초록 ▼

An apparatus for converting at least one nitrogen oxide, such as NO, NO2,or N2O converts oxide in the presence of a catalyst supported on a metal mesh-like structure. The mesh-like structure is preferably fibrous formed of metal or ceramic fibers which may include knitted wire, sintered metal fibers

An apparatus for converting at least one nitrogen oxide, such as NO, NO2,or N2O converts oxide in the presence of a catalyst supported on a metal mesh-like structure. The mesh-like structure is preferably fibrous formed of metal or ceramic fibers which may include knitted wire, sintered metal fibers and so on and has a porosity greater than about 85%. The mesh is formed into channels, preferably corrugations, and includes vortex generators, which generate turbulence to create a pressure differential across the mesh, to promote flow of fluids through the mesh pores which normally do not exhibit flow therethrough in the absence of such pressure differential. Preferred embodiments of structured packing and monoliths are disclosed each having a catalyst preferably in the mesh pores and/or coated on the fibers for converting the nitrogen oxide. In one embodiment, corrugated mesh-like sheets are arranged in series with a ceramic solid monolith structure with the corrugated sheets initially receiving the fluid with the at least one nitrogen oxide to be converted and which fluid then flows into the monolith structure to complete the conversion. In other embodiments, the mesh-like structure may have different configurations including a honeycomb arrangement and may include metal, metal and ceramic or ceramic and may be fibrous.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for removing at least one nitrogen oxide from a fluid, comprising: a mesh structure of a porous material having internal pores and opposing sides, the average pore size of the material being sufficiently small that normally fluid flow is not exhibited through the porous material i

1. An apparatus for removing at least one nitrogen oxide from a fluid, comprising: a mesh structure of a porous material having internal pores and opposing sides, the average pore size of the material being sufficiently small that normally fluid flow is not exhibited through the porous material in the presence of negligible pressure differential thereacross on opposite surfaces, said mesh structure having a porosity of greater than 85%, the opposing sides forming channels, each channel having a fluid receiving inlet and a fluid outlet, the received fluid for flowing through the channels along the surfaces of the material to and through said outlets from the respective inlet, the pores being in fluid communication with each other and with the channels externally the material at each said side, said material including turbulence generator means which is one piece with said material for creating a pressure differential across the opposing sides in said flowing fluids, said pressure differential for causing the flowing fluids to flow through the pores transversely through the material from one side to the other side of the material to promote contact between the fluids flowing on the opposite sides of the material and to promote contact with the material in the pores over essentially the entire surface of the material; and a nitrogen oxide conversion catalyst supported on the material on the opposing surfaces and in said pores for reacting with said fluids as the received fluids flow through the channels and through the pores from one side to the opposite side of the material over essentially the entire surface of the material. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 including a series arrangement of said mesh structure and a monolith honeycomb structure. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the mesh structure and monolith structure are arranged so that fluid initially flows into the mesh structure and then into the monolith structure. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mesh structure is corrugated. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mesh structure comprises adjacent corrugated sheets, each sheet with parallel corrugations, the corrugations of adjacent sheets at 90° relative to each other and at an angle α in the range of about 45° to about 70° to the given direction. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mesh structure is fibrous and made of one of metal fibers, ceramic fibers, and metal/ceramic fibers. 7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the monolith structure is made of one of solid ceramic material, metal fibers, ceramic fibers, and metal/ceramic fibers.