the need for spacers between individual cells, thus reducing the total number of components. Use of a three-dimensional conductive print further simplifies preparation by eliminating the need for a secondary conductive print along the edge of the multi-cell stack after assembly.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus and a method for the reduction of pollutants in the exhaust stream of a combustion engine. Radicals are produced using a corona discharge in the combustion gas stream of the engine, either in the precombustion gas stream or from water in the exhaust gas. When the radicals are produced from the exhaust gas stream, the radicals may be produced using a corona discharge placed directly in the exhaust stream leading to the catalytic convertor, or a portion of the exhaust stream may be diverted to a remote corona discharge radical generator. The corona discharge in the generator produces radicals in the diverted exhaust gas, and the exhaust gas containing radicals is then conveyed to the exhaust gas stream at a point upstream of the catalytic convertor.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus and a method for the reduction of pollutants in a gas stream containing gas formed from the oxidation of fuel, such as, in the exhaust stream of a combustion engine. Radicals are produced using a corona discharge in the combustion gas stream of the engine, either in the precombustion gas stream or from water in the exhaust gas. When the radicals are produced from the exhaust gas stream, the radicals may be produced using a corona discharge placed directly in the exhaust stream leading to or within the catalytic converter, or a portion of the exhaust stream may be diverted to a remote corona discharge radical generator. The corona discharge in the generator produces radicals in the diverted exhaust gas, and the exhaust gas containing radicals is then conveyed to the exhaust gas stream at a point upstream of the outlet of the catalytic converter.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for operating a diesel engine with reduced emission of particulates as well as HC, CO, NOx, and SOx, comprising a corona discharge device for producing ozone in the air intake system, the corona discharge device comprising at least one first electrode, at least one second electrode positioned a distance from the first electrode and a dielectric material positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a high frequency power supply having an operational frequency of at least about 1,000 Hz adapted to provide electrical power to the corona discharge device. These harmful emissions from diesel engine are reduced, partly or completely, due to the complete combustion of fuel by supplying enough amount of ozone into the combustion chamber of engine. The particular advantageous feature of this invention is that it can be installed easily and inexpensively to existing and new engines without modifying the operating condition or the structure of engine itself.

Abstract: A filtration system adapted to prevent diesel soot carried with recirculated exhaust gas from being recirculated through internal combustion engine. The filtration system provides continuous elimination of soot, thus reducing its negative impact on engine life, lubrication oil quality, and on components in the exhaust gas recirculation system. The filtration system comprises a non-thermal plasma generator that periodically, or continuously, oxidizes carbon deposited, or trapped, within a carbon filter disposed downstream of the non-thermal plasma generator.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for cleaning exhaust of an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine has a catalyst and a lambda probe disposed in an exhaust gas tract. The lambda probe is disposed upstream from the catalyst, and is capable of an output &lgr;o substantially close to lambda=1. The present invention includes determining a relationship between a downstream NOx concentration and a lambda value such that a lambda value substantially greater than 1 indicates a substantially greatly increased NOx concentration, and determining a relationship between a downstream NH3 concentration and a lambda value such that a lambda value substantially less than 1 indicates a substantially greatly increased NH3 concentration.

Abstract: A method of conditioning an automotive catalyst by (a) electrolyzing water on-board the vehicle to derive and store separate quantities of hydrogen and oxygen at pressures in the range of 50-100 psi; (b) immediately upon initiation of engine starting, rapidly transferring stoichiometric proportions of the separated and stored hydrogen and oxygen to a front face location of a catalyst substrate to heat the catalyst substrate by spontaneous catalytic recombination of the hydrogen and oxygen and thereby raise the temperature of the catalyst substrate rapidly to a temperature at which certain emissions can be catalytically converted; (c) complete cranking of the engine to admit emissions laden with CO and HC to the catalyst substrate while continuing to transfer stoichiometric proportions of the hydrogen and oxygen to said front face location for raising the substrate temperature to about 300° C.

