EP0207943B1

EP0207943B1 - Apparatus for treating smoke gases, especially exhaust gases

Info

Publication number: EP0207943B1
Application number: EP85901447A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Veikko Rahikka
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-03-01
Filing date: 1985-03-01
Publication date: 1989-07-19
Also published as: EP0207943A1; WO1985003977A1; WO1985003976A1; EP0205420A1; AU4116385A

Abstract

Apparatus for treating smoke gases, particularly for exhaust gases of a combustion engine. The apparatus consists of a turbulence chamber (1) to which the gas to be treated is tangentially brought. The chamber is a cylinder-symmetrical space widening from the edges towards the centre, to the axis (A-A) of which the air channel (4) has been connected, in the middle of the wall of the chamber (1) there is an opening through which the mixture of gas and air removes from the turbulence chamber. The apparatus suits to be attached to the exhaust manifold or the exhaust pipes of an engine or to the smoke channel of an apparatus using liquid or solid fuel. The treatment apparatus according to the invention comprises two treatment units, the first one consists of the turbulence chamber (1); of the first cylinder-symmetrical reaction chamber (2) placed to the axis (A-A) of the chamber (1) which reaction chamber is connected with the first exhaust opening (3) to the turbulence chamber (1); and of the first air channel (4) that has been connected both to the turbulence chamber (1) and to the reaction chamber (2). The second treatment unit consists of the second exhaust opening (5) in the turbulence chamber (1), which opening is on the axis (A-A) of the turbulence chamber (1) opposite to the first exhaust opening (3) and the reaction chamber (2); of the cylinder-shaped intermediate chamber (6) connected to the exhaust opening (5); of the conical exhaust chamber (7) following the intermediate chamber; and of the second cylinder-symmetrical reaction chamber (8).

