ITVE20060014A1 - METHOD OF DISSOCOCATION OF COMPOUND MOLECULES PRESENT IN AIRCRAFT, A DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD AND USING THE DEVICE. - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the invention entitled:

"Method of dissociation of compound molecules present in aeriforms, device for implementing the method and uses of the device"

The present invention relates to a method of dissociation of compound molecules present in gaseous forms, a device for carrying out the method and some of its uses.

Methods of dissociation of compound molecules present in gases containing them are known.

One of these involves bringing the gas to high temperature values, in order to obtain the so-called "hot plasma". This is a method that requires quite complex equipment and is therefore considerably expensive and of limited use.

It is also known to make the individual components of the gas react with suitable reagents, which in most cases are toxic, dangerous, corrosive or difficult to dispose of.

If, for example, it is required to dissociate carbon dioxide, this is made to be absorbed by caustic soda, obtaining a solid residue consisting of a salt that is difficult to dispose of. In the case of another example, consisting of gas masks, they are not able to retain carbon monoxide, but favor adsorption reactions on the surface of particular porous granules (for example activated carbon, zeolite, treated alumina, etc.), which cannot operate continuously, as with the loss of porosity the adsorption reactions are blocked and require the regeneration of the porous granules or their replacement.

In the case of painting systems, hydrolysis reactions can be used with the washing of the gaseous substances to be treated by means of liquids containing suitable reagents. This solution requires frequent replacement of liquids, once exhausted.

Basically it can be said that the dissociation of the compound molecules present in gas is remarkably expensive, if carried out by thermal means, and poses great disposal problems, if carried out chemically.

It is also known, in the air purification sector, to use mechanical or electrostatic filters, which however allow to carry out the treatment of aerosuspensions, but do not produce oxygen to be reintroduced into the atmosphere.

The purpose of the present invention is to dissociate the compound molecules (of carbon dioxide, water vapor, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, ammonia, unburnt hydrocarbons, ozone, etc.), without giving rise to gaseous residues. .

Another object of the invention is to propose a device capable of carrying out this dissociation.

Another object of the invention is to propose advantageous uses of the method.

These objects and others which will result from the following description are achieved, according to the invention, with a method of dissociation of compound molecules present in gaseous substances characterized in that a gaseous flow, devoid of solid and liquid suspensions, is subjected to an emission of photons in the ultraviolet wave range.

To implement this method, the invention provides for the use of a device comprising at least one treatment chamber with an inlet and an outlet of the uniform to be treated and with a pair of electrodes, facing each other, of which the anode consists of a plurality of pointed metal filiform antennas and the cathode consists of a continuous surface of conductive material, said electrodes being connected to a direct current generator having a voltage such as not to exceed the dielectric field of the aeriform that crosses the trajectory of the photons emitted by the anode .

An advantageous use of the method according to the invention consists in the purification of industrial or civil exhaust gases.

Another advantageous use of the method according to the invention consists in the abatement of the exhaust gases released by internal combustion engines.

Another advantageous use of the method according to the invention consists in the sterilization and desodorization of the air by means of micro oxidations.

The present invention is further clarified hereinafter in a preferred embodiment thereof and in some of its uses, reported for purely illustrative and non-limiting purposes with reference to the attached drawing tables, in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows the principle on which the method according to the invention is based,

Figure 2 shows it in its use in the purification of industrial and civil exhaust gases,

Figure 3 shows it in its use in the abatement of exhaust gases released by an internal combustion engine equipped with a turbo,

Figure 4 shows it in its use in the abatement of exhaust gases released by an internal combustion engine without turbo, and

Figure 5 shows it in its use for the sterilization and desodorization of the air through micro oxidation.

As can be seen from the figures, the general principle on which the method according to the invention is based provides for a flow of the aeriform to be treated to pass between two electrodes 2,4 contained in a photonic cell 6 and connected to an electronic circuit 8 voltage autoloader, in turn powered by a unidirectional current generator 10, for example at 12 V.

More precisely, the positive pole of the circuit 8 is connected to the anode 2 of the photonic cell 6 and this consists of a plurality of pointed metal filiform antennas, arranged in a radial pattern and surrounded by the cathode 4, which is connected to ground, together with the negative pole of circuit 8.

The flow of the aeriform to be treated is introduced into the cell 6 through an inlet opening 12 and is made to come out of the cell itself through an outlet opening 14, arranged in such a way as to make the flow pass through the cell space 6 between anode 2 and cathode 4.

