Litex, Inc.

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Robert P Caren

Jack A Ekchian

Robert N Miller

Leon Ekchian

David Christeller

John Pietrasik

Gregory J Roth

Jeff Taus

Mike Tyle

Tony Dekelaita

Josef Yampolsky

Ray Hallenbeck

Victor J Nowak

A method and apparatus are provided for reducing pollutants in the exhaust gases produced from the combustion of a fuel by introducing hydroxyl and associated radicals and oxidizers into at least one of the precombustion and postcombustion gas stream of the combustion engine upstream of the catalytic converter and treating the exhaust gases with the catalytic converter.

Method and apparatus for using hydroxyl to reduce pollutants in the exhaust gases from the combustion of a fuel

An apparatus and a method for enhancing the rate of a chemical reaction in a gas stream. The apparatus includes at least one heterogeneous catalyst having an upstream end and a downstream end, and at least one surface having a plurality of catalytically active sites on the surface, where the catalyst is positioned so that at least a portion of the gas stream contacts at least a portion of the catalytically active sites on the surface. At least one device for producing radicals or other active species from at least one of water vapor or other gaseous species, such as a corona discharge device or a UV light source is used to produce radicals or other active species, which are introduced into the gas stream at a position upstream of the downstream end of the catalyst. The radicals or other active species are introduced in an amount sufficient to reduce or eliminate poisoning of the catalyst by catalyst poisons, such as sulfur, sulfur containing compounds, phosphorous, phosphorous containing compounds, and carbon.

Method and apparatus for enhancing the rate and efficiency of gas phase reactions

The invention is directed to an apparatus and a method for the reduction of pollutants in the exhaust stream of a combustion engine. Radicals are produced using a corona discharge in the combustion gas stream of the engine, either in the precombustion gas stream or from water in the exhaust gas. When the radicals are produced from the exhaust gas stream, the radicals may be produced using a corona discharge placed directly in the exhaust stream leading to the catalytic convertor, or a portion of the exhaust stream may be diverted to a remote corona discharge radical generator. The corona discharge in the generator produces radicals in the diverted exhaust gas, and the exhaust gas containing radicals is then conveyed to the exhaust gas stream at a point upstream of the catalytic convertor.

Method and apparatus for using free radicals to reduce pollutants in the exhaust gases from the combustion of a fuel

The invention is directed to an apparatus and a method for the reduction of pollutants in a gas stream containing gas formed from the oxidation of fuel, such as, in the exhaust stream of a combustion engine. Radicals are produced using a corona discharge in the combustion gas stream of the engine, either in the precombustion gas stream or from water in the exhaust gas. When the radicals are produced from the exhaust gas stream, the radicals may be produced using a corona discharge placed directly in the exhaust stream leading to or within the catalytic converter, or a portion of the exhaust stream may be diverted to a remote corona discharge radical generator. The corona discharge in the generator produces radicals in the diverted exhaust gas, and the exhaust gas containing radicals is then conveyed to the exhaust gas stream at a point upstream of the outlet of the catalytic converter.

A method and apparatus are provided for improving the conversion efficiency of a catalytic converter for treating exhaust gases produced from the combustion of a fuel to at least reduce pollutants from incomplete combustion, wherein the reduction in pollutants is achieved by the introduction of ozone, upstream from the catalytic converter, to improve the efficiency of the catalytic converter.

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Westlake Village, CA, United States of America

Robert P Caren