Solid state electrochemical pollution control device

Claim 2

A solid state electrochemical cell adapted to alter the composition of a gas stream passing therethrough comprising: a porous, high surface area body consisting essentially of a darkened porous, solid ceramic electrolyte which permits the passage of gas stream components therethrough, said body having a first surface and a second surface spaced apart therefrom, and a blocking portion of the body having a transference number of from about 0.50 to 0.9999; an electronically conductive porous coating disposed over the first surface of the electrolyte body, of sufficient porosity to permit passage of gas stream components; a conductive coating disposed over the second surface of the electrolyte body; a first electrode lead contacting the porous conductive coating disposed over the first surface; a second opposing electrode lead contacting the conductive coating disposed over the second surface; a voltage source connected between said first and second opposing electrode leads.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein the electrolyte has a transference number of from 0.9 to 0.9999.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 wherein the electrolyte has a transference number of from about 0.95 to about 0.9999.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 wherein said porous, high surface area darkened solid electrolyte is a metal oxide.

Claim 6

The device of claim 1 wherein said porous, high surface area darkened solid electrolyte is a stabilized metal oxide.

Claim 7

The device of claim 1 wherein said porous, high surface area darkened solid electrolyte comprises an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of zirconium, hafnium, titanium, calcium, niobium, barium, strontium, vanadium, tantalum, magnesium, cerium, bismuth, samarium, yttrium, scandium, gadolinium, lanthanum, erbium, praseodymium and molybdenum.

Claim 8

The device of claim 4 wherein said metal oxide is yttria stabilized zirconia.

Claim 9

The device of claim 4 wherein said metal oxide is calcia stabilized zirconia.

Claim 10

The device of claim 4 wherein said metal oxide is gadolinia stabilized ceria.

Claim 11

The device of claim 4 wherein said metal oxide is erbia stabilized bismuth sesquaoxide.

Claim 12

The device of claim 4 wherein said metal oxide is yttria stabilized thorea.

Claim 13

The device of claim 4 wherein said metal oxide is magnesia stabilized zirconia.

Claim 14

The device of claim 1 wherein the surfaces of said electrolyte has a transference number of from 0.001 to 0.999 and a blocking portion of said electrolyte between said electrodes has a transference number of from 0.90 to 0.9999.

Claim 15

The device of claim 1 wherein the crystal lattice of said electrolyte contains between about 10 parts per million to 10 mole percent of a transition metal.

Claim 16

The device of claim 1 wherein the crystal lattice of said electrolyte contains from about 0.2 to 80 mole percent of a non-transition metal.

Claim 17

The cell of claim 1 positioned within an exhaust pathway of an internal combustion engine.

Claim 18

The cell of claim 16 wherein the engine is moveable.

Claim 19

The cell of claim 16 wherein the engine is stationary.

Claim 20

The cell of claim 16 wherein the engine is a turbine engine.

Claim 21

The cell of claim 16 wherein the turbine is moveable.

Claim 22

The device of claim 1 wherein the ceramic body has a honeycomb structure.

Claim 23

The device of claim 1 wherein the ceramic body is an open cell foam.

Claim 24

A dry, solid state electrochemical scrubber assembly adapted for use in a gaseous combustion exhaust stream containing noxious components comprising: a cell having a high surface area, porous solid electrolyte body having a transference number of less than 1 and greater than 0.50, said body permitting the passage of said exhaust stream therethrough, and having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface; an upstream sealing member in fluid tight communication with said first end of said cell; a downstream sealing member in fluid tight communication with said second end of said cell; a first discrete gas permeable electronically conductive coating disposed on a portion of said cell surface; a second discrete conductive coating disposed in the interior of said cell; a first electrode lead cooperating with said first conductive coating; a second electrode lead cooperating with said second conductive coating; and the first and second electrode leads being of opposing polarities to one another and cooperating with a voltage source.

Claim 25

A dry, solid state electrochemical scrubber assembly adapted for use in a gaseous combustion exhaust stream containing noxious components comprising: a cell having a high surface area, porous solid electrolyte body having a transference number of less than 1 and greater than 0.50, said body permitting the passage of said exhaust stream therethrough, and having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface; an upstream sealing member in fluid tight communication with said first end of said cell; a downstream sealing member in fluid tight communication with said second end of said cell; a first discrete gas permeable electronically conductive coating disposed on a portion of said cell surface; a second discrete conductive coating disposed in the interior of said cell; a first electrode lead cooperating with said first conductive coating; a second electrode lead cooperating with said second conductive coating; and the first and second electrode leads being of opposing polarities to one another and cooperating with a voltage source.

Claim 26

A solid state electrochemical ceramic cell adapted to alter the composition of a fluid stream containing a noxious component passing therethrough comprising: a porous high surface area body having a fluid ingress side and a fluid egress side, said body comprising a high surface area, porous solid electrolyte having a transference number of from about 0.50 to 0.9999 and permitting the passage of a fluid stream therethrough; a first end seal member disposed at the ingress end of the cell adapted to cooperate in fluid tight engagement with a fluid stream ingress conduit; a second end seal member disposed at the egress end of the cell and adapted to cooperate in fluid tight engagement with a fluid stream egress conduit; a fluid communicating passageway through the cell extending from the ingress end to the egress end and adapted to carrying fluid components through the cell; a first electronically conductive region on the surface of the cell and a second conductive region in the cell body; a first electrode lead contacting the first conductive region and a second opposing electrode lead contacting the second conductive region.

Claim 27

A solid state electrochemical ceramic cell adapted to alter the composition of a fluid stream containing a noxious component passing therethrough comprising: a porous high surface area body having a fluid ingress side and a fluid egress side, said body comprising a high surface area, porous solid electrolyte having a transference number of from about 0.50 to 0.9999 and permitting the passage of a fluid stream therethrough; a first end seal member disposed at the ingress end of the cell adapted to cooperate in fluid tight engagement with a fluid stream ingress conduit; a second end seal member disposed at the egress end of the cell and adapted to cooperate in fluid tight engagement with a fluid stream egress conduit; a fluid communicating passageway through the cell extending from the ingress end to the egress end and adapted to carrying fluid components through the cell; a first electronically conductive region on the surface of the cell and a second conductive region in the cell body; a first electrode lead contacting the first conductive region and a second opposing electrode lead contacting the second conductive region.