Low temperature destruction of toxics in pollutant air streams
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
InventorsJames H. Abbott, Dennis C. Drehmel, Geddes H. Ramsey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Low temperature apparatus for the destruction of low volume time varying organic air toxins in air streams utilizing non-catalytic glass beads in parallel conduits heated by hot gas flow around the conduits and flowing the air stream through the conduits and controlling the hot gas flow in response to toxin levels in the air stream.
Claims14
Low temperature apparatus for the destruction of variable levels including low levels of organic air toxins in a polluted air stream and suitable for cyclical operation comprising:
- a reactor including at least one bed containing a plurality of contiguous metal members members selected from the group consisting of the transitional metals of the fourth period of the periodic table and stainless steel;
- means to direct said polluted air stream through said at least one bed;
- means separated from said at least one bed to indirectly heat said at least one bed in response to the presence of said organic air toxins;
- said polluted air stream reacting with said heated contiguous members to remove said air toxins from said air stream to provide a cleaned air stream;
- and
- a passageway connecting said reactor to the surrounding atmosphere to pass said cleaned air stream to the atmosphere.
A low power low temperature apparatus for the destruction of variable low levels of air toxins in a polluted air stream comprising:
- a reactor including at least one bed packed with at least one metal member selected from the group consisting of transitional metals of the fourth period of the periodic table and stainless steel;
- means to pass said polluted air stream through said packed bed;
- a sensor in said air stream to sense the level of toxins in said air stream;
- means to indirectly heat said polluted air stream in response to levels of air toxins which exceed a preselected level without adding to the volume of said air stream;
- said air stream reacting with said heated packed bed to remove said air toxins from said air stream to provide a clean air stream;
- and
- a passageway connecting said clean air stream to the outside of said reactor.
A low power low temperature apparatus for the destruction of variable air toxins in a polluted air stream comprising:
- a reactor including at least one bed packed with metal members selected from the transitional metals of the fourth period of the periodic table and stainless steel;
- means to pass said polluted air stream through said packed bed;
- means to heat said polluted air stream in response to levels of air toxins which exceed a preselected level;
- said air stream reacting with said heated packed bed to remove said air toxins from said air stream to provide a clean air stream;
- a passageway connecting said clean air stream to the outside of said reactor;
- wherein said means to heat said apparatus includes a heated gas stream surrounding but separated from said packed bed and means to conduct at least some of said heated gas stream after passing by said packed bed to a preheater which preheats said polluted air stream before said polluted air stream passes through said reactor;
- and
- including a sensor to detect the level of air toxins in said polluted air stream and means to generate a control signal to energize said means to heat said polluted air stream to a predetermined temperature in excess of approximately 800.degree. Fahrenheit in response to those levels of pollutants which exceed a predetermined level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.