US20120216511A1

US20120216511A1 - Instantaneous neutralization and purification device for smoke and exhaust gas discharged from automobile

Info

Publication number: US20120216511A1
Application number: US13/037,266
Authority: US
Inventors: Wen-Lo Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-02-28
Filing date: 2011-02-28
Publication date: 2012-08-30

Abstract

Disclosed is an instantaneous neutralization and purification device for smoke and exhaust gas discharged from an automobile, which includes a first purification treatment device connected to an exhaust pipe, a connection pipe connected to the first purification treatment device, and a second purification treatment device connected to the connection pipe. The first purification treatment device includes a combustion system and a filtration system. A first pressure sensor detects an exhaust gas pressure greater than a threshold and signals a fuel tank to supply fuel to the combustion system for combustion and heating the filtration system to cause combustion of carbon build-up. A second pressure sensor detects the exhaust gas pressure becoming lower than a threshold and signals the fuel tank to stop supply of fuel. The exhaust gas is then conducted through the connection pipe, where an alkaline solution is sprayed to neutralize acids of the exhaust gas.

Description

(a) TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a device that is capable of automatically removing carbon build-up formed in an exhaust gas filtration system that is mounted at a rear end of an automobile exhaust pipe to maintain smooth emission of exhaust gas of the automobile engine and to neutralize acidic exhaust gas and then fast reduce temperature for further cooperation with an exhaust gas purification unit to realize optimum purification of the exhaust gas.

