US5569441A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for accelerating the heating rate of a fixed bed catalyst by supplying supplemental energy
Assignee: Evonik Operations GmbH
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Filing: 1994-12-05
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Granted: 1996-10-29
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Expires: 2014-12-05
Abstract
Abstract A process and apparatus for accelerating the rate of heating of a fixed bed catalyst to a light-off temperature for a catalytic reaction is disclosed. Supplementary energy from an external energy source is provided to a predetermined area of the catalyst bed for a limited period of time. The fixed bed catalyst may be present as a solid body or in bulk form and has a gas inlet area defined by a cross-section of the flow through channels of the reaction media. The supplementary energy is supplied to one or more isolated sections of the gas inlet area of the catalyst. Such a system significantly reduces the energy required in order to effectuate at least partial conversion of harmful emissions during initial operation of the converter.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernd Engler
- 👤 Egbert Lox
- 👤 Andreas Niemann-Weber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:13
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/34; B01D53/92; B01D53/94; B01D53/9445; B01D53/9454; F; F01; F01N; F01N3/00; F01N3/08; F01N3/10; F01N3/18; F01N3/20; F01N3/2006; F01N3/2013; B01D53/007; B01D53/74; B01D53/86; B01D53/88; B01D53/885; B01D53/9404; B01D53/9409; B01D53/9431; H; H05; H05B; H05B6/00; H05B6/02; H05B6/10; H05B6/105; H05B6/108; F01N2330/00; F01N2330/06; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
The catalytic converter which provides enhanced emission conversion during start-up, said catalytic converter comprising: a gas tight housing having an inlet and an outlet; a catalyst carrier arranged within said housing between said inlet and said outlet such that exhaust gases pass through gas flow channels within said catalyst carrier, said catalyst carrier having a gas inlet area defined by a cross-section area of said gas flow channels; and a supplemental energy delivery source connected to said housing in a spaced apart relationship to said gas inlet area for providing energy to a portion of said gas inlet area of the catalyst carrier less than the cross-sectional area of said gas inlet area in order to heat said portion to a light-off temperature of a catalyst embedded in said carrier; wherein said supplemental energy source is a laser and the light emitted by said laser is directed to said heated portion of said gas inlet area by at least one fiber optic guide and wherein said energy is delivered for a predetermined period during start-up.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
The catalytic converter which provides enhanced emission conversion during start-up, said catalytic converter comprising: a gas tight housing having an inlet and an outlet; a catalyst carrier arranged within said housing between said inlet and said outlet such that exhaust gases pass through gas flow channels within said catalyst carrier, said catalyst carrier having a gas inlet area defined by a cross-section area of said gas flow channels; and a supplemental energy delivery source connected to said housing in a spaced apart relationship to said gas inlet area for providing energy to a portion of said gas inlet area of the catalyst carrier less than the cross-sectional area of said gas inlet area in order to heat said portion to a light-off temperature of a catalyst embedded in said carrier; wherein said supplemental energy source is a laser and the light emitted by said laser is directed to said heated portion of said gas inlet area by at least one fiber optic guide and wherein said energy is delivered for a predetermined period during start-up.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catalytic converter claimed in claim 1, wherein two or more area of said gas inlet portion are heated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The catalytic converter claimed in claim 1 wherein said portion at which supplemental energy is directed constitutes 0.01 to 20% of the total cross-sectional area of said gas inlet area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catalytic converter claimed in claim 1 wherein two or more lasers and fiber optic guides are provided.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catalytic converter claimed in claim 1, wherein said catalyst carrier is made of a ceramic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catalytic converter claimed in claim 1, wherein said catalyst carrier is made of a metal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
120 words
A process for enhancing emission conversion in a catalytic converter during initial operation of the catalytic converter, said process comprising: providing a catalytic converter having a catalyst carrier therein, and a supplemental energy source connected thereto; directing energy from said supplemental energy source to a predetermined portion of a gas inlet area less than the total cross-sectional area of said flow through catalyst carrier; heating said portion of said gas inlet area for a predetermined period of time in order to achieve light-off temperature at said portion, wherein said supplemental energy source is a laser and the light emitted by said laser is directed to said predetermined portion of said gas inlet area by at least one fiber optic guide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
120 words
A process for enhancing emission conversion in a catalytic converter during initial operation of the catalytic converter, said process comprising: providing a catalytic converter having a catalyst carrier therein, and a supplemental energy source connected thereto; directing energy from said supplemental energy source to a predetermined portion of a gas inlet area less than the total cross-sectional area of said flow through catalyst carrier; heating said portion of said gas inlet area for a predetermined period of time in order to achieve light-off temperature at said portion, wherein said supplemental energy source is a laser and the light emitted by said laser is directed to said predetermined portion of said gas inlet area by at least one fiber optic guide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process claimed in claim 7, wherein the predetermined portion of the gas inlet area is a portion at which conversion reactions initially begin when said catalytic converter is operated alone without supplemental energy provision.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process as claimed in claim 7, wherein said light-off temperature is between 250° and 400° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process as claimed in claim 7, wherein the predetermined is between 10 and 20 seconds.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-10-29 | 2000-04-29 | 2000-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-29 | 2004-04-29 | 2004-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-29 | 2008-04-29 | 2008-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |