Exhaust temperature control
OwnerWilliam C. Pfefferle, Dyland H. Hixoninventors
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Abstract
An emissions control system for rich-burn internal combustion engines, said control system comprising: a. a reaction chamber for oxidation of exhaust gas fuel values, b. passive means to utilize reaction chamber effluent flow energy to mix cooling air into reaction chamber effluent to lower the temperature of said effluent. c. flame arrestor means to prevent ignition of flammable fuel-air mixtures external to the engine.
Claims14
An emissions control system for minimizing hazards associated with the heat generated in exhaust from a rich burn internal combustion engine, said control system comprising:
- a. a reaction chamber for oxidation of exhaust gas fuel values, connected to the engine to receive a flow of the exhaust gas;
- b. first passive means to utilize the exhaust flow energy from the engine as the only means for induction of reactive air into the engine exhaust gas,
- c. duct means for transfer of said exhaust gas together with said inducted air into said reaction chamber;
- d. duct means to transfer effluent gases from the reaction chamber;
- e. second passive means to utilize the reaction chamber effluent flow energy to mix cooling air into reaction chamber effluent to lower the temperature of said effluent by at least 200 degrees Kelvin;
- and
- f. flame arrestor means on the first and second passive means to prevent ignition of flammable fuel-air mixtures external to the engine.
The method of controlling carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions from rich burn internal combustion engines comprising the steps of:
- a. passing the exhaust gas through a first nozzle to provide a first gas jet,
- b. passing said first gas jet into the open end of a first flow duct having a flame arrestor thereon thereby inducting air through a flame arrestor into said duct with said exhaust gas to provide an admixture for reaction,
- c. reacting the carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, water and heat,
- d. passing the resulting heated reaction product gases through a second nozzle to provide a second gas jet, and
- e. passing said second gas jet into a second flow duct having a flame arrestor mounted thereon thereby inducting cooling air through the flame arrestor into admixture with said hot product gases.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.