Description

The object of this invention is an apparatus for treating smoke gases, especially for treating exhaust gases of a combustion engine, which apparatus consists of a turbulence chamber, to which the gas to be treated is tangentially brought, which chamber is a cylinder-symmetrical and from the edges towards the centre widening space and to the axis of which an air channel has been connected, at the centre of the wall of which chamber there is an opening, through which the gas and air mixture moves from the turbulence chamber. The apparatus can be connected to the exhaust manifold or exhaust pipes of the motor or to the smoke channel of a heating kettle or a corresponding device using liquid or solid fuel.
It is generally known that the exhaust gases of the combustion engines contain gases injurious to the environment. E.g. carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and the carbon hydrogens that remain unburnt in the combustion space of the motor are this kind of gases. Corresponding gases are also formed in other places e.g. in the heating kettle in connection of the common burning process. It depends among other things on the used fuel, which gas components are formed in connection of burning.
The amount of the smoke or exhaust gases can naturally be influenced by adjusting the burning process as optimal as possible, i.e. such that the burning takes place as completely as possible. This cannot always be done or it is not possible, and then different auxiliary devices are necessary, with help of which the smoke or exhaust gases are tried to be cleaned from the gases injurious to the environment. An advantageous way is to increase air (oxygen) and to treat the gases at high temperature after the proper burning process, where at least a part of the gases burns and changes harmless for the environment.
There is known from GB 1 389 285 an apparatus for purifying the exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine. The hot exhaust gases immediately on discharge from the cylinders of the combustion engine, are mixed with secondary air and some oxidation of unburned and incompletely burned fuel products can take place as the exhaust gases pass via the pipes of the exhaust gas manifold into a reactor chamber. The reactor chamber is surrounded by an air gap having the form of an annulus outwardly defined by a casing member wall and communicating with a source of supply of cooling air. Through the wall of the reactor chamber slit apertures are formed at an angle of 60° so that cooling air entering the reactor chamber is caused to flow substantially parallel with the inside of the wall of the chamber. This, together with the formation of a tangential flow of the exhaust gases with any admixed secondary air makes it possible the formation inside of the reactor chamber of a thin annular layer of cooling air which protects the chamber from the risk of excessive heating.
Further there are known apparatus for burning smoke or exhaust gases, among other things the British and US patents of the applicant GB 1,358,743 and US 4,191,132. The second patent is concerned with the combustion chamber for burning gaseous substance being provided with an additional combustion chamber, where the gases to be burnt are brought to turbulence. The proper combustion chamber has been formed from a cylinder-shaped solid of revolution, to the outer ring of which the gases are tangentially led through one or more nozzles. Then a low pressure is brought up to the centre of the chamber, to which burning air is led from outside the chamber through a first centre opening. From this combustion chamber the gas and air mixture is led influenced by suction or pressure through a second centre opening to one or more additional combustion chambers. In each chamber, thanks to V-shaped steering surfaces, two different turbulences, a growing or developing and a reducing or discharging turbulence are formed. The burning takes place effectively as the turbulences are partly mixing with each other when the gases flow through the centre opening and/or the tangential connection chamber to the next chamber. The principle has been adapted especially for a central heating kettle, where the mixture of fuel and burning air led from the oil burner opening will be led to the combustion chamber and further to the additional chambers, from which the gases move through the smoke channel.
A disadvantage in the apparatus in accordance with the US patent is its structure which is difficult to manufacture. The apparatus requires a sufficiently great and even pressure of smoke gases, in order to be able to function properly. The fluctuations of the pressure considerably disturb the advance of the smoke gas turbulences in the additional combustion chambers. In this form the apparatus is not suitable for combustion motor use.
The British patent GB 1,358,743 is concerned with an oxidizing or additional burning apparatus of exhaust gas, which apparatus is especially determined for combustion engines. A turbulence or mixing chamber widening towards the centre belongs to this, and the exhaust gases are led to this chamber tangentially through one or more nozzles and are brought in this way to revolving motion. The additional air is led through an air opening at the axis of the mixing chamber. The mixture of gas and air is led out from the mixing chamber through an opening on the opposite side of the air opening a the ball-shaped combustion chamber. Most suitably ignition devices have been placed to this in order to effect the burning of the gas.
The problem with the apparatus in accordance with the British patent is among other things the fact that the apparatus does not function in a satisfying way with the small numbers of revolution of an engine. The pressure waves of the exhaust gases cause occasional disappearing of the low pressure from the centre axis of the chamber, and the supply of the additional air is disturbed. On the other hand the combustion process may move once in a while owing to pressure fluctuations to the air inlet and to the mixing chamber.
The purpose of the invention is among other things to obtain an apparatus for treatment of the smoke gases, with which the aforementioned disadvantages could be moved. This will be realized by means of those characteristics, which have been presented in the enclosed patent claims.
It has been noted that smoke gas or exhaust gas treatment devices based on turbulence combustion, especially in combustion engine use, can be essentially improved by shaping the apparatus in a new way. So the exhaust gas treatment apparatus can function in a satisfying way in a wide function area of the engine, also in idle running, which in the known treatment apparatus has often been problematic. Additionally the design and structure of the treatment apparatus in accordance with the invention effectively damps the pressure waves. So it also functions for example as a part of exhaust pipes of the combustion engine for its part as an effective muffler.
It has been noted that the smoke gases demand for burning and for catalytic changes in the treatment apparatus a relatively long reaction time. Then it is advantageous that the gases are kept in the device in a controlled turbulence motion as long as possible and that the gases are detained also in the catalyst chamber for a long time, if the catalyst chamber is used. The required treatment time can be realized simply and effectively with the apparatus in accordance with the invention, wherein to the first side of the tubu- lence chamber a first favourable tubeshaped reaction chamber has been axially connected, the length of which chamber can be chosen as required and to which also the catalyst charge or coating can be placed and to which first reaction chamber, to the opposite side of the turbulence chamber, another reaction chamber has been connected on the same axis by means of a cylindrical intermediate chamber and a conical exhaust chamber. The length of the treatment time for smoke gases can expressly be lengthened by changing the length of the first reaction chamber.
According to an embodiment of the invention a catalyst charge or chamber and/or electrical electrodes, most favourably changeable, can be connected to the other end of the first reaction chamber. By means of these the treatment of smoke gases can be effected in a known way. The fact that the catalyst charge and the electrodes can be easily changed e.g. in connection of maintenance, is important.
The apparatus according to the invention are additionally easy to be coupled parallelly. In this case the manufacture of the treatment apparatus of different sizes for smoke gases is simple, as they are most suitably connected from similar basic devices.
In the following the invention is illustrated by means of the enclosed drawings, where