Abstract: Process and device for operating an internal combustion engine with less pollutant emission, whose exhaust gas is subjected to an electrical aftertreatment during engine operation to convert pollutants, the emissions of which are measured. To improve a process with the features mentioned initially, so that on the one hand the desired reduction of emissions of the internal combustion engine is achieved during its entire time of operation, but on the other hand so that the design of the electrical system of the internal combustion engine does not have to be unreasonably large and thus costly, the electrical aftertreatment of the exhaust gas occurs only during the portion of the operating time during which emission peaks occur.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing pollutants in the exhaust gases produced from the combustion of a fuel by introducing hydroxyl and associated radicals and oxidizers into at least one of the precombustion and postcombustion gas stream of the combustion engine upstream of the catalytic converter and treating the exhaust gases with the catalytic converter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for improving the conversion efficiency of a catalytic converter for treating exhaust gases produced from the combustion of a fuel to at least reduce pollutants from incomplete combustion, wherein the reduction in pollutants is achieved by the introduction of ozone, upstream from the catalytic converter, to improve the efficiency of the catalytic converter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for improving the conversion efficiency of a catalytic converter for treating exhaust gases produced from the combustion of a fuel to at least reduce pollutants from incomplete combustion, wherein the reduction in pollutants is achieved by the introduction of ozone, upstream from the catalytic converter, to improve the efficiency of the catalytic converter.

Abstract: To clean the exhaust gas of internal-combustion engines or other machines which are operated with fossil fuel, it is proposed to firstly pretreat the exhaust gas in a non-thermal normal-pressure gas discharge and subsequently allow a selective catalytic reduction of oxidic noxious substances to take place with the addition of a suitable reduction substance, or to allow a selective catalytic decomposition to take place. The device for removing the oxidic noxious substances is characterized by a series circuit of at least one module with a gas discharge section and at least one module with a catalytic-converter section, and is suitable in particular for use in a diesel engine.

Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator has a high voltage electrode including multiple wire segments that are positioned within a surrounding electrically conductive porous media having a central axis and wherein the electrode assembly extends along the central axis. The electrode assembly has a plurality of wire lengths positioned to extend in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the porous media, and the wire segments being arranged to have a substantially longer total length than the length of extension along the longitudinal axis. An aerosol containing droplets is passed into the interior of the porous media, and across the electrode, which is charged with a high voltage. The porous media is at a substantially lower or different voltage from the high voltage electrodes. Flow of the aerosol containing particles charged by the electrode passes through the porous media to the outlet and the charged particles are precipitated by the porous media.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating exhaust gas produced from the combustion of fuels is disclosed. Pollutants such as unburnt hydrocarbons, carbon monoxides, oxides of nitrogen and oxides of sulfur are oxidized by ozone in an ozone contractor, and then resolved by water vapor in a muffler, so that they can be reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed is a quick-heating catalytic converter which allows the reduction of the unwanted emissions or pollutants created by the operation of an internal combustion engine. It comprises a catalytic converter system and an electronic heating catalytic system. In the catalytic converter system, the exhaust created by the operation of an internal combustion engine is oxidized or reduced to harmless emissions in the presence of a catalyst. The electronic heating catalytic converter system is located at a front position of the catalytic converter system and preheats the exhaust, comprising a power inverter circuit for inverting a direct current into an alternating current, a temperature-controlling circuit for controlling the temperature of the catalytic converter system, and a quick microwave heating circuit for quickly increasing the temperature of the catalytic converter within a few seconds to such an extent that the catalyst can readily function to purify the exhaust.

Abstract: A highly reactive reducing gas mixture is produced from vehicle fuel and introduced into the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine operated at lean burn conditions and passed over a reducing catalyst to convert NOX emissions to benign emissions. Preferably, fuel with oxygen present in a carrier gas is metered into a plasma reactor having a bed of dielectric particles which prevent formation of coke as the fuel is reacted. The plasma induces a number of simultaneous reactions with the fuel to produce a substantial amount of oxygenated and non-oxygenated, unbranched organic molecules at relatively low temperatures that are highly reactive and ideally suited for use as a reducing agent in an SCR catalyst.

