High-efficiency catalytic converters for treating exhaust gases

A system for reducing emissions from a flow of exhaust gases and recovering energy from the flow of exhaust gases, the system comprising:

• a catalytic converter including:
• a reaction chamber having a catalytic element, wherein at least a portion of the flow of exhaust gases flows through the reaction chamber;
• a heating enclosure through which a heated flow passes, the heating enclosure positioned adjacent to the reaction chamber;
• and
• a coolant channel extending adjacent to the heating enclosure, the coolant channel configured to receive and heat a fluid;
• and
• a secondary system operably coupled to the coolant channel, wherein the secondary system is configured to receive the heated fluid and utilize at least a portion of the energy stored in the heated fluid.

A method for recovering energy from a catalytic converter, the method comprising:

• directing a flow of exhaust gases through a reaction chamber in the catalytic converter;
• directing a fluid through a coolant channel extending through the catalytic converter to transfer energy from the exhaust gases to the fluid;
• and
• directing the fluid to a secondary system to at least partially recover the energy.

A method for treating exhaust gases and recovering energy from exhaust gases, the method comprising:

• passing a flow of exhaust gases through a catalytic core in a reaction chamber;
• passing a fluid through a coolant channel to increase the energy content of the fluid via heat from the exhaust gases;
• and
• directing the fluid to a secondary system to utilize the energy content of the fluid.