Process and an apparatus for treating an exhaust gas, and a honeycomb structural exhaust gas filter

An exhaust gas-treating process comprising the steps of:

• (1) capturing particulates contained in an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine by passing the exhaust gas along an exhaust line and through a primary honeycomb filter provided in the exhaust line;
• (2) stopping flow of the exhaust gas through the primary filter and transferring the captured particulates to a secondary honeycomb filter positioned remote from and outside the exhaust line by flowing the particulates captured by the primary filter in a direction reverse to a flow direction of the exhaust gas;
• (3) introducing a backwash gas flow into the secondary filter to remove the captured particulates in the secondary filter and to transfer the captured particulates to a heater spaced apart from the secondary filter;
• and
• (4) operating the heater to burn the particulates and discharging burnt matter.

An exhaust gas-treating process comprising the steps of:

• (1) providing an exhaust gas honeycomb filter having a honeycomb structural body which includes an outer peripheral wall and inner walls forming a number of gas flow holes through which an exhaust gas passes along a flow direction;
• first sealed portions sealing exhaust gas-downstream ends of the gas flow holes that are located in given first rows;
• second sealed portions sealing exhaust gas-upstream ends of the remaining gas flow holes that are located in remaining second rows;
• and gas stream-introducing channels each provided near and upstream of said first sealed portions, wherein said gas stream-introducing channels penetrate the outer peripheral wall of the honeycomb structural body and extend through inner walls along the first rows;
• (2) capturing particulates contained in an exhaust gas by passing the exhaust gas along an exhaust line and through the honeycomb filter provided in the exhaust line;
• (3) stopping flow of the exhaust gas through the filter and transferring the captured particulates to a location remote from and outside the exhaust line by introducing a gas through the gas stream-introducing channels and flowing the introduced gas in a direction reverse to the flow direction of the exhaust gas;
• and
• (4) burning the particulates and discharging burnt matter.

An exhaust gas-treating process comprising the steps of:

• (1) capturing particulates contained in an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine by flowing the exhaust gas along an exhaust line and through a primary honeycomb filter provided in the exhaust gas line;
• (2) removing the captured particulates from the primary filter and regenerating the primary filter by flowing air through the primary filter in a direction reverse to a flow direction of the exhaust gas;
• (3) transferring the captured particulates to a secondary honeycomb filter remote from and outside an exhaust line by flow of said air;
• (4) introducing a backwash gas flow into the secondary filter to remove the captured particulates in the secondary filter and to transfer the captured particulates to a heater spaced apart from the secondary filter;
• and
• (5) operating the heater to burn the particulates and discharging burnt matter.

An exhaust gas-treating process comprising the steps of:

• (1) providing an exhaust gas honeycomb filter having a honeycomb structural body which includes an outer peripheral wall and inner walls forming a number of gas flow holes through which an exhaust gas passes along a flow direction;
• first sealed portions sealing exhaust gas-downstream ends of the gas flow holes that are located in given first rows;
• second sealed portions sealing exhaust gas-upstream ends of the remaining gas flow holes that are located in remaining second rows;
• and gas stream-introducing channels each provided near and upstream of said first sealed portions, wherein said gas stream-introducing channels penetrate the outer peripheral wall of the honeycomb structural body and extend through inner walls along the first rows;
• (2) capturing particulates contained in an exhaust gas by flowing the exhaust gas along an exhaust gas line and through said honeycomb filter provided in the exhaust gas line;
• (3) removing the captured particulates from the filter and regenerating the filter by flowing air into the gas stream-introducing channels and through the filter in a direction reverse to the flow direction of the exhaust gas;
• (4) transferring the captured particulates to a location remote from and outside the exhaust line by flow of said air;
• and
• (5) burning the particulates at said remote location and discharging burnt matter.

An exhaust gas-treating apparatus for capturing and disposing of fine particulates discharged from an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a primary honeycomb filter provided in a main exhaust line, for capturing particulates in an exhaust gas flowing therethrough;
• an auxiliary line interconnecting the primary honeycomb filter to a secondary honeycomb filter;
• a valve structure for selectively opening and closing the main exhaust line and the auxiliary line to the primary honeycomb filter;
• a primary air feeder for flowing air to the primary honeycomb filter opposite an exhaust gas flow direction, to blow the captured particulates to the secondary honeycomb filter through the auxiliary line;
• a secondary air feeder for introducing a backwash air flow to the secondary honeycomb filter;
• and
• a vessel including a heater to receive backwashed particulates from the secondary honeycomb filter, said heater being adapted to burn the backwashed particulates.

An exhaust gas-treating apparatus for capturing and disposing of fine particulates discharged from an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a primary filter provided in an exhaust gas line, for capturing particulates in an exhaust gas flowing therethrough, said primary filter comprising a honeycomb structural body having an outer peripheral wall and inner walls forming a number of gas flow holes through which an exhaust gas passes along a flow direction;
• first sealed portions sealing exhaust gas-downstream ends of the gas flow holes that are located in given first rows;
• second sealed portions sealing exhaust gas-upstream ends of the remaining gas flow holes that are located in remaining second rows;
• and gas stream-introducing channels each provided near and upstream of said first sealed portions, wherein said gas stream-introducing channels penetrate the outer peripheral wall of the honeycomb structural body and extend through inner walls along the first rows;
• an auxiliary line interconnecting the primary filter to a burning unit;
• a valve structure for selectively opening and closing the main exhaust gas line and the auxiliary line to the primary filter;
• and
• a primary air feeder for flowing air through the exhaust gas channels and opposite an exhaust gas flow direction, to blow the captured particulates to the burning unit through the auxiliary line.