Apparatus for reducing non-gaseous pollutants

Claim 1

Apparatus for removing combustible, non-gaseous pollutants from gaseous combustion products containing the same, comprising: (a) transmission line means adapted to receive said gaseous combustion products from a source of said gaseous combustion products and pass the same through said transmission line means; (b) first branch line means and second branch line means in communication with said transmission line means and adapted to receive said gaseous combustion products from said transmission line means and pass the same through said first and second branch line means, each of said first and second branch line means, including: (1) filter means adapted to filter at least a significant amount of said combustible, non-gaseous pollutants from said gaseous combustion products; (2) normally-closed, combustion-supporting gas supply line means in communication with said branch line means and adapted to supply combustion supporting gas to said filter means; (3) ignition means adjacent said filter means and adapted to ignite and burn combustible, non-gaseous pollutants collected in said filter means; and (4) sensing means in said branch line means downstream of said filter means and adapted to sense one of the pressure or the flow rate of gaseous combustion products passing through said branch line means; (c) valve means adapted to simultaneously close one of said first and second branch line means and prevent the passage of said gaseous combustion products therethrough and open the other of said first and second branch line means and pass said gaseous combustion products therethrough; and (d) control means operatively connecting said sensing means in said first and second branch line means to said combustion supporting gas supply line means in communication with said first and second branch line means, said ignition means in said first and second branch line means and said valve means and adapted to close one of said first and second branch line means, open said combustion supporting gas supply line means in communication with said closed branch line means to supply combustion supporting gas thereto, actuate said ignition means in said closed branch line means to ignite and burn combustible, non-gaseous pollutants collected in the filter means in said closed branch line means and open the other of said first and second branch line means and pass gaseous combustion products therethrough, when the pressure or flow rate, respectively, sensed by said sensing means in the one of said first and second branch line means through which gaseous combustion products reaches a predetermined value.