The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 11, 1992
Filed:
Oct. 17, 1990
Richard D Nixdorf, Knoxville, TN (US);
Other;
Abstract
Method and filter apparatus for the removal of volatilizable particulate material from gas streams containing the same, and the regeneration of the apparatus when removal efficiency has decreased to a selected value. The apparatus includes a filter element fabricated, in the preferred embodiment from silicon carbide whiskers which are capable of converting microwave energy to thermal energy, with the porosity of the filter element being about 25 microns.+-.50%. This filter element, when removal efficiency has decreased to the selected value, is heated uniformly with microwave energy, which couples to the silicon carbide whiskers to convert the microwave energy to thermal energy, for a time sufficient to raise the silicon carbide whisker temperature to a value to volatilize the volatilizable particulate matter for discharge as a gas. Typically, the microwave energy is about 2.45 GHz and 1000 to 3000 watts. In the preferred form, the filter element is surrounded with a thermal insulation formed from, for example, alumina or zirconia fibers. This insulation is provided with passageways for cooling using air flow. The apparatus is specifically directed to the removal of carbon-containing particulates from the exhaust of diesel-fueled engines.