NOx reduction system and method

Abstract

A system for reduction of noxious oxides from an exhaust of an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine includes an engine exhaust. A NOx catalytic reactor has at least one inlet in communication with the engine exhaust. A reductant catalytic reactor includes an inlet in communication with a reductant fuel supply, and an outlet in communication with at least one inlet to the NOx catalytic reactor.

1 . A system for reduction of noxious oxides from an exhaust of an internal combustion engine, comprising; 
 an internal combustion engine including an engine exhaust;    a NOx catalytic reactor having at least one inlet in communication with said engine exhaust;    a reductant fuel supply;    a reductant catalytic reactor including an inlet in communication with said reductant fuel supply and an outlet in communication with said at least one inlet to said NOx catalytic reactor, said reductant catalytic reactor not directly connected to the atmosphere and operating without ambient air being introduced directly thereto:    a heater in communication with said reductant catalytic reactor inlet whereby said fuel supply is heated prior to entering the reductant catalytic reactor, and,    wherein said reductant catalytic reactor comprises one of a zeolites and precious metals.    
   
   
       2 . The system for reduction of noxious oxides of  claim 1 , further including a pump in communication with and between said reductant fuel supply and said reductant catalytic reactor.  
   
   
       3 . The system for reduction of noxious oxides of  claim 2 , further including a regulator for controlling fluid flow through said pump.  
   
   
       4 . The system for reduction of noxious oxides of  claim 2 , wherein said heater is in communication with and between said pump and said reductant catalytic reactor.  
   
   
       5 . The system for reduction of noxious oxides of  claim 4 , wherein said heater heats reductant fuel from said reductant fuel supply to a temperature of between approximately 450 to 600 degF.  
   
   
       6 . A system for reduction of noxious oxides from an exhaust of an internal combustion engine, comprising; 
 an internal combustion engine including an engine exhaust;    a NOx catalytic reactor having at least one inlet in communication with said engine exhaust;    a reductant fuel supply;    a reductant catalytic reactor including an inlet in communication with said reductant fuel supply and an outlet in communication with said at least one inlet to said NOx catalytic reactor, said reductant catalytic reactor not directly connected to the atmosphere and operating without ambient air being introduced directly thereto;    a heater in communication with said reductant catalytic reactor inlet whereby said fuel supply is heated prior to entering the reductant catalytic reactor, and,    wherein said NOx catalytic reactor includes a ceramic catalyst material comprised of Al 2 0 3 , doped with one of Na, Zr and La.    
   
   
       7 . A system for reduction of noxious oxides from an exhaust of an internal combustion engine, comprising; 
 an internal combustion engine including an engine exhaust;    a NOx catalytic reactor having at least one inlet in communication with said engine exhaust;    a reductant fuel supply;    a reductant catalytic reactor including an inlet in communication with said reductant fuel supply and an outlet in communication with said at least one inlet to said NOx catalytic reactor, said reductant catalytic reactor not directly connected to the atmosphere and operating without ambient air being introduced directly thereto;    a heater in communication with said reductant catalytic reactor inlet whereby said fuel supply is heated prior to entering the reductant catalytic reactor, and,    wherein said NOx catalytic reactor includes a ceramic catalyst material comprised of Y zeolite, doped with Na.    
   
   
       8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . The system for reduction of noxious oxides of  claim 1 , wherein said reductant catalytic reactor is doped with at least one of Mo, Ti and Fe.  
   
   
       10 . The system for reduction of noxious oxides of  claim 9 , wherein said reductant fuel supply can be any one of diesel fuel, gasoline and one or more other hydrocarbons.  
   
   
       11 . The system for reduction of noxious oxides of  claim 9 , wherein said internal combustion engine utilizes fuel in the form of at least one of diesel, natural gas, gasoline, coal, and alcohol.  
   
   
       12 . A system for reduction of noxious oxides from an exhaust of an internal combustion engine, comprising; 
 a NOx catalytic reactor having at least one inlet configured for communication with said engine exhaust;    a reductant fuel supply;    a reductant catalytic reactor including an inlet in communication with said reductant fuel supply and an outlet in communication with said at least one inlet to said NOx catalytic reactor, said reductant catalytic reactor not directly connected to the atmosphere and operating without ambient air being introduced directly thereto;    a heater in communication with said reductant catalytic reactor inlet whereby said fuel supply is heated prior to entering the reductant catalytic reactor; and,    said reductant catalytic reactor operating with said fuel supply in the absence of water being provided thereto.    
   
   
       13 . The system for reduction of noxious oxides of  claim 12 , further including a pump in communication with and between said reductant fuel supply and said reductant catalytic reactor.  
   
   
       14 . The system for reduction of noxious oxides of  claim 13 , further including a regulator for controlling fluid flow through said pump.  
   
   
       15 . The system for reduction of noxious oxides of  claim 13 , wherein said heater is in communication with and between said pump and said reductant catalytic reactor.  
   
   
       16 . The system for reduction of noxious oxides of  claim 12 , wherein said reductant catalytic reactor includes at least one of zeolites, silica aluminas, dispersed precious metals on monolith, and aluminum trioxide.  
   
   
       17 . The system for reduction of noxious oxides of  claim 16 , wherein said reductant catalytic reactor is doped with at least one of these metals Mo, Ti and Fe.  
   
   
       18 . A method of reducing noxious oxides from an exhaust of an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of: 
 heating a reductant fuel;    at least one of cracking and reforming a said reductant fuel in the absence of ambient air in a reductant catalytic reactor comprising one of a zeolites and precious metals;    mixing the at least one of cracked and reformed reductant fuel with exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine; and    catalytically converting the mixed reductant fuel and exhaust gas in a NOx catalytic reactor.    
   
   
       19 . The method of reducing noxious oxides of  claim 18 , wherein said reductant fuel comprises any one of diesel fuel, gasoline and one or more other hydrocarbons prior to being at least one of cracked and reformed.  
   
   
       20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . The method of reducing noxious oxides of  claim 18 , wherein said reductant catalytic reactor is doped with at least one of Mo, Ti and Fe.