Fig. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the invention as section picture seen from the side;
Fig. 2 illustrates a cross section B-B of the embodiment of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 illustrates a cross section C-C of the embodiment of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 illustrates the ring-shaped channels connected with the turbulence chamber and steering baffles spreaded to a level;
Fig. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the invention as section picture seen from the side;
Fig. 6 illustrates the first reaction chamber with a catalyst charge;
Fig. 7 illustrates a parallel coupling of the treatment apparatus according to the invention as profile section;
Fig. 8 illustrates the section E-E of the parallel coupling of the treatment apparatus in Fig. 7, and
Fig. 9 illustrates a separate treatment apparatus in the parallel coupling of Fig. 7.

The apparatus for treating smoke gases comprises two treatment units. The first unit consists of turbulence chamber 1, a first reaction chamber 2 placed on the axis of the turbulence chamber and at the same time on the main axis A-A of the apparatus, which first reaction chamber is connected with a first exhaust opening 3 in the turbulence chamber 1, and of a first air channel 4, which has been favourably connected to the turbulence chamber 1 and to the reaction chamber 2. The second treatment unit consists of a second exhaust opening 5, which is on the axis A-A of the turbulence chamber 1 opposite to the exhaust opening 3 and the reaction chamber 2 of the intermediate chamber 6 connected to the exhaust opening 5, of the exhaust chamber 7 and the second reaction chamber 8 following the exhaust opening 5 and the intermediate chamber 6. Further, another air channel 9 has been preferably connected to the exhaust chamber 7.
The turbulence chamber 1 is a cylinder symmetrical space, which widens from the edges towards the centre and the axis A-A. The first and second walls 10 and 11 of the turbulence chamber 1 are in an angle a against the axis A-A. The angle a is 50°_<_a<90°, preferably 75°.
The treatment units have been placed inside a cylinder-shaped casing 12. The casing 12 has additionally been surrounded by heat insulation 13. So especially the thermal energy of the exhaust gases can be used in the treatment process.
The smoke gases to be treated are led to the turbulence chamber 1 in tangential direction through one or more openings or nozzles. This has been arranged in the embodiment of the invention according to Fig. 1 in a way that the gases to be treated are led through the inlet channel 14 inside the casing 12 to a first intermediate space 15. The inlet channel 14 is in this case in direction of the axis A-A, but it can be connected to the intermediate space 15 in a desired way and in any angle. Between the intermediate space 15 and the turbulence chamber 1 a first ring-shaped channel 16 is situated, to which baffles 17 in a distance of each other have been placed. These baffles have been assembled in an oblique angle (3 (Fig. 4) in regard of the vertical level of the axis A-A, most usefully in an acute angle. When gas is led through the inlet channel 14 to the first intermediate space 15, it moves in direction of axis A-A towards the turbulence chamber 1, as shown with arrows in Fig. 1 and 2. When the gas hits against the baffles 17, it receives by means of these when arriving in the turbulence chamber 1, a tangential motion component and the gas turbulence is formed.
It is preferable that besides of the aforementioned first baffles 17 there will be in connection of the turbulence chamber 1 other baffles 19, which have been placed to another ring-shaped channel 18 to the opposite side of the ring area of the turbulence chamber 1. Between the casing 12 and the turbulence chamber 1 there is in this case a ring-shaped intermediate channel 20, through which the gas flows out to another intermediate space 21 on the other side of the turbulence chamber. The intermediate channel 20 has been lengthened in direction of the axis A-A with a cylindrical extension part 22, in order that the circulation of the gas would become more effective and takes place through the back part of the intermediate space 21.
The other baffles 19 correspond to the first baffles 17; they have been assembled in an oblique angle (3' (Fig. 4) in regard of the vertical level of the axis A-A, which corresponds to the angle β so that is (3'=-(3. Then the gas flowing out from the second intermediate space 21 to the turbulence chamber 1 receives a tangential motion component of the same direction as the gas flowing out from the first intermediate space 15 and in a most preferable case the axial motion components are eliminated. The smoke gases receive in this case a turbulence or circulation advancing from the ring area towards the centre and accelerating in angle speed.
