Thermatrix, Inc.

John D Young

Richard J Martin

John D Stilger

Mark R Holst

Bradley L Edgar

Michael P Barkdoll

A method and system for reducing pollutant concentration within an internal combustion engine exhaust stream is disclosed. Soot and products of incomplete combustion in the engine exhaust stream are destroyed by oxidizing them in a flameless thermal oxidizer that contains a matrix of heat-resistant media. Methods and systems for increasing particle residence time within the thermal oxidizer are also disclosed. These techniques include employing electrostatic precipitation, centrifugal force, and particle impaction sections. A method and system for reducing oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions is also disclosed. Low NOx concentration may be obtained by adding a SCR system after a thermal oxidizer, by tuning the engine to produce low NOx/high soot and destroying the soot in a thermal oxidizer, and by injecting a reductant into the thermal oxidizer. The flameless thermal oxidizer may be located between the engine and a turbo-charger to enhance thermal efficiency and to reduce turbo-charger wear. The thermal oxidizer comprises longitudinal and radial flow systems, which each may include a reaction wave of the following shapes: planar, cylindrical, Bunsen, Burke-Schumann, and an inverted V. An engineered matrix is disclosed to manipulate the shape of the reaction zone.

Method of reducing internal combustion engine emissions, and system for same

A matrix bed is disclosed in which a non-planar reaction wave front is formed during operation. This is accomplished by heating the matrix bed, containing heat-resistant material, until at least a reaction portion of the matrix bed is above the temperature required for a plurality of reactant gas streams to react. Next, the reactant gas streams are directed through the matrix bed in a manner so as to form at least a Bunsen, Burke-Schumann, inverted-V, or some other type of non-planar reaction wave front at the portion of the matrix bed that is heated above the reactant gas streams reaction temperature. At the non-planar reaction wave front, the reactant gas streams react to produce a reaction product gas stream that is then exhausted from the matrix bed.

Matrix bed for generating non-planar reaction wave fronts, and method thereof

A process is provided for preparing oxymorphone from morphine by: (1) reacting morphine with (1a) an acyl halide or anhydride to form 3-acylmorphine, or (1b) reacting morphine with benzyl-halide to form 3-benzylmorphine; (2) Oxidizing the 6-hydroxy group of the 3-acyl or 3-benzylmorphine so as to form the corresponding 3-acyl or 3-benzylmorphinone; and thereafter either by (3a) or (3b): (3a) introducing a .beta.-oriented hydroxy group at the 14-position of the 3-acyl- or 3-benzyl-morphinone with aqueous hydrogen peroxide and an acid at a temperature of about 15.degree. to about 70.degree. C. to form the 3-acyl or 3-benzyl-14-hydroxymorphinone; (3b) acylating the 3-acyl or 3-benzyl-morphinone with an acylating agent so as to form the dienol acylate followed by oxidizing the dienol acetate to the corresponding 3-acyl or 3-benzyl-14 -hydroxymorphinone; (4) hydrogenating the 3-acyl-14-hydroxymorphinone with a catalyst so as to form the 3-acyloxymorphone; (5) hydrolyzing the 3-acyl-oxymorphone with aqueous acidic or basic solution to form oxymorphone; (6) hydrogenating the 3-benzyl-14-hydroxymorphinone with a catalyst so as to form oxymorphone.

Method of reducing internal combustion engine emissions, and system for

Matrix bed for generating non-planar reaction wave fronts, and method

Processes for the production of hydrogen cyanide from the reaction of methane with ammonia at temperatures above about 800.degree. C. where the reactor contains a matrix bed of heat resistant materials. The product stream produced within the reactor is preferably routed in a countercurrent fashion to the feed stream entering the reactor to preheat the feed stream and to lower the exit temperature of the product stream. Reactors capable of being used to practice such processes are also provided by the invention.

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Falkirk, United Kingdom

John D Young