초록 ▼

Apparatus for controlling particulate emissions from a combustion apparatus, such as a diesel engine. Diesel engine exhaust particles are electrically charged during the formation of the particles in the engine combustion chambers. A particle collector is used to collect the electrically charged par

Apparatus for controlling particulate emissions from a combustion apparatus, such as a diesel engine. Diesel engine exhaust particles are electrically charged during the formation of the particles in the engine combustion chambers. A particle collector is used to collect the electrically charged particles on collecting structures connected to a high voltage power supply and ground. The collecting structures of the particle collector can be a plurality of parallel metal plates, spaced cylindrical rods, or concentrically located cylindrical members. A fibrous matrix can be located adjacent the particle collecting structure to collect the charged particles as they move through the matrix. In one embodiment, the collected particles separate from the collecting structures and return to the engine intake. In another embodiment, a removable collecting cartridge has electrically conductive plates for collecting the charged particles. The entire cartridge is removed for cleaning or replacement. The hot exhaust gas from the engine can be used to oxidize the collected particles. The collected particles that are not oxidized can be separated from the collecting structures and re-entrained into the gas. The re-entrained particles are larger than the particles formed in the combustion apparatus. The large particles can be removed by a downstream particle collection device.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for reducing the amount of particles discharged into the atmosphere comprising: first means having at least one combustion chamber for receiving hydrocarbon fuel and air and accommodating combustion of the fuel and air, said combustion imparting electrical charges on at least some of th

An apparatus for reducing the amount of particles discharged into the atmosphere comprising: first means having at least one combustion chamber for receiving hydrocarbon fuel and air and accommodating combustion of the fuel and air, said combustion imparting electrical charges on at least some of the particles formed during the combustion of the fuel and air, during said imparting of electrical charges on the particles a substantially equal number of particles are positively charged and negatively charged whereby the particles as a whole are a substantially electrical neutral mass of particles, particle collecting means for collecting at least some of the charged particles, second means for directing the charged particles from the combustion chamber directly to the particle collecting means without subjecting the charged particles to a charging step with an intermediate particle charging means whereby the electrical charges on the particles remains substantially the same, and means associated with the particle collecting means to establish an electric field whereby at least some of the charged particles moving into the electric field are collected on the collecting means.