The first reaction chamber 2 is a elongated cylindrical space, the length of which can be set according to requirements depending on the adaptation. The reaction chamber 2 has been connected with its first end to the exhaust opening 3 of the turbulence chamber 1 in the centre of the wall 10 and in direction of the axis A-A of the turbulence chamber. The other end of the reaction chamber 2 has been closed. The first exhaust opening 3 which thus forms the mouth of the reaction chamber 2 is bigger than the second exhaust opening 5. This arrangement guarantees that the gas turbulence formed in the turbulence chamber 1 first flows out to the reaction chamber 2, absorbs air from the first air channel 4 and fills with rotating and hot air-gas mixture the whole reaction chamber 2. Only after that gas mixture moves to the second treatment unit through the second exhaust opening 5.
The first reaction chamber 2 can differ from the tube-shaped or cylindrical space. It can be widening towards its closed end or be wider at the centre than at the ends, e.g. ball or ellipsoid formed. It is essential that the reaction chamber is in regard of the axis A-A cylinder-symmetrical, so the gas turbulence can move without hindrance to the reaction chamber 2 longitudinally.
The first air channel 4 has been placed on the axis A-A of the turbulence chamber 1 and at the same time on the centre axis of the first reaction chamber 2, one or more inlets 23 of which channel have been connected to open air or to some other suitable air or oxygen source. The outlet opening 24 of the air channel has been preferably placed between the centre part of the turbulence chamber 1 and the second exhaust opening 5.
The air channel 4 can also be connected in another way to the turbulence chamber 1 and to the reaction chamber 2 as shown afore. It can be brought e.g. from the vicinity of the connection points of the chambers 1 and 2 to the axis A-A (compare Fig. 5) and it can have e.g. two outlet openings 24a and 24b, which open both to the centre of the turbulence chamber 1 and towards the closed end of the reaction chamber 2.
The total cross-area of the ring-shaped channels 16, 18 is in general as great or at least almost as great as the cross-area of the second exhaust opening 5. With this arrangement the growth of the pressure of the smoke gases in the turbulence chamber 1 and in the first reaction chamber 2 is prevented to be unreasonably great. The gases flowing out through the exhaust opening 5 in turbulent flow form along the axis A-A a low pressure field which absorbs additional air through the air channel 4.
In the embodiment of Fig. 1 the second exhaust opening 5 has been arranged at the intermediate chamber 6, which comprises a direct cylindrical space. So retaining of a sufficiently strong axial low pressure field by means of advancing gas turbulence at once after the turbulence chamber 1 and the first reaction chamber 2 an efficient supply of additional air is guaranteed also in the second treatment unit.
It is preferable to arrange a ring-shaped edge 25 to the connecting point or close to it of the second wall 11 of the turbulence chamber 1 and the exhaust opening 5 which edge covers a certain distance from the wall of the turbulence chamber towards its inner space. The edge 25 can consist e.g. of an extension of the intermediate chamber 6. The edge 25 breaks the direct connection between the walls of the chambers 1 and 6. So the escape of the smoke gases from the first treatment unit is prevented before the chambers 1 and 2 have been filled with gas and a strong turbulence flow has been formed there.
The exhaust chamber 7 is a cylinder-symmetrical space, which is bounded by conical walls, outer wall 71 and inner wall 72. It has been connected with a ring-shaped channel 26 or opening to the second reaction chamber 8. The opening angle y of the conical outer wall 71 of the exhaust chamber is between 75°... 30°, preferably 45°. The opening angle a of the inner wall 72, which is half of the point angle of the cone, is either as big as the opening angle y of the outer wall or a little bigger. Then the effective cross-area of the exhaust chamber 7 reduces towards the reaction chamber 8. The cross-area of the exhaust opening 5 and the intermediate chamber 6 is as big or bigger than the cross-area of the outlet opening of the exhaust chamber 7 or the channel 26.
It is preferable to place in the ring-shaped channel 26 baffles 26a in a distance of each other, which baffles are in an oblique angle of preferably β in regard of the vertical level of the axis A-A, similar to the baffles 17 and 19 assembled in the channels 16 and 18.
