US2773735A - Exhaust gas conditioning method - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 11, 1956 J, P, RUTH EXHAUST GAS CONDITIONING METHOD `F1ed July 27, 1953 mm y, 9 Eu H. 2 VR n m. ,Y Dl h .p e s O J/ Y B 5 2 United States Patent EXHAUST GAS CONDTIONING METHOD Joseph P. Ruth, Denver, Colo.

Application July 27, 1953, Serial No. 376,455

Claims. (Cl. 23-2) As a development from and a variation of the teachings of my United States Patent No. 2,611,680, issued on September 23, 1952, this invention relates to a method for the conditioning of internal combustion engine exhaust gases for the removal therefrom of noxious and irritant properties, and has as an object to provide an improved such method susceptible of practice through various apparatus organizations of the type represented by my pending applications for patent Serial No. 287,141, tiled May 10, 1952, now Patent Number 2,678,261, dated May 1l, 1954, and Serial No. 364,634, filed June 29, 1953.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method for the treatment of internal combustion engine exhaust gases, whereby to condition the same for discharge free from menace to humans, which is susceptible of elective operation with diverse neutralizing agents which are readily available in well-known commercial forms.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved exhaust gas conditioning method susceptible of practice through apparatus adapted to be carried by automotive vehicles and capable of continuous functioning throughout extended time periods without occasion for servicing or maintenance.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in the nature and sequential relation of steps constituting a method susceptible of practice through apparatus of the type represented in the accompanying drawing, all as hereinafter set forth and pointed out in my claims.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a vertical section taken substantially axially through one simple form of apparatus unit appropriate for practice of the invention.

Figure 2 is an elevation, partly in section to disclose otherwise concealed construction, of alternative apparatus appropriate for practice of the improved method.

The free discharge to atmosphere of internal combustion exhaust gases, particularly the gases generated through operation of Diesel-type engines, is a well-known menace to human life and health which becomes critical when the gases are present in confined spaces and congested areas. A practical method effective to condition such exhaust gases for discharge without hazardous or annoying eiect upon humans is taught in my earlier patent, above noted, a feature of the patented method being the washing of a mixture of the gas with water over and through an intersticed alkaline diffusing medium, such as broken lime rock, which is substantially insoluble in water and soluble in the characteristic acidity of the gas- Water mixture, and uprising that portion of the gas not mixed with water through the wetted alkaline'charge. While the use of broken lime rock, or an equivalent, as a dilusing medium in the treatment of exhaust gases is entirely practical and wholly eiective, it has been determined that the exhaust gases may be adequately conditioned in the manner and for the purpose elaborated in my earlier patent by forming a mixture of the gases with "ice 2 an alkaline solution, or with water carryingfnely-divi'cled alkaline material, and then washing the resulting wetted gases and gas mixtures through an intersticed diffusing charge of inert material, whereby to establish repetitive intimate contacts of the gas constituents with the alkaline agent dissolved in or carried by the water.

Giving effect of the determinations now established, the improved method consists inalkalizing a charge of water in a suitable container by dissolving or suspending an alkaline agent therein, inflowing the gases to be conditioned to said alkalized water charge in a manner to agitate the charge and to mix the gases therein and therewith, repetitiously washing the alkalized solution over and through an intersticed diffusing medium of inert material as an incident of the gas input to the alkalized Water charge, and passing the exhaust gases through the wetted diffusing medium prior to escape of the gases to atmosphere.

As should be manifest, alkalizing ofthe water charge may be accomplished through the use of any one of many well-known agents; successful operation of the method requiring only that the agent be such as will persist in the solution and maintain a requisite degree' of alkalinity therein at the elevated operating temperatures generated by the hot exhaust gases introduced to the solution. A suitable alkalizing agent is pulverized or inelyground lime rock which is insolube in water and' hence is carried in a state of suspension by the water charge as the latter is agitated and circulated by the gas input thereto. The gas-water mixture resulting when theV exhaust gases are charged into the Water is characteristically acid and consequently reacts with the lime rock particles suspended in the water to elect neutralization of the mixture and a gradual erosion of the lime rock particles as the particle surfaces react and are repetitiously freshly exposed. When the pulverized lime rock is utilized, washing of the so-alkalized water through an inert diffusing medium results in a dissemination of the lime rock particles throughout the medium where they function to react with the acid factor of the wetted gas traversing said medium, thus to thoroughly neutralize the gas acidity by means of an agent which is constantly renewed within the medium as the alkalized solution is repetitiously washed therethrough. Alternative to use of the pulverized lime rock, and equivalently eiective in the practice of the improved method, alkaline agents, such as sodium salts, calcium salts, and the like, may be dissolved in the water charge to alkalize the latter and the said alkalized water may be circulated through and to wet the diifusing medium with neutralizing effect on the gases and on the gas-water mixtures traversing the medium.

