Patent ID: 9631534
Date: 2017-04-25
CPC Classifications: B01D,F01N,Y02T

Claim:
1. A method of operating a catalytic system for reducing emissions from a rich burn spark-ignited engine and for generating electric power, the method comprising: controlling intake air and fuel (AFR) to the rich burn spark-ignited engine to produce first exhaust gases having a first oxygen content; passing said first exhaust gases into a first-stage catalyst chamber containing a three-way catalyst (TWC) operating at 800° F. to 1,250° F., which minimizes NOx content by reducing NOx (to N passing second exhaust gases exiting from the first-stage catalyst chamber to a (1) thermoelectric generator (TEG) for generating electric power and (2) to a thermoelectric generator exhaust conduit; directing TEG output exhaust gases from the thermoelectric generator exhaust conduit to a fluid cooler to cool said TEG output exhaust gases, and thereafter enriching said TEG output exhaust gases to a second oxygen content, wherein the fluid cooler comprises a cooling water injection conduit in communication with the thermoelectric generator exhaust conduit; and passing the oxygen-enriched TEG output exhaust gases to a second-stage catalyst chamber containing a catalyst that minimizes CO content by oxidizing CO to CO