The circuit 8 generates a high voltage starting from a power supply voltage (be it a low direct voltage, for example 12V DC or the classic AC power supply voltages, for example 220V AC) and using the techniques of the multiple elevator voltage or inverter. The voltage supplied by the electronic circuit 8, applied to the electrodes 2 and 4, is such as to approach, but not to exceed, the value that would cause the perforation of the gas dielectric, which crosses the space between the two electrodes 2 and 4.

When cell 6 is powered, electrons accumulate and self-excite at the tips of the anode antennas. Not being able to go out due to the insufficient interelectrode voltage to generate the electric discharge, they oscillate at a frequency typical of ultraviolet waves and equal to 1.24.10 <15> sec with the release of an emission of photons at the speed of light and with a energy in quanta of 495 kJmol <-1>.

These photons have at the same time the double wave and corpuscular properties and in their trajectory they meet the composite molecules of the aeriform to be treated, causing their dissociation. This is due to the fact that each photon is a quantum of energy, which when it passes near an orbit of the compound molecule, excites it so that the absorbed energy tends to widen the orbit to the point that it no longer allows the field molecule's electrical power to retain the electron and to cause dissociation of the molecule itself.

This dissociation in turn causes the formation of a pair of ions with opposite electric charge and, in the presence of the electric field between the two electrodes 2 and 4 of the cell, the negative ions are rejected by the cathode, while the positive ions are attracted by the cathode. , losing their electric charge and generating a mini ion current, which closes the electric circuit between the cell 6 and the generator 10, with a significant reduction in specific consumption.

The phenomenon is comparable to what happens in electrolytic solutions, with a substantial difference in a quantitative sense since in electrolytic solutions the quantity of ions is very high, while in aeriforms this quantity is considerably lower. In fact, in normal conditions the air and gases in the ambient temperature are excellent electrical insulators, with a dielectric strength of about 20 kV / cm and therefore they transform into conductors only in the presence of ions that are formed only with photonic discharges.

An important advantage of the method according to the invention consists in the fact that it does not give rise to residues.

Another important advantage is that it does not give rise to carbon emissions.

Another important advantage is the low consumption of electricity.

The invention also provides important uses of the method just described.

Figure 2 schematically illustrates the use of the device according to the invention in a plant suitable for the purification of industrial waste emitted by a thermoelectric power plant, a cement factory, etc., in the hypothesis of the absence of a proper system for abatement. solid (fumes) and liquid (vapors) suspensions.

The plant comprises a tower 16 provided at the bottom with an inlet opening 18 for the gases to be purified and at the top with an outlet 20 for the purified gases.

The lower part 22 of the tower 16 constitutes the condensation zone; it is affected by a plurality of cusp-shaped diaphragms 24, having concavities facing downwards and surmounted by a set of sprayers 26, fed by a detergent liquid consisting of water and glycol. A recirculation system with pump 28 ensures the supply of the sprayers 26 with the detergent liquid taken from the bottom of the tower 16.

In a position above the condensation zone 22 inside the tower 16 there is a drying zone 30. It comprises a plurality of nozzles 32 for blowing in a jet of compressed air.

The upper part of the tower 16 is constituted by the zone of dissociation of the molecules, using the method according to the invention. It includes a plurality of photonic cells 6, the number of which is linked to the flow rate of the gases to be purified, and is also a function of the dimensions of the chimney, of the characteristics of the plant for the abatement of solid (fumes) and liquid (steam) suspensions. , speed and type of suspension.

Regardless of their number, all the cells 6, provided with anode 2 and cathode 4, are powered in parallel with each other by a generator, not shown in the drawings.

The aeriform flow, which enters the tower 16 through the opening 18, meets the diaphragms 24, which together constitute a sort of grid and, thanks to the combined effect of these and the detergent liquid, undergoes condensation between the solid suspensions ( fumes) and liquids (vapors).

Subsequently, the flow of gaseous particles, already deprived of solid and liquid particles, is subjected to drying by the jets of compressed air, which have the function of removing any liquid suspensions still present in the flow itself.

In the case of purification of boiler exhausts it is possible to use a single photonic cell 6 with a very reduced filtration system.

Figure 3 schematically illustrates the use of the method according to the invention for the abatement of the exhaust gases released by an internal combustion engine equipped with a turbo.

As can be seen, the engine 36, schematized here with one of its cylinders, has the exhaust 38 directly connected to a duct 40, which takes the exhaust gases and through a turbine 42 sends them to the photonic cell 6, from which they come out purified. to be sent back through an intercooler unit 44 to the same engine 36.

It is envisaged that any shortage of the engine feed air with respect to that obtained by the gases regenerated in passing through the photonic cell 6, is compensated for by the intake of new air from the outside by the compressor.

