Emission control system for generator engine

A system for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions, and comprising:

• (a) a treatment chamber having an intake opening and an exhaust opening at opposing lateral ends of said chamber, said intake opening for receiving a stream of gaseous emissions from an engine, said exhaust opening for exiting the stream from said chamber;
• (b) a supplemental air source connected to said treatment chamber for supplying air for diluting the stream of gaseous emissions within said treatment chamber;
• (c) a conductor having a predetermined high electric potential disposed within said treatment chamber;
• (d) an electrode disposed in spaced apart relation to said conductor and having an opposite high electric potential so that, upon applying a voltage to said electrode, an arc is generated across the space between said electrode and said conductor;
• and
• (e) means for generating said arc from said electrode to said metal tube at a predetermined frequency to promote a chemical reaction reducing the concentration of pollutants in said stream within said treatment chamber, said arc generating means comprising a voltage source operatively connected to said electrode and a pulsing mechanism operatively configured with said voltage source causing the voltage supplied to said electrode to be pulsed at the predetermined frequency.

A method for reducing pollutants in the gaseous emissions of a marine electric generator engine comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a treatment chamber having an intake opening and an exhaust opening at opposing lateral ends of said chamber, a metal tube disposed within said treatment chamber containing an electrode disposed in spaced apart relation to said metal tube and having an opposite high electric potential so that, upon applying a voltage to said electrode, an arc is generated across the space between said electrode and said metal tube, and a porous chemical substrate disposed within said treatment chamber downstream from said metal tube;
• (b) connecting said intake opening to said exhaust system of said marine electric generator engine so that a stream of gaseous emissions passes from said exhaust system through said intake opening into said treatment chamber;
• (c) supplying a supplemental stream of air to said treatment chamber for diluting said stream of gaseous emissions within said treatment chamber;
• and
• (d) supplying a voltage pulsed at a predetermined frequency to said electrode to generate an arc from said electrode to said metal tube at said predetermined frequency to promote a chemical reaction with the stream of gaseous emissions as the stream passes proximate said metal tube said chemical reaction reducing the concentration of pollutants in the stream.

A method for reducing pollutants in the gaseous emissions of a marine electric generator engine comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a device comprising:
• (i) a treatment chamber having an intake opening and an exhaust opening at opposing lateral ends of said treatment chamber, said intake opening mateable to an exhaust system of said marine electric generator,
• (ii) a metal tube disposed within said treatment chamber containing an electrode disposed in spaced apart relation to said metal tube and having an opposite high electric potential so that, upon applying a voltage to said electrode, an arc is generated across the space between said electrode and said metal tube,
• (iii) a porous chemical substrate disposed within said treatment chamber downstream from said metal tube, and
• (iv) a manifold having first and second openings at opposing lateral ends of said manifold, said manifold further including an inlet port for receiving a flow of water and an outlet port for exiting the flow of water, at least a portion of said treatment chamber being contained within said manifold, said treatment chamber positioned such that said intake opening is linearly aligned with said first opening and said exhaust opening is linearly aligned with said second opening, said treatment chamber and said manifold defining a space therebetween wherein the flow of water cools said treatment chamber;
• (b) connecting said intake opening to said exhaust system of said marine electric generator engine so that a stream of gaseous emissions passes from said exhaust system through said intake opening into said treatment chamber;
• (c) supplying a supplemental stream of air to said treatment chamber for diluting the stream of gaseous emissions within said treatment chamber;
• (d) supplying a voltage pulsed at a predetermined frequency to said electrode to generate an arc from said electrode to said metal tube at said predetermined frequency to promote a chemical reaction with the stream of gaseous emissions as the stream passes proximate said metal tube, said chemical reaction reducing the concentration of pollutants in the stream;
• and
• (e) connecting a water source to said inlet port and supplying the flow of water into said manifold through said inlet port for cooling said treatment chamber.