Energy self-sustainable reactor for gasifying engine particulates and unburned hydrocarbons

A reactor for the oxidation and combustion of carbon soot particles, unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and for the dissociation of nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides in engine exhaust containing oxygen from an engine with an engine block, said reactor comprising:

• a metal casing;
• said metal casing containing:
• a reaction zone where exothermal oxidation and combustion of engine exhaust and formation of decomposition products occurs, the oxidation and combustion being sustained by heat of the exhaust and heat released in exothermal oxidation and combustion of the exhaust;
• means that introduce water in the liquid or gaseous phase into the reaction zone in a form promoting mixing of the water with the engine exhaust, the water reacting with the engine exhaust in the reaction zone through gasification, regasification, and water shift reactions, and additionally through methanation or hydrocracking, or both.
• an inlet pipe that introduces engine exhaust into the reaction zone;
• a porous heat-retaining zone defining laterally the reaction zone, the porous heat-retaining zone allowing passage of engine exhaust and decomposition products;
• an impervious insulating plate bordering the reaction zone opposite to the inlet pipe;
• porous heat-retaining cells in the reaction zone adjacent to said impervious insulating plate for deposit and combustion of soot particles, the porous heat-retaining cell occupying only part of the reaction zone, impinging heat transfer occurring where the soot particles are deposited;
• insulating means adjacent to and external to the porous heat-retaining zone for minimizing energy losses from the porous heat-retaining zone;
• a metal net mesh adjacent to the impervious insulating plate, the porous heat-retaining zone, and the insulating means, that allows passage of engine exhaust and decomposition products;
• the metal casing being penetrated by the inlet pipe and a metal outlet pipe, and the metal casing being shaped to allow space between the metal net mesh and the metal outlet pipe.