(b) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Both gasoline engine and diesel engine emit exhaust gas when it is put in operation. Severe emission of exhaust gas causes pollution of the atmosphere. Thus, it is a major issue of today to adopt whatever measures, in both technology and policy, to reduce the pollution caused by exhaust emission of diesel automobiles, in order to improve air quality. Although a gasoline engine does not generate such an obvious pollution as a diesel engine, the gasoline engine still discharges toxicant substances, including hydrocarbons, which are also harmful to human body and the surroundings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of the present invention is to overcome the problem that in a conventional automobile engine that comprises an exhaust pipe to which a filtration system is mounted, operation temperature of the engine that is selectively raised to cause combustion and thus removal of carbon built on a filter core surface of the filtration system may not be properly increased due to travel environment and conditions of the automobile and the difference of individual driving practices, leading to incapability of combusting and removing the carbon build-up and leaving the carbon build-up in the filtration system to affect the smooth emission of exhaust gas and engine performance.
Another objective of the present invention is to overcome the problem that a conventional exhaust gas filtration system coupled to an exhaust system of automobile is not effective in realizing optimum initial purification of the exhaust gas in a low temperature environment.
The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a second purification treatment device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the second purification treatment device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention provides an instantaneous neutralization and purification device for smoke and exhaust gas discharged from an automobile, which comprises a first purification treatment device 1, a second purification treatment device 2, and a connection pipe 3 that is provided with at least one alkaline solution atomizing spray nozzles 4. The first purification treatment device 1 comprises, sequentially arranged from an inlet end 111 to an outlet end 112 of an exhaust pipe 11, a combustion system 113 and a filtration system 17. The combustion system 113 comprises a stainless steel barrel 124 arranged therein. The barrel 124 is coupled to a flaming device 12. The flaming device 12 comprises a nozzle 121 that is connected to a fuel pipe 122 and an automatic ignition device 13 arranged adjacent to the nozzle 121. The fuel pipe 122 is connected to a fuel tank 123, whereby a pressure pump conveys fuel from the fuel pipe 122 to the nozzle 121 for ejection and atomization. The automatic ignition device 13 is connected to a direct-current power supply of an automobile in which the device of the present invention is mounted and is electrically connected to a control system, so as to generate spark at a desired time to ignite the atomized fuel sprayed from the nozzle 121. Arranged upstream the flaming device 12 is a first pressure sensor 15A, which in the present invention comprises a back pressure detector for pressure detection and is located at a predetermined position on a side wall of the combustion system 113 and electrically connected to the control system. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first pressure sensor 15A and the fuel tank 123 are electrically connected to a microcomputer control system 14.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the filtration system 17 comprises a noble metal catalyst converter, which is arranged at a position upstream inside the outlet end 112 of the exhaust pipe 11 and comprises, in sequence, a direct-pass type noble metal catalyst ceramic filtration core 171 and a honeycomb type noble metal catalyst ceramic filtration core 172. The filtration system 17 has a side wall to which a temperature sensor 16 is mounted at a predetermined location and a second pressure sensor 15B coupled to the outlet end 112 at a predetermined location. The temperature sensor 16 and the second pressure sensor 15B are both electrically connected to the microcomputer control system 14.
FIG. 1 also shows, in the present invention, a connection pipe 3 connected to the outlet end 112 of the first purification treatment device 1 and the connection pipe 3 comprises an alkaline solution atomizing spray nozzle 4. Exhaust gas moves through the first purification treatment device 1 and is thus filtered for the first-time purification, and then conducted into the connection pipe 3, where the alkaline solution atomizing spray nozzle 4 arranged in the connection pipe 3 atomizes and sprays, at a predetermined time, a predetermined amount of an alkaline solution (such as plant alkaloid solution, chemically-synthesized alkaline solution, and so on) into the connection pipe 3 to neutralize and convert acidic substances contained in the exhaust gas into non-toxicant substance and also carry out temperature reduction and deodorization for the exhaust gas. The neutralized exhaust gas is then supplied to the second purification treatment device 2 for second-time purification treatment to prevent a large amount of acidic gas from discharging into the atmosphere to cause pollution.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, according to the present invention, a second purification treatment device 2 is connected to an end of the connection pipe 3. The second purification treatment device 2 comprises an exhaust gas transmission unit 21 that is connected to the connection pipe 3 and an exhaust gas purification treatment unit 23 that is connected to the exhaust gas transmission unit 21. The exhaust gas transmission unit 21 comprises a plurality of transmission tubes 211, a first retainer plate 212, and a second retainer plate 213. The transmission tubes 211 are preferably arranged in a loop or coil form to increase the overall length and surface area thereof in order to extend the time for contacting atmosphere. The transmission tubes 211 are preferably tubes made of copper based materials to provide good property of heat conduction and heat dissipation. The first retainer plate 212 and the second retainer plate 213 are preferably circular plates forming a plurality of through holes. The first retainer plate 212 is mounted at an outlet port of the connection pipe 3. Opposite ends of each of the transmission tubes 211 respectively extend through the through holes of the first retainer plate 212 and the second retainer plate 213. The transmission tubes 211 so mounted to the retainer plates are spaced from each other by a proper distance. Preferably, an outer surface of each of the transmission tubes 211 is coated with a heat dissipative substance (such as boron nitride) to improve the performance of heat absorption and heat dissipation.
FIG. 2 also shows that the exhaust gas purification treatment unit 23 comprises a head portion 231 that forms a chamber 2310 and a passage 232 connected to the head portion 231. The head portion 231 is provided for coupling to the second retainer plate 213. The head portion 231 comprises a purifying gas generator 24, which generates and supplies a gaseous purifying substance into the chamber 2310 to mix with the exhaust gas. The passage 232 that is connected to the head portion 231 contains therein a porous ceramic catalyst filtration core 25 that functions to filter out tiny suspension particles.
FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the second purification treatment device 2, which has a structure similar to that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2. However, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the exhaust gas transmission unit 21 comprises a plurality of transmission tubes 211 each of which is of a spiral form and a predetermined distance is present between adjacent transmission tubes 211 to serve as a heat dissipation space. This embodiment provides the same function of purification of exhaust gas and removal of suspension particles as that of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
In a regular operation condition of the present invention, the combustion system 113 of the first purification treatment device 1 is normally inoperative, so that the exhaust gas discharged from an automobile is allowed to directly pass through the combustion system 113 to enter the filtration system 17, whereby pollutant substances contained in the exhaust gas are removed by the direct-pass type noble metal catalyst ceramic filtration core 171 and the honeycomb type noble metal catalyst ceramic filtration core 172 of the filtration system 17 before the exhaust gas moves into the connection pipe 3, where alkaline solution atomizing device 4 timely sprays a proper amount of atomized alkaline solution (such as plant alkaloid solution, chemically-synthesized alkaline solution, and so on) into the connection pipe 3 to neutralize the acidic substances contained in the exhaust gas and then the exhaust gas is discharged into the second purification treatment device 2. Under the condition that the exhaust gas is smoothly discharged from the first purification treatment device 1 in a substantially unimpeded manner, the first pressure sensor 15A detects a back pressure of the exhaust gas within the combustion system 113 that is below a predetermined threshold, so that the control system does not activate the flaming device 12. However, when the device is set in operation for quite a while, the filtration system 17 becomes gradually blocked due to carbon build-up. Under this condition, the back pressure inside the combustion system gradually increases and is detected by the second pressure sensor 15B, which then issues a signal to the microcomputer control system 14, so that the control system instructs the pressure pump of the fuel tank 123 to deliver fuel through the fuel pipe 122 into the nozzle 121 for atomization and ejection, and the ignition device 13 ignite the atomized fuel to set a flame for heating. The high temperature is then transmitted to the filtration system 17 to cause combustion of the carbon build-up on direct-pass type noble metal catalyst ceramic filtration core 171 and the honeycomb type noble metal catalyst ceramic filtration core 172 thereby clearing off the carbon. When the carbon build-up has been cleared to quite an extent, the filtration system 17 resumes an unimpeded condition so that the first pressure sensor 15A detects the back pressure inside the combustion system 113 dropping to a level below the threshold and issues a signal to the microcomputer control system 14, whereby the control system instructs the flaming device 12 to stop operation and the exhaust gas discharged from the diesel engine is allowed to directly pass into the filtration system 17 to be filtered thereby and then discharged. The process is repeatedly performed to ensure the carbon build-up can be effectively removed at a timely manner.
When the exhaust gas passes through the connection pipe 3 and is neutralized by the atomized alkaline solution to then enter the second purification treatment device 2, the exhaust gas is conducted through each of the transmission tubes 211 of the exhaust gas transmission unit 21. Since the transmission tubes 211 are of a great number and set in the form of loop or coil or spiral that increases the overall length thereof, the overall surface area is expanded to allow the surrounding atmosphere to absorb quite a fraction of the heat carried by the exhaust gas. Air streams caused by the movement of the automobile then remove the heat so that the exhaust gas that enters the chamber 2310 of the head portion 231 can be of a temperature reduced to a proper or predetermined level. Under this condition, the gaseous purifying gas (such as ozone or urea) sprayed by the purifying gas generator 24 can be mixed with the exhaust gas inside the chamber 2310 at a low temperature condition to decompose toxicant substances contained in the exhaust gas and thus purify the exhaust gas. The purified exhaust gas is then discharged into the passage 232 to have tiny suspension particles entraining therewith removed by the porous ceramic catalyst filtration core 25 and eventually discharged to the atmosphere.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. An instantaneous neutralization and purification device for smoke and exhaust gas discharged from an automobile, comprising:

a first purification treatment device, which comprises, in sequence from an inlet end to an outlet end inside an exhaust pipe:

a combustion system, which comprises a barrel, the barrel being coupled to a flaming device, the flaming device comprising a nozzle connected to a fuel pipe, an automatic ignition device being arranged adjacent to the nozzle, the fuel pipe being connected to a fuel tank to allow a pressure pump to convey fuel through the fuel pipe into the nozzle for atomization and ejection, the ignition device being electrically connected to a control system for generating a spark at a predetermined time to ignite the atomized fuel sprayed from the nozzle, a first pressure sensor being arranged upstream the flaming device, and

a filtration system, which comprises noble metal ceramic filter cores to filter the exhaust gas, a second pressure sensor being arranged at an outlet end rearward of the filtration system;

a connection pipe, which has an end connected to the outlet end of the first purification treatment device, the connection pipe comprising an alkaline solution atomizing spray nozzle, the alkaline solution atomizing spray nozzle spraying an alkaline solution into the connection pipe to neutralize acid contained in the exhaust gas; and

a second purification treatment device, which comprises an exhaust gas transmission unit connected to an opposite end of the connection pipe and an exhaust gas purification treatment unit connected to the exhaust gas transmission unit, the exhaust gas transmission unit comprising a plurality independent transmission tubes showing predetermined heat dissipation property, each of the transmission tubes having two ends respectively connected to the connection pipe and the exhaust gas purification treatment unit, the transmission tubes being spaced from each other by a predetermined distance, the exhaust gas being discharged from the connection pipe to pass through the transmission tubes to effectively reduce temperature and then supplied to the exhaust gas purification treatment unit for purification treatment.

2. The instantaneous neutralization and purification device according to claim 1, wherein the filtration system comprises a honeycomb type noble metal catalyst ceramic filtration core.

3. The instantaneous neutralization and purification device according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust gas purification treatment unit comprises a head portion that defines a chamber and a passage connected to the head portion, the head portion comprising a purifying gas generator, which generates and supplies a gaseous substance into the chamber to mix with the exhaust gas.

4. The instantaneous neutralization and purification device according to claim 3, wherein the passage comprises a porous ceramic catalyst filtration core.

5. The instantaneous neutralization and purification device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission tubes are of a loop form.

6. The instantaneous neutralization and purification device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission tubes are of a spiral form.