This use of the invention is particularly interesting, because it allows the engine to work in a semi-closed cycle and this, in addition to being advantageous from an ecological point of view, as it eliminates exhaust gases, allows for a significant reduction in fuel consumption and over time. itself to increase the specific power of the engine and to reduce its idle speed.

Prototypes made according to the invention and subjected to experimental tests have made it possible to highlight, with the same performance, reductions in consumption of the order of 30%.

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates the use of the method according to the invention for the abatement of the exhaust gases released by an internal combustion engine, without turbo. As can be seen, the exhaust gases leaving the engine 36 pass through a catalytic converter 46 and are introduced into the photonic cell 6 according to the invention and from this into a vacuum valve 48.

An outlet of the vacuum valve 48 leads to a silencer 50 and another outlet leads, through a duct 52, back to the engine 36.

When the engine operates at a normal speed, practically all the purified gases leaving the photonic cell 6 pass into the silencer 50 and from there to the outside. On the other hand, when the engine is running at low speeds, the vacuum valve 48 intervenes, which recycles part of the purified exhaust gases leaving the photonic cell 6 in the engine 36.

Also in the case of this use, a series of experimental tests were carried out on the exhaust gases released by the engine of a FIAT PUNTO and these revealed a maximum reduction in carbon dioxide of about 51% and an increase in oxygen of about 19. %.

In fig. 5 schematically illustrates the principle of using the method according to the invention in the particular use to sterilize and deodorize the air by means of micro oxidations.

In this case a particular photonic cell 6 is used with a plurality of anodes 2 with filiform antennas and with two cathodes 4 with linear development.

Upstream of the photonic cell 6, with reference to the direction of the flow of the air to be treated, there is a septum 54, having the function of continuously washing the air and an electrostatic filter 34, having the function of eliminating suspensions and vapors captured.

The principle on which this use of the photonic cell 6 is based is to eliminate unpleasant odors and to sterilize germs and viruses by means of micro oxidation with Cluster oxygen (or nascent oxygen).

This principle is very different from the technique traditionally used for the neutralization of local air or gas and consists of:

- when mixing the air to be treated with air taken from outside,

- in passing the air to be treated over adsorbent layers and in simultaneously emitting vapors released by spices and balsamic oils,

- in making the air to be treated react with reagents generally based on chlorine, - in subjecting the air to be treated to high temperatures, which cause the splitting of the molecules composed of the vapors that carry odors into thermal ions.

Unlike this traditional technique, the principle on which the present invention is based consists of a physical process which involves in sequence:

- continuous washing with the water to be treated in a cascade of liquid droplets of highly hydrogen peroxide and possibly with the addition of drops of natural essences,

- the filtration of the air by passing through the electrostatic filter 34, - the micro oxygenation of the air in the photonic cell 6.

The washing of the air takes place in the passage of this through the septum, which can be made up of vegetable fibers or glass threads or metal sponges; the air is subsequently subjected to evaporation and subsequent adiabatic condensation and is cooled.

The filtration of the washed and cooled air also involves an adjustment of the most suitable degree of humidity for the subsequent sterilizing photodissociation process. The electrostatic filter 34 is of the glass fiber honeycomb type with a central wire mesh electrode suitably insulated and powered by an electronic generator arranged below the filter itself. The suspensions and vapors captured by the electrostatic filter are thickened in the lower part of the filter itself by electrophoresis and are therefore eliminated.

Finally, in the photonic cell 6, the washed and filtered air, having the appropriate relative humidity rate, meets the photon flux, which carries out the splitting of the O2 molecules into O <+> and O <-> ions (Cluster oxygen) . Each nascent oxygen atom, that is, not bound in a molecule, is very reactive and tends to bind to other molecules, oxidizing them and promoting the degradation of the organic molecules of the infecting agents.

They are also able to attack the molecules of osmogenic odors released by organic substances in a state of fermentation, and this with an oxidation process that irreversibly neutralizes them with reaction times of the order of 1/1000 of a second. This technique can be advantageously used to deodorize the air in rooms.

Furthermore, the oxygen atoms are able to re-associate with each other with maximum reaction times of the order of 1 or 2 seconds and with the formation of pairs, having a negative or positive charge. These pairs in turn reassociate themselves forming neutral molecules, capable of attacking the dust present in suspension in the air, of bacteria, viruses and fungal spores, forming with these dust flakes, which if they are small in size they sediment, while if they are larger, they can be retained by filters, which are generally equipped with air conditioning systems.

The present invention has been illustrated and described in a preferred embodiment thereof and in some of its uses, but it is understood that executive variations and other uses may be envisaged, without however departing from the scope of protection of the present patent for industrial invention.

