| CPC F01N 3/18 (2013.01) [F01N 3/10 (2013.01); F01N 3/20 (2013.01); F01N 3/2006 (2013.01); F01N 3/2013 (2013.01); F01N 3/202 (2013.01); F01N 3/2033 (2013.01); F01N 3/204 (2013.01); F02B 37/20 (2013.01)] | 22 Claims |
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1. An oxidizing reactor apparatus comprising:
a lean burn engine having an intake end and an exhaust end in fluid communication with the intake end, the lean burn engine being configured to combust a fuel and expel an engine exhaust, wherein the engine exhaust comprises an unoxidized fuel;
a heat exchange reactor configured to be in fluid communication with the lean burn engine, the heat exchange reactor being configured to receive the engine exhaust expelled by the lean burn engine and facilitate an oxidization of the unoxidized fuel, the heat exchange reactor comprising:
an input port in fluid communication with the exhaust end of the lean burn engine;
a plurality of entry channels in fluid communication with the input port, each entry channel of the plurality of entry channels comprising:
a non-porous portion of the entry channel, the non-porous portion of the entry channel being in fluid communication with the input port; and a porous portion of the entry channel, the porous portion of the entry channel being in fluid communication with the non-porous portion of the corresponding entry channel;
a plurality of exit channels in fluid communication with the plurality of entry channels, each exit channel of the plurality of exit channels comprising:
a porous portion of the exit channel, the porous portion of the exit channel being in fluid communication with the porous portion of at least one entry channel of the plurality of entry channels; and a non-porous portion of the exit channel, the non-porous portion of the exit channel being in fluid communication with the porous portion of the corresponding exit channel; and
an output port in fluid communication with the non-porous portion of each exit channel of the plurality of exit channels;
a heater configured to be engaged with the heat exchange reactor, wherein the heater is further configured to selectively provide heat to the heat exchange reactor to facilitate the oxidation of the unoxidized fuel within the heat exchange reactor; and
a turbocharger configured to be associated with the lean burn engine, the turbocharger having:
a turbine in fluid communication with the exhaust end of the lean burn engine;
a turbocharger shaft engaged with the turbine; and
a compressor in fluid communication with the intake end of the lean burn engine and engaged with the turbocharger shaft;
wherein the non-porous portion of each entry channel of the plurality of entry channels is in thermal communication with the non-porous portion of at least one exit channel of the plurality of exit channels, such that the non-porous portion of each exit channel of the plurality of exit channels is configured to transfer heat energy to the non-porous portion of at least one entry channel of the plurality of entry channels; and
wherein the porous portion of each exit channel of the plurality of exit channels is configured to receive engine exhaust from the porous portion of at least one entry channel of the plurality of entry channels through a plurality of pores, wherein each pore of the plurality of pores is disposed between an exit channel of the plurality of exit channels and a corresponding entry channel of the plurality of entry channels;
wherein the unoxidized fuel is oxidized in the heat exchange reactor in an absence of catalyst.
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