Electrically heated catalytic converter
AssigneeForschungszentrum Julich GmbH
InventorsJURGEN DORNSEIFFER, HELMUT HACKFORT
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an electrically heated catalytic converter including a heater consisting of a structure having an open porosity so as to permit fluid to flow therethrough, a heterogeneous catalyst is disposed within the heater structure. The heater structure, which includes the catalyst, is capable of accommodating sufficient electrical energy to provide the activation energy required for a particular catalytic reaction to be performed by the catalytic converter.
Claims10
An electrically heated catalytic converter comprising a heater consisting of a structure having an open porosity so as to permit fluid to flow therethrough, a heterogeneous catalyst disposed within said structure so as to be heated therein, and means for supplying sufficient electrical energy to said structure to satisfy the activation energy for a particular catalytic reaction to be performed by said catalytic converter.
A method of operating a catalytic converter including a heterogeneous catalyst, comprising the steps of:
- providing a heater having a structure with an open porosity forming passages in which said heterogeneous catalyst is disposed,
- catalyzing a chemical reaction utilizing said catalyst, and
- supplying an activation energy as required to catalyze said chemical reaction to said heater such that only a catalytic reaction, but no combustion takes place.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.