When the opening angle y of the outer wall 71 of the exhaust chamber is of the size as shown afore, the gas turbulence widens and advances in a controlled way from the intermediate chamber 6 to the second reaction chamber 8. By means of the inner wall 72 the exhaust chamber 7 is restricted in a way that the burning gas turbulence is fed from a relatively narrow ring-shaped are where are baffles 26a, to the reaction chamber 8. So the pressure hits backwards to the space of low pressure of the intermediate chamber 6 and further of the reaction chamber 2, which hits on appearing would choke the whole additional treatment process of the smoke and exhaust gases. E.g. the pressure hits moving back and forth caused by the engine are smoothed by means of the exhaust chamber 7.
The second reaction chamber 8 is a cylindrical space the axis of which is combined to the main axis A-A of the treatment apparatus. The exhaust chamber 7 is connected to the reaction chamber with the ring-shaped outlet opening or channel 26. The reaction chamber 8 has been connected further to the exhaust or to the corresponding outlet channel 27. The length of the second reaction chamber 8 is preferably approximately the same as the first reaction chamber 2.
The second air channel 9 can be connected to the point part of conical inner wall 72 of the exhaust chamber 7. This air channel is equipped with a conical shelter 28, at the centre of which there is an air opening 29a. Further a ring-shaped air channel 29 in the vicinity of the inner wall 72 leads to the exhaust chamber 7. So a sufficient supply of air in the second reaction chamber 8 is guaranteed.
The treatment apparatus of smoke or exhaust gases according to the invention functions in principle as follows. The smoke gases are led along the inlet channel 14 inside the casing 12 of the apparatus to the first intermediate space 15. When the inlet pressure strongly grows, the smoke gases flow out through the ring-shaped intermediate channel 20 to the second intermediate space 21 and further through the ring-shaped channels 16 and 18 to the turbulence chamber 1. The baffles 17, 19 in the channels 16, 18 give to the gas penetrating the turbulence chamber 1 a tangential motion, and the gases begin to rotate a spiral-shaped course D with accelerating speed towards the center of the turbulence chamber 1. First of all as the diameter of the first exhaust opening 3 is bigger than the second exhaust opening 5, the gas turbulence begins to flow out to the first reaction chamber 2. On the other hand the edge 25 prevents the gas turbulence from escaping influenced by potential axial motion component along the wall 11 from the turbulence chamber 1, before the chamber has been partly filled with gas and the gas has began to flow out to the first reaction chamber 2.
The gas flows out as accelerating turbulence from the turbulence chamber 1 to the first reaction chamber 2 along its mantle from the exhaust opening 3 to the closed end of the reaction chamber 2 and further back as undersided second turbulence of this first turbulence, until the turbulence chamber 1 and the reaction chamber 2 are almost full and the advancing continues through the second exhaust opening 5 to the intermediate chamber 6. At the same time a low pressure field, influenced by centrifugal power, is formed along the axis A-A of the turbulence chamber 1 and along the outer surface of the air channel 4 which has the same direction as the axis.
Influenced by pressure difference between the outside air pressure or corresponding pressure of an air or oxygen container and the mentioned low pressure field air absorbs through the air channel 4 to the centre of the turbulence moving axially and effectively mixes to the turbulence. The temperature of the smoke gas turbulence is in most cases high enough to generate a selfignition, in which case when the gas turbulence is moving and condensed in the first reaction chamber 2, it at the same time ignites.
When the gas turbulence advances to the intermediate chamber 6, additional air absorbs and mixes to its centre both from the first air channel 4 and from the opening 29a of the second air channel 9. The gas turbulence advancing along the outer wall 71 of the exhaust chamber 7 further absorbs air from the second air channel 9 through the ring-shaped channel 29, the gas turbulence widens and is directed through the exhaust chamber 7 and the ring-shaped channel 26 to the reaction chamber 8, where the final burning takes place. The combustion products move through the exhuast pipe or the corresponding outlet channel 27 to open air.
The treatment apparatus according to the invention suits among other things to remove the carbon monoxide from the smoke gases. The following reactions are known:

