Patent ID: 6488900
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: A62B,B01D

Abstract:
Apparatus for purifying a gas contaminated with toxic species, comprising:(a) a thermal reactor having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a fluid path connecting the inlet point in fluid communication with the outlet port; (b) a heat source for heating the gas contaminated with the toxic species passing through the thermal reactor to a temperature sufficient to thermally deactivate at least 90% of any toxic biological species contaminating the gas, producing a purified gas; (c) a counterflow heat exchanger comprising a first passage and a second passage, said first passage and said second passage being disposed adjacent each other in heat exchange relationship, the first passage having an inlet port for receiving the gas that is contaminated, and an outlet port in fluid communication with the inlet port of the thermal reactor, the second passage having an inlet port in fluid communication with the outlet port of the thermal reactor, and an outlet port for exhausting the purified gas from the thermal reactor that has been cooled by passing through the counterflow heat exchanger, the gas that is contaminated flowing through the first passage within the counterflow heat exchanger in a direction opposite that of the purified gas flowing in the second passage so that heat is transferred from the purified gas flowing through the second passage to the gas that is contaminated flowing in the first passage to preheat the gas that is contaminated and to cool the purified gas; said counterflow heat exchanger having a thermal efficiency of at least 90%; and (d) a blower that circulates the gas through the thermal reactor and the first and second passages of the counterflow heat exchanger.