Apparatus appropriate for practice of the improved method as above set forth may be variously constructed and organized, typical apparatus units appropriate for practice of the invention being illustrated in my pending applications above noted and represented by the two iigures of the accompanying drawing. Figure l of the drawing shows an apparatus unit of the general type disclosed in my pending application No. 287,141, in which the numeral 10 designates a closed housing adapted to confine a charge 11 of water. An exhaust gas ow line 12 leads in a customary manner from the manifold of an internal combustion engine and upstands centrally within the housing 10 and through the water charge 11 as avertical conduit 13 terminating in an open upper end below the top closure of the housing, Openings 14 intersect the wall of the conduit 13 just above the bottom of the housing 10 to permit inflow from the charge 11 to the conduit interior, so that How of exhaust gases through the line l2 is applied to pump water from -thc charge 11 upwardly through the conduit 13 .andout'of theV open upper end of the latter, thereby circulating and agitating the water charge with consequent thorough Wetting of the incoming gases whenever exhaust gas ow obtains in the line 12. A shroud 15 spacedly surrounds theV upper end of the conduit 13 within the housing 10 and depends from sealed relation with the top of the housing to terminate in an upper end preferably above the normal level of the charge 11, and a perforate or foraminous baille 16 is carried by and inthe lower end of the shroud 15 to support a charge of inert diffusing material 17 within and to fill said shroud between the baille 16 and the delivery end of the conduit 13; said diiusing charge being constituted from any appropriate intersticed material, such as steel wool, glass ber, or the like. Overlying the did-using charge 17 at and about the upper end of the conduit 13, an annular distributing flange 1S functions to spread the outow from said conduit to outer areas of the dilusing charge. Organized as shown and described, the gas and gas and Water mixtures delivered through the upper end of the conduit 13 downwardly traverse the shroud 15 and its charge 17 for escape through the baille 16 and about lower marginsV of the shroud. The gases washedthrough the charge 17 uprise within the housing exteriorly of the shroud and pass thence through suitable vents 19 for escape to atmosphere, as through a ilow line or manifold 20. Since practice of the improved method through apparatus of the type shown by Figure l will gradually deplete the water charge 11 and Will also attenuate the linitial alkalinity of said charge, it is expedient to provide means for replenishing the water charge and for supplying additional quantities of the alkalizing agents to the charge, as may be necessary or desirable. Obviously, various expedients may be utilized for adding water and alkalizing agents to the interior of the housing 10 without interrupting operation of the unit, and any practical form of such means is exemplified by a container 21 exterior to the housing 10 above the level of the charge 11 and communicating with the interior of the housing for gravity delivery of its contents thereinto by means of a spout 22 furnished with a valve 23. The container 21 may be arranged to store and to feed interiorly of the housing 10 supplemental amounts of Water, alkalized water, or alkalizing agents, either solid or liquid, all as may be appropriate to the practice of the method as adapted to Y use through the illustrated apparatus.

The apparatus shown by Figure 2 of the drawing as appropriate for practice of the improved method is substantially identical with that disclosed in my pending application Serial No. 364,634, and functions in much the same manner and to the same ultimate effect as that shown by Figure land hereinabove described. In Figure 2, the exhaust gas ow line 12 delivers to the upper end of Va closed housing 24 confining a diffusing charge 17 of inert material supported upon a foraminous baflle 16. From the lower end of the housing 24 a ilow line 25 leads to the lower end of an upright, elongated housing 26 and iscxtended interiorly and upwardly of said-latter housing as a conduit 27 having an open discharge end within and adjacent the upper end of the associated housing. The housing 26 is adapted to confine a charge of alkalized water arranged for metered supply'to the line 25 through the agency of a valved by-pass 28 leading from a lower portion of the housing to delivery at a jet 29 within the end of the line 25 alined with the conduit 27, and a container 21 is associated for feed of its contents to the housing 26 through a spout 22 and valve 23 in the same manner and for the same purpose set forth with respect to the apparatus of Figure l. A trap 3i? is associated with the delivery end of the conduit 27 within the housing 26 for the collection of a portion of the liquid discharged from said conduit under the influence of exhaust gas flow throughthe system, and a line 31 leads from said trap 3G through a wall of the housing 26 to direct liquid collected in said trap through suitable agencies and a line 32 to outow across a distributing ange 18 partially overlying the upper end of the charge 17 within the housing 24. Thus, with an alkalized solution in the housing 26 and an input of exhaust gas to the housing 24 through the line 12, a meter supply of solution is pumped through the conduit 27 under the inuence of the gas ow, and a portion of thel pumped solution is collected in the trap 30 and feeds thence through the lines 31 and 32 to percolate through and wet the charge 17 of the housing 24, thus conditioning said charge for the neutralization of the acid constituents carried by the gas traversing the charge and ultimately escaping to atmosphere through a line 33 leading from the upper end of the housing 26.

Through either of the apparatus organizations illustrated, or through any functionally equivalent structure, the improved method lis given effect by an arrangement which applies the exhaust gas ow to agitate an alkalized water charge and to circulate portions of said charge in a manner to thoroughly wet the gas and vto form a gassolution mixture; the gas ow is further applied to cir-v culate the solution' for continuous and repetitions wetting of an inert diffusing medium interposed in the path of. gas flow between the source of gas and atmosphere; and provision is made for maintaining the alkalized solutionY at a desired level and in an appropriate concentration.

