Engine exhaust reburner system and method

Abstract

An engine exhaust reburner system including an engine for generating exhaust gases and a reburner for igniting and decomposing the exhaust gases. The reburner includes a combustion chamber and a manifold for mixing a volume of air with the exhaust gases and delivering an exhaust gas-air mixture to the combustion chamber. An igniter is provided for igniting the mixture in the combustion chamber with the ignited mixture being decomposed to provide an output gas comprised of fundamental elements. The output gas is then vented to atmosphere through a muffler. In a preferred embodiment, the engine exhaust reburner system of the present invention includes an inlet manifold which receives engine exhaust gases from a smoothing tank and compressed air from a compressor to form an exhaust gas-air mixture. The mixture is forced into an insulated combustion chamber and, if necessary, combined with an injected combustible liquid fuel for ignition. The residue of the combusted mixture is thereafter forced into an insulated decomposing channel which extends the length of the combustion chamber to form a reaction region. The reaction region becomes sufficiently hot to ensure complete decomposition of any combustible exhaust gases in the mixture. Thereafter, a hot pressurized output gas, which is very low polluting, is vented to the atmosphere.