1. Normal oxidizing of carbon monoxide;
2. Water gas reaction;
3. The reacting of the carbon monoxide molecules with each other, when among other things the metallic iron functions as catalyst;
The circumstances especially the temperature in the treatment apparatus from the exhaust opening 3 forward are such that one or more aforementioned reactions take place. It has to be noted that the smoke gases advance through the chamber 1, 2, 6 and 7 at the vicinity of their walls as quickly rotating gas turbulence, to which air absorbs from the air channels 4 and 9. The axial speed of the gas turbulence is not great and e.g. the length of the first reaction chamber can be chosen so that the smoke gases remain in the treatment apparatus relatively long. The carbon monoxide has time to disappear according to the aforementioned reactions in optimal circumstances almost perfectly. The chambers are preferably manufactured of steel, and they can also function catalytically (reaction 3).

Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of the treatment apparatus according to the invention. The apparatus is mainly as presented above and the same reference numbers have been used for the corresponding members. The smoke gases to be treated are led to the casing 12 through a tangentially adapted inlet channel 14a to the first intermediate space 15. So the coming gases receive a turbulence motion when entering the treatment apparatus. The intermediate space 15 has been combined with one ring-shaped channel 16 to the turbulence chamber 1. The ring-shaped channel 16 has preferably also the baffles 17.
The first reaction chamber 2 is a cylindrical space as in the embodiment of Fig. 1, but the space continues to the casing 12 of the treatment apparatus or outside of it. The catalyst chamber 30 has been connected to the end of the reaction chamber 2. This chamber has preferably been attached with threads to the end of the reaction chamber 2, so it can be easily changed. In order to proceed with the removing of the injurious gases of the smoke gases, especially carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and light carbon hydrogens, known catalysts can be used as coating 31 or as changeable charge in the catalyst chamber.
A pair of electrodes 32 can also be connected to the catalyst chamber 30. If a voltage difference is arranged between the electrodes in a way as such known, sparking takes place between them, which contributes to ignition and burning of the smoke gas in the reaction chamber 2. This way of action can be used, when the temperature of the smoke gases is not high enough for one reason or another, in order that the selfignition could take place.
An alternating current source of high frequency can alternatively be connected to the pair of electrodes, the frequency of which source is about 300 Hz. The electrical discharges between the electrodes generated by means of this source break up e.g. nitrogen oxides. The catalyst chamber 30 can be equipped with a heat insulation layer 33. It is to be noted that the chamber 30 always is easy to change after fullfillment of a certain time of driving, e.g. when the catalyst has lost its effect or when the electrodes became defect.
The first air channel 4 has been connected to the reaction chamber 2 in the embodiment of Fig. 5, the two inlet openings 23 of which channel have been connected to open air. In this case there are two outlet openings 24a and 24b of the air channel 4, the first one 24a opens according to the embodiment of Fig. 1 between the centre part of the turbulence chamber 1 and the second exhaust opening 5 and the second 24b on the axis A-A to the first reaction chamber. Additional air flows effectively through the second outlet opening 24b to the first reaction chamber 2 by means of the low pressure field formed along its axis A-A.
There are the second treatment unit or the intermediate chamber 6, the exhaust chamber 7 and the second reaction chamber 8 on the other side of the turbulence chamber 1 or on the opposite side of the first reaction chamber 2. The second treatment unit is constructed according to the embodiment of Fig. 1. The conical shelter 28 of the second air channel 9 is not this time equipped with the air opening at the centre, but with a ring-shaped air channel 29. An air opening of this kind can if necessary be arranged in the middle of the shelter 28.
Fig. 6 presents another solution for arranging the catalyst in the first reaction chamber 2. The reaction chamber is beginning at the exhaust opening 3 first conically widening 2a and then continuing in a cylindrical space 2b. The bottom part 34 of the cylindrical space 2b can be preferably attached with threads or quick couplings hermetically to its place at the end of the space 2b in a way that it can be easily changed. A tube- shaped part 35 with a smaller diameter has been attached to the bottom part 34 concentrically with the reaction chamber 2, which tube-shaped part consists at least partly of catalyst material like cylindrical catalyst charge 36. This is equipped at least partly and especially at the vicinity of the bottom part with holes 37. These are preferably according to the circulation direction of gas in regard of the direction of the chamber's 2 radius, oblique holes.
In the aforementioned embodiment of the invention the gas turbulence flows out from the turbulence chamber 1 through the first exhaust opening 3 first to the ring-shaped outer space 38 of the first reaction chamber 2 and from there through the said openings 37 of the catalyst charge to the cylindrical inner space 39. Advantages of this arrangement are an effective reciprocity between the smokegases and catalyst material and the changeable catalyst charge.
