Patent ID: 7296399

Claim:
A method of extracting and compressing an inert gas from an exhaust gas of an engine, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a. providing a power and inert gas generator adapted to operate on diesel, oil, gas, and combinations thereof, and providing an inert gas processing system comprising: i. a particulate trap and catalytic converter, for receiving exhaust gas from the power source and inert gas generator, further inerting and clarifying the exhaust gas from the inert gas generator, wherein the particulate trap removes a substantial portion of particulate from the exhaust gas, and wherein the catalytic converter further inerts the exhaust gas forming inert gas; ii. a cooling and extraction system to receive inert gas from the catalytic converter, wherein the cooling and extraction system comprises a heat exchanger for cooling the inert gas and a separator for removing liquids and another portion of particulate from the inert; iii. valving and a controller to monitor and control the operation of the inert gas processing system; b. flowing the inert gas to an inert gas compressor; c. compressing the inert gas using the inert gas compressor forming compressed inert gas; and d. exporting the inert gas from the compressor to an outside application.