Eldridge ENJET - Engine Exhaust Jet Nozzle - An Exhaust Gas Dispersal and Dilution Method and Apparatus for Internal Combustion Engines

Abstract

According to the embodiments of the Eldridge ENJET—Engine Exhaust Jet Nozzle invention, the method and apparatus include an external plenum, support spool, fan, and nozzle assembly that is sleeved over and mounted at the discharge end of an internal combustion engine exhaust silencer or pipe for the purpose of creating a high volume and high velocity discharge capable of overcoming prevailing wind velocity to such an extent that a cylindrical air discharge pattern 50-100 feet away from the end of the apparatus nozzle provides increased dispersal and dilution of the engine exhaust gas. The invention is especially useful for accelerating the high temperature, low velocity, and toxic internal combustion engine exhaust gas away from human habitation or work areas.

1 . An apparatus assembly consisting of an externally mounted plenum, support spool, fan, and nozzle for installation at the discharge end of an internal combustion engine exhaust silencer or pipe and for the purpose of dispersing and diluting the hot engine exhaust gas.  
   
   
       2 . The plenum, support spool, fan, and nozzle as claimed in  claim 1  are fabricated weldments of carbon steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel, or other suitable heat and/or corrosion resistant material and may be coated with a corrosion resistant/high heat resistant paint and/or be insulated with high heat resistant thermal barrier material or acoustical material.  
   
   
       3 . The plenum as claimed in  claim 1  is designed and constructed with an internal plenum sleeve, external plenum collar, and plenum back plate to sleeve over the engine exhaust silencer or pipe discharge opening.  
   
   
       4 . The plenum as claimed in  claim 1  incorporates internal turning vanes which transition form the fan and support spool to the plenum and which evenly distribute the air form the fan across the annular area between the internal plenum sleeve and the plenum wall.  
   
   
       5 . The plenum as claimed in  claim 1  incorporates internal straightening vanes which provide internal support, reduce air turbulence, and provide static pressure regain in advance of the nozzle exit within the annular area between the internal plenum sleeve and the plenum wall.  
   
   
       6 . The support spool as claimed in  claim 1  is a structural support component with at least two external mounting brackets 180 degrees apart and with structural flanges at the inlet and outlet to which a fan is mounted at the inlet and to which the plenum is mounted at the outlet.  
   
   
       7 . The fan as claimed in  claim 1  is a supply fan or blower.  
   
   
       8 . The fan as claimed in  claim 1  incorporates an inlet evase (bell) with guard and/or other suitable inlet component such as a weather hood with guard.  
   
   
       9 . The fan as claimed in  claim 1  is mounted in such a configuration that the fan and its air intake is only subject to ambient air and is not subjected to the hot exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine.  
   
   
       10 . The fan as claimed in  claim 1  has high pressure performance characteristics to overcome the airflow resistance imposed by the fan inlet bell/guard/hood/inlet ducting, support spool, plenum, internal plenum sleeve, internal plenum turning vanes, internal plenum straightening vanes, discharge nozzle, and nozzle exit loss.  
   
   
       11 . The fan as claimed in  claim 1  induces a high volume of ambient air to the annular area between the internal plenum sleeve and the plenum wall and creates an air inductor effect at the engine exhaust silencer/pipe exit within the internal plenum sleeve as the high volume air from the fan mixes with the hot engine exhaust gases inside the plenum to dilute and cool the engine exhaust gas just prior to the nozzle exit.  
   
   
       12 . The fan as claimed in  claim 1  creates a negative pressure and a small ambient air leak into the internal plenum sleeve at the external plenum sleeve collar where the exhaust silencer/pipe sleeves into the internal plenum sleeve.  
   
   
       13 . The nozzle as claimed in  claim 1  is at the air discharge end of the plenum and is a converging nozzle.  
   
   
       14 . The nozzle as claimed in  claim 1  is designed and constructed to accelerate the discharge velocity of the combined fan air volume and the engine exhaust gas volume at the nozzle termination exit opening to atmosphere.  
   
   
       15 . The nozzle as claimed in  claim 1  creates a negative pressure at the end of the engine exhaust pipe to reduce engine back pressure and increase engine efficiency.  
   
   
       16 . The nozzle as claimed in  claim 1  is designed and constructed to create an air discharge velocity that is significantly greater than the prevailing wind velocity and to create a cylindrical, high velocity air flow pattern for dispersal to atmosphere.