Since variationsin the reagent employed, in the nature of the diffusing medium, and in the form and construction of apparatus appropriate for practice of theV method are clearly within the contemplation of the invention andl may be accommodated without departing from the spirit of the invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing-description.

I claim as my invention:v

l. The method of conditioning internal combustionV gas-liquid mixtures entrained with the gas VW to and Y.

with sustained wetting effect'upo'n said d-ilusing medium -as an incident of and in direct reaction to such flow, whereby to maintain 'alkalized solution dispersed for intimate contact with the `gases in the path of gas iow` through said medium. Y

2. The method of conditioning internal combustion engme'exhaust gases to non-hazardous and unobnoxious form free from entrained solids and'acidicconstituents l which consists of owing the gases under the iniluence of their discharge pressures through an intersticed diffusing medium inert with respect tothe gases and gas-water mixtures thereof, feeding an alkalized water solution to the gas flow with resultant generation and entrainment of a gas-liquid mixture, directing solution and gas-liquid mixtures entrained'with the gas How to'and with sustained wetting eiect upon said diiusing medium as an incident of and in directreaction to such flow, whereby to maintain alkalized solution dispersed for intimate contact with the gases in the path ofgas flow through said medium, and recovering the drip from saidrnedium in the path of and for automatic Yrecirculation with the gas ow. f

3. The'method of conditioning'internal combustion engine exhaust gases to non-hazardous and unobnoxious form free from 'entrained Asolids and acidic constituents which-consists of alkalizing a supply of watery-feeding the alkalized Vsolution to the gas discharge flow, with resultant agitation and entrainment of the liquor, Vflowing the gases and entrained liquor under the influence of the gas discharge pressures through an intersticed diffusing medium inert with respect to the gases and gas water mixtures thereof, whereby to maintain alkalized solution dispersed for intimate contact with the gases in the path of gas oW through said medium, recovering the drip from said medium in said solution for automatic recirculation with the gas iow in direct reaction to the iiow pressure thereof, and diverting from said drip and to atmosphere the gases passed through said medium.

4. The method of conditioning internal combustion engine exhaust gases to non-hazardous and unobnoxous form free from entrained solids and acidic constituents which consists of alkalizing a supply of water, flowing the gases under the influence of their discharge pressures through an intersticed diffusing medium inert with respect to the gases and gas-water mixtures thereof, feeding the alkalized solution to the gas outflow from said medium with resultant agitation and entrainment of the liquor, diverting entrained solution from the gas ow to and with sustained wetting effect upon said medium, whereby to maintain alkalized solution dispersed for intimate contact with the gases in the path of gas ow through said medium, Venting to atmosphere the vapor constituent of the fiow, and recovering the drip from said medium in and for automatic recirculation with the gas outow therefrom.

5. In a method of conditioning internal combustion engine exhaust gases to non-hazardous and unobnoxious form in automatic reaction to flow of said gases under the sole influence of their discharge pressures which is characterized by the feeding of an alkalized water solution to the gas ow with resultant agitation and entrainment of the liquor, the steps of directing the entrained liquor to and with sustained wetting effect upon an intersticed diffusing medium inert with respect to the gases and liquor as an incident of its ow with the gas, whereby to maintain alkalized solution dispersed in the ow path of and for intimate contact with vapors traversing the medium, and passing the exhaust gases through the so-wetted medium.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 991,861 Lemberg May 9, 1911 1,860,298 Stelzner May 24, 1932 2,524,088 Shaw Oct. 3, 1950 2,611,680 Ruth Sept. 23, 1952 2,677,601 Ruth May 4, 1954

Claims (1)

1. THE METHOD OF CONDITIONING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE EXHAUST GASES TO NON-HAZARDOUS AND UNOBNOXIOUS FORM FREE FROM ENTRAINED SOLIDS AND ACIDIC CONSTITUENTS WHICH CONSISTS OF FLOWING THE GASES UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THEIR DISCHARGE PRESSURES THROUGH AN INTERSTICED DIFFUSING MEDIUM INERT WITH RESPECT TO THE GASES AND GASWATER MIXTURES THEREOF, FEEDING AN ALKALIZED WATER SOLUTION TO THE GAS FLOW WITH RESULTANT GENERATION AND ENTRAINMENT OF A GAS-LIQUID MIXTURE, AND DIRECTING SOLUTION AND GAS-LIQUID MIXTURES ENTRAINED WITH THE GAS FLOW TO AND WITH SUSTAINED WETTING EFFECT UPON SAID DIFFUSING MEDIUM AS AN INCIDENT OF AND IN DIRECT REACTION TO SUCH FLOW, WHEREBY TO MAINTAIN ALKALIZED SOLUTION DISPERSED FOR INTIMATE CONTACT WITH THE GASES IN THE PATH OF GAS FLOW THROUGH SAID MEDIUM.

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