Claims (22)

CLAIMS 1. Method of dissociation of compound molecules present in gaseous, characterized in that a gaseous flow, devoid of solid and liquid suspensions, is subjected to an emission of photons in the ultraviolet wave range. 2. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the photon flux is generated by creating an electric field between two electrodes, of which the anode consists of a plurality of pointed metal filiform antennas and is connected to the positive pole of a generator of direct current and the cathode consists of a continuous metal surface facing the anode and connected to the negative pole of the generator, the voltage of said generator being such as not to exceed the dielectric field of the aeriform which crosses the space delimited by said electrodes. 3. Device for carrying out the method according to claim 1 and / or 2 characterized in that it comprises at least one treatment chamber (6) with an inlet (12) and an outlet (14) of the aeriform to be treated and with a pair of electrodes (2,4), facing each other, of which the anode (2) is constituted by a plurality of pointed metal filiform antennas and the cathode (4) is constituted by a continuous surface of conductive material, said electrodes being connected to a direct current generator (8,10) having a voltage such as not to exceed the dielectric field of the aeriform which crosses the path of the photons emitted by the anode (2). 4. Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the cathode (4) is constituted by the same external casing of said treatment chamber (6). 5. Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the cathode (4) consists of at least one rectilinear element placed inside said treatment chamber (6). 6. Industrial exhaust gas purification plant using at least one device according to one or more of claims 3 to 5 characterized in that it comprises a plurality of treatment chambers (6) having the electrodes (2,4) connected in parallel between They. 7. Plant according to claim 6 for the purification of exhaust gases containing solid and / or liquid suspensions characterized in that it comprises a tower (16) provided below with an inlet opening (18) for the gases to be purified and above with a the outlet opening (20) of the purified gases is divided vertically into a lower zone (22) for condensation of the suspensions, in a central zone (30) for drying and in an upper zone for dissociation of the molecules. 8. Plant according to claim 7 characterized in that the condensation area (22) of the suspensions is provided with a plurality of cusp-shaped diaphragms (24), having concavities facing downwards and surmounted by a set of sprayers (26) fed with cleaning liquid. 9. Plant according to claim 8 characterized in that said sprayers (26) are fed with a mixture of water and glycol. 10. Plant according to claim 8 characterized in that the sprayers (26) are fed through a recirculation circuit which takes the detergent liquid from the bottom of said tower (16). 11. Plant according to claim 7 characterized in that the drying zone (30) comprises a plurality of nozzles (32) for blowing a jet of compressed air into the gases to be purified. 12. System using at least one device according to one or more of claims 3 to 5 for abatement of exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine (36) equipped with turbo, characterized in that the turbine (42) of the turbo has the inlet side connected to the exhaust (38) of the engine (36) and the delivery side connected to the inlet of the treatment chamber (6) and the turbo compressor has the inlet side connected to the treatment chamber unit and the delivery side connected to the motor intake (36). 13. System according to claim 12 characterized in that an intercooler unit (44) is inserted in the duct connecting the turbo compressor to the engine (36). 14. System according to claim 12 characterized in that the turbo compressor is also provided with an external air intake. 15. System using at least one device according to one or more of claims 3 to 5 for the abatement of exhaust gases released by an external combustion engine without turbo characterized in that in the exhaust duct of said engine, between a muffler catalytic (46) and a silencer (50) the treatment chamber (6) is interposed and downstream of this, a vacuum valve (48), also connected, through a duct (52), to the intake of said engine ( 36). 16. Plant using at least one device according to one or more of claims 3 to 5 for the sterilization and desodorization of the air characterized in that it comprises a conveyor for the flow of air to be treated, a washing unit (52) of said air, an electrostatic filter unit (34) located downstream of said washing unit, with reference to the flow directions of the air to be treated and at least one treatment chamber (6) located downstream of said electrostatic filter unit (34 ). 17. Plant according to claim 16 characterized in that said washing unit (52) comprises a filter consisting of vegetable fibers. 18. Plant according to claim 16 characterized in that said washing unit (52) comprises a filter consisting of glass threads. 19. Plant according to claim 16 characterized in that said washing unit (52) comprises a filter consisting of metal sponges. 20. Plant according to claim 16 characterized in that the electrostatic filter unit (34) comprises a glass wire honeycomb type filter with a central wire mesh electrode. 21. Plant according to claim 16 characterized in that the treatment chamber (6) comprises a plurality of anodes with pointed metal filiform antennas and at least one linear cathode (4) facing all the anodes. 22. Method of dissociation of compound molecules present in aeriforms according to claims 1 and 2, device for carrying out the method according to claims 3 to 5, uses of the device according to claims 6 to 21 and substantially as illustrated and described.