Patent ID: 6357223
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: B01D,B01J,C10L,F01N,F02M,H01M,Y02A,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
An apparatus for enhancing the rate of a chemical reaction in a gas stream of a mobile vehicle, the apparatus comprising:a passageway for channeling the gas stream; at least one device for producing radicals or other active species from at least one of water vapor or other gaseous species present in the gas stream located in the passageway; a power supply including a switch-mode inverter capable of converting DC input into AC output, the power supply adapted and configured to provide electrical power having a frequency of at least about 1,000 Hz to the at least one device; and at least one heterogenous catalyst having an upstream end and a downstream end, and at least one surface having a plurality of catalytically active sites on the surface positioned in the passageway such that at least a portion of the heterogenous catalyst is located downstream from the at least one device and at least a portion of the gas stream is exposed to the at least one device prior to the downstream end of the heterogenous catalyst.