Apparatus for reducing particulate emissions

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for removing particulate matter from exhaust gas stream prior to emission. The apparatus comprises a chargeable device having at least a pair of chargeable surfaces. The chargeable surfaces are positioned relative to one another to form a gap. The apparatus further comprises a charger for supplying opposite electrical charges to the chargeable surfaces. When chargeable surfaces are charged, an electrical field is created within the gap. Exhaust particles passing through the electrical field will locally reduce the dielectric constant of the exhaust gas causing an electrical arc to pass through the particles. The heat generated by the electrical arc will cause the particles to combust, resulting in emissions of carbon dioxide.

1 . An apparatus for combusting particulates in exhaust gas, comprising: 
 a chargeable device for generating an electrical field capable of producing an arc through particulates in exhaust gas, the arc producing heat for combustion of the particulates; and    an electrical charger for supplying electrical charges to said chargeable device for generating the electrical field.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the chargeable device comprises at least one pair of chargeable surfaces for receiving opposite charges.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of said pair of chargeable surfaces is defined on one of perforated plates having a plurality of holes for allowing the particulates in the exhaust gas to flow therethrough.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said perforated plates are made of electrically conductive material.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said pair of chargeable surfaces are positioned at a predetermined distance apart to create a gap between said pair of chargeable surfaces.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said predetermined distance is between about 1.0 mm to about 80 mm.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said predetermined distance is about 12 mm.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said chargeable device defines a connector for holding said perforated plates together in a parallel position, having the gap therebetween.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said connector is made of electrically insulating material.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said connector is a tubular housing for holding perforated plates therein.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said chargeable device is configured to fit within an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, having perforated plates perpendicular to an exhaust gas stream.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the electrically insulating material is a heat insulating material.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said charger provides a direct current (DC).  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said charger provides an alternating current (AC).  
     
     
         15 . A method for reducing particulate emissions from internal combustion engines having an exhaust system for passing an exhaust gas, comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least one pair of electrically conductive surfaces positioned to face one another, and defining a gap therebetween;    supplying opposite electrical charges to the at least one pair of electrically conductive surfaces to produce an electrical field capable of creating electrical arcs within the gap;    passing an exhaust gas containing particulates into the gap; whereby the electrical field produces electrical arcs, the arc generating heat;    heating the particulates to combustion within the gap; and    emitting the exhaust gas from the gap.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical field generated by the chargeable device produces the arc through particulates in the exhaust gas to thereby combust the particulates in response to reduction of a dielectric constant associated with the electrical field by the particulates.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the chargeable device comprises a pair of chargeable surfaces that define a gap therebetween and are configured to produce the arc through particulates in the gap to thereby combust the particulates in response to reduction of a dielectric constant associated with the electrical field from an arc non-production level to an arc production level by the particulates.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the passing step comprises (i) particulates reducing a dielectric constant associated with the electrical field from an arc non-production level to an arc production level and (ii) particulates electrically conducting the arc between the electrically conductive surfaces in response to reduction of the dielectric constant.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the heating step comprises combusting particulates in response to arc conduction therethrough.