Stack gas emissions control system

Claim 1

A system for controlling SO x and NO x emissions of an exhaust gas flow generated by a combustion apparatus comprising: an electrochemical reactor in communication with said combustion apparatus so that the exhaust gas generated thereby circulates through said electrochemical reactor which includes an inlet and an outlet with the inlet coupled to a fan means whereby the exhaust gas from the combustion apparatus is circulated through said electrochemical reactor at a flow rate of from about 0.5 to 1 Mach number, which reactor includes a predetermined number of hexagonal modular units each comprising electronic cathode means spaced from anode means, each of which are disposed within said reactor to effect substantial contact with the exhaust gas circulated therethrough, said electronic cathode means comprising an array of spaced-apart pin-type cathode members spaced from a planar anode member, and means for providing a d.c. potential between said cathode means which are resistively balanced, and said anode means for establishing a uniform stable glow discharge current such as to provide efficient electronic activation of SO x and NO x whereby a field gradient of between about 7 to 20 kV per centimeter is established such that arcing does not occur and whereby the higher the velocity of flow rate of the exhaust gas through said electrochemical reactor, the higher the glow discharge current possible without arc breakdown in the exhaust gas wherein SO x and NO x are electronically activated or reacted to effect the chemical modification thereof, thus rendering a thermodynamically stable solid product, and filter means in communication with said electrochemical reactor outlet means for filtering the stable solid product from the electrochemically treated exhaust gas.

Claim 2

A system for controlling SO x and NO x emissions of an exhaust gas flow generated by a combustion apparatus comprising: an electrochemical reactor in communication with said combustion apparatus so that the exhaust gas generated thereby circulates through said electrochemical reactor which includes an inlet and an outlet with the inlet coupled to a fan means whereby the exhaust gas from the combustion apparatus is circulated through said electrochemical reactor at a flow rate of from about 0.5 to 1 Mach number, which reactor includes a predetermined number of hexagonal modular units each comprising electronic cathode means spaced from anode means, each of which are disposed within said reactor to effect substantial contact with the exhaust gas circulated therethrough, said electronic cathode means comprising an array of spaced-apart pin-type cathode members spaced from a planar anode member, and means for providing a d.c. potential between said cathode means which are resistively balanced, and said anode means for establishing a uniform stable glow discharge current such as to provide efficient electronic activation of SO x and NO x whereby a field gradient of between about 7 to 20 kV per centimeter is established such that arcing does not occur and whereby the higher the velocity of flow rate of the exhaust gas through said electrochemical reactor, the higher the glow discharge current possible without arc breakdown in the exhaust gas wherein SO x and NO x are electronically activated or reacted to effect the chemical modification thereof, thus rendering a thermodynamically stable solid product, and filter means in communication with said electrochemical reactor outlet means for filtering the stable solid product from the electrochemically treated exhaust gas.