The construction of the catalyst charge can also be different, e.g. as a bar attached to the centre of the bottom part 34 in direction of the axis A-A, which bar reaches the middle part of the reaction chamber 2. Disk-, plate- or ridge-shaped parts which are of the above catalyst material can be attached to the bar vertically at a distance e.g. 2 mm, of each other. As catalyst materials in all above embodiments among other things nickel, palladium, platinum or their alloys can be used.
The treatment units of smoke gases according to the invention can be coupled in series and/or parallelly. The coupling in series means that the two or more treatment units are coupled successively. This can take place either in a way that the treatment units are completely similar or in a way that all treatment units except the first one are lacking the first reaction chamber 2, instead of which the gas is fed from the turbulence chamber 1 directly to the exhaust chamber 7. With the parallel coupling is understood coupling of treatment units, which are preferably similar, side by side, i.e. parallelly.
In the embodiment of the invention according to Fig. 7 and 8 a favourable solution for parallel coupling of the treatment apparatus has been illustrated. Two or more similar treatment apparatus 41 have been arranged inside the same casing structure 40 which is preferably equipped with insulation layer 46. A treatment apparatus of this kind 41 has been illustrated separately in Fig. 9. Besides the casing 40, the inlet channel 42 of the smoke gas, the first and second intermediate space 43, 44 and the channels 45 connecting the spaces are common to the treatment apparatus 41.
Each treatment apparatus 41 is almost the same as known from Fig. 5. The same reference numbers are used for the corresponding parts in both Figures. In the treatment apparatus 41 the second intermediate space 44 is connected to the turbulence chamber 1 with a ring-shaped channel 18 with baffles 19 (Fig. 9). In this case the first ring channel of the treatment apparatus of Fig. 5 (or Fig. 1) is closed.
The parallelly coupled treatment apparatus can be provided to function in a way that they always function at the same time or that they couple to function one after another.
The last mentioned form of function can be realized by means of a pressure sensor 46' connected to the intermediate space 43 or 44, by means of the valves 47 set to the outlet channels 27 of the treatment apparatus and by means of the actuators 48 of the valves. One treatment apparatus 41 can be without a valve 47, as shown in Fig. 7. The pressure sensor 46' and the actuators 48 of the valve are connected to the control unit 49.
It is supposed that the above parallelly coupled treatment apparatus is connected to the exhaust manifold of a combustion engine. With the small revolutions of the engine as on idle run, the amounts of the exhaust gases are in minimum. The pressure in the intermediate spaces 43, 44 of the treatment apparatus cannot become great, and one treatment apparatus 41 is able to treat this gas amount. When more power is taken from the engine and/or it runs with great revolutions, the amount of gases and at the same time the pressure in the intermediate spaces increases, as the capacity of one treatment apparatus 41 is not sufficient to treat all produced exhaust gas. The pressure is observed with the sensor 46' and with control unit 49. When the pressure increases over the pressure value determined in advance, when has been recorded to the memory of the control unit 49, this is noticed and the actuator 48 is given a command from control unit 49 to open the valve 47, and exhaust gas begins to flow to the second treatment apparatus coupled parallelly with the first one and the pressure in the intermediate space 43, 44 decreases. In a corresponding way on increasing of pressure, the valve 47 of the third, fourth etc. treatment apparatus can be opened, in which case they participate in treatment of gases.
The invention has been illustrated above in the first place in connection of a combustion engine. Anyway, it is clear that an apparatus according to the invention can be used for treatment of waste or smoke gases of any process.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating smoke gases, especially exhaust gases of a combustion engine, which apparatus consists of a turbulence chamber (1) to which the gas to be treated is tangentially brought, which chamber is a cylinder-symmetrical and from the edges towards the centre widening space and to the axis (A-A) of which an air channel (4) is connected, at the centre of the wall of which chamber there is an opening, through which the gas and air mixture moves from the turbulence chamber (1), characterized in that the treatment apparatus includes two treatment units; the first one of which consists of the turbulence chamber (1) a first cylinder-symmetrical reaction chamber (2) located at the axis (A-A) of this turbulence chamber, which reaction chamber is connected with a first exhaust opening (3) to the turbulence chamber (1) and of a first air channel (4) which is preferably connected to the turbulence chamber (1) and to the reaction chamber (2); and where the second treatment unit consists of a second exhaust opening (5) in the turbulence chamber (1), which opening is on the axis (A-A) of the turbulence chamber (1) opposite to the first exhaust opening (3) and the reaction chamber (2) a cylindrical intermediate chamber (6) connected to the exhaust opening (5) a conical exhaust chamber (7) following this intermediate chamber a second cylinder-symmetrical reaction chamber (8) and of a second air channel (9) which preferably is connected to the exhaust chamber (7).