Abstract: A process of operating a nitrogen oxides storage catalyst of an exhaust gas treatment system is described. The process relates to the cycling of the normalized air/fuel ratio &lgr;-value of the exhaust gas exiting the engine, in which a lambda value greater than 1 represents oxygen-rich, lean burn conditions in which a sorption phase for the sorption of nitrogen oxides takes place; and in which a lambda value less than 1 represents oxygen-poor, rich burn conditions in which a desorption and conversion phase for the desorption and conversion of nitrogen oxides takes place. The &lgr;-value of the exhaust gas downstream from the storage catalyst is monitored during the desorption and conversion phase to determine the end of the desorption and conversion phase based on the &lgr;-value falling below a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A single mode resonant cavity is adapted to absorb energy via a single excitation mode in a plurality of overlapping absorption bands having different respective resonant frequencies, thereby increasing the resonant bandwidth of the cavity. The high Q-factor cavity may form part of a microwave powered catalytic converter for exhaust gas, and has the advantage that as the cavity warms up and physically expands the coupling efficiency between the cavity and a relatively narrow waveband microwave source remains good.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating an exhaust gas stream from cold startup through continuous operating conditions of an internal combustion engine includes an oxidizing catalyst bed disposed in an exhaust pipe and a reducing catalyst bed disposed in the exhaust pipe downstream from the oxidizing catalyst bed. The oxidizing catalyst bed has one or more oxidizing catalysts and the reducing catalyst bed has one or more reducing catalysts. A method is provided for treating an exhaust gas stream both during cold start and during continuous operating conditions of an internal combustion engine by passing the stream through an oxidizing catalyst bed having one or more oxidizing catalysts at a light off temperature; a reducing catalyst bed having one or more reducing catalysts and providing hydrogen into the reducing catalyst bed to condition the reducing catalyst; and introducing hydrogen into the internal combustion engine during cold startup.

Abstract: In particular for exhaust-gas purification, different processes have been proposed. According to the invention, the polluted exhaust gas flows through a reactor volume to which non-thermal gas discharges are applied, while being brought into contact with a solid reducing agent at least once, and preferably several times. The reducing agent can, in particular, consist of carbon fibers. A suitable device for combining dielectric barrier discharges with the reduction has means for field enhancement substantially periodically spaced in the reactor.

Abstract: An improved anti-coking air injection reaction system in which individual air passages in the engine cylinder head are provided with electrical resistance heating elements that are periodically activated to develop radiant energy that bums off coke deposits formed on the passage side-walls. The heating elements are conveniently implemented with conventional glow plugs. A controller monitors engine operating parameters to identify conditions likely to result in the formation of coke deposits, and schedules activation of the heating elements in relation to the frequency of the identified conditions or the cumulative time of engine operation. The heating elements may be activated sequentially or in banks to reduce electrical loading, and the activation is preferably scheduled during non-critical operating conditions defined by specified ranges of coolant temperature and engine speed and/or load.

Abstract: The device presents an ionization cell (14, 114) housed inside a casing (13, 113) fitted inside the exhaust conduit (6, 106) of the engine (5, 105); and the cell (14, 114) presents at least one circularly symmetrical cathode (23, 64) supplied by an electronic circuit to generate a discharge of negative ions at such a speed as to break the peripheral electron bonds of the toxic or pollutant component molecules of the exhaust gas. In an embodiment for spark-ignition combustion engines (5), the casing (13) presents two coaxial fittings (21, 22), each surrounded by a metal sponge filter (33) for storing the heat of the gas. In a further embodiment for diesel engines (105), the casing (113) presents an inverting chamber (47) for inverting the gas flow and located upstream from the ionization cell (114); and the gas is heated in the inverting chamber (47) by resistors (61) supplied by the battery.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for enhancing the rate of a chemical reaction in a gas stream. The apparatus includes at least one heterogeneous catalyst having an upstream end and a downstream end, and at least one surface having a plurality of catalytically active sites on the surface, where the catalyst is positioned so that at least a portion of the gas stream contacts at least a portion of the catalytically active sites on the surface. At least one device for producing radicals or other active species from at least one of water vapor or other gaseous species, such as a corona discharge device or a UV light source is used to produce radicals or other active species, which are introduced into the gas stream at a position upstream of the downstream end of the catalyst.

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.