2. The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that the treatment units are provided inside a casing (12), which is preferably surrounded by heat insulation (13) and that between the casing (12) and the treatment units there is an intermediate space (15), to which the gases to be treated are led from an inlet channel (14), and between which the intermediate space (15) and the turbulence chamber (1) at least one ring-shaped channel (16, 18) is provided, through which the gases can reach the turbulence chamber (1).

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first reaction chamber (2) is an elongated cylindrical space with one end closed.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, or 3, characterized in that a ring-shaped edge (25) is in connection with the second exhaust opening (5) of the turbulence chamber (1).

5. The apparatus of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the exhaust chamber (7) is restricted by conical outer (71) and inner (72) walls and it is connected with a ring-shaped channel (26) or opening to the second reaction chamber (8) the opening angle (y) of the outer wall (71) of which exhaust chamber (7) is between 75° ... 30°, preferably 45°, and the opening angle (a) of the inner wall (72) is either as big as the opening angle of the outer wall or a little bigger.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 or 5, characterized in that baffles (17, 19) are provided to the ring-shaped channel (16, 18, 26) at a distance from each other, which baffles are at an oblique angle (β; (3') in regard of the vertical plane of the axis (A-A) of the turbulence chamber (1).

7. The apparatus of claim 5, characterized in that the second air channel (9) is connected to the point part of the conical inner wall (72) of the exhaust chamber (7).

8. The apparatus of any of the previous claims, characterized in that a catalyst charge (36) or corresponding has been provided inside the first reaction chamber (2).

9. The apparatus of any of the previous claims, characterized in that a catalyst chamber (30) has been connected to the end of the first reaction chamber (2).

10. The apparatus of any of the previous claims, characterized in that a pair of electrodes (32) has been provided in connection of the first reaction chamber (2) to which electrodes a current source, preferably an alternating current source of high frequency, can be connected.