The invention provides a process for minimizing the emission of particulate matter and precursors thereof from a flue gas stream of an engine comprising particulate matter and precursors thereof and at least one gaseous component. The process includes the steps of obtaining a flue gas stream of an engine comprising particulate matter and precursors thereof; increasing the moisture content of the stream by contacting it with a first aqueous medium in an amount and at a temperature at which at least 50% of the water content of the first aqueous medium is evaporated; whereby a moisture laden gas stream, optionally containing suspension droplets, is formed; cooling the moisture laden gas stream whereby suspension droplets are formed; and applying a centrifugal force to the moisture laden gas stream and to the suspension droplets to effect the swirling thereof, whereby a treated gaseous stream and an aqueous stream are formed.
The present invention provides a process for minimizing the emission of particulate matter and precursors thereof from a flue gas stream of an engine comprising particulate matter and precursors thereof and at least one gaseous component, which process comprises the steps of: a. Obtaining a flue gas stream of an engine comprising particulate matter and precursors thereof; b. Increasing the moisture content of the stream by contacting the same with a first aqueous medium in an amount and at a temperature at which at least 50% of the water content of the first aqueous medium is evaporated; whereby a moisture laden gas stream, optionally containing suspension droplets, is formed; c. Cooling the moisture laden gas stream whereby suspension droplets are formed; and d. Applying a centrifugal force to the moisture laden gas stream and to the suspension droplets to effect the swirling thereof; whereby a treated gaseous stream and an aqueous stream are formed; and wherein the content of particulate matter in the treated gaseous stream is reduced by at least 50% compared with that in the hot gas stream as measured by cooling to about 50°C with no further treatment and wherein the centrifugal force in step d is characterized in that the velocity of the moisture laden gas stream is between 20m/sec and 120 m/sec.
F01N 3/04 - Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust for cooling, or for removing solid constituents of, exhaust by means of liquids
F01N 13/00 - Exhaust or silencing apparatus characterised by constructional features
3.
VORTEX CYCLONE SEPARATOR WITH AQUEOUS STREAM INJECTORS
The invention provides a cyclone unit for the removal of contaminants from flue gases by combination of a gaseous stream with an aqueous stream, comprising a housing defined by a cylindrical peripheral wall, by upper and lower extremities, and by a core element, the housing having a longitudinal axis and being provided with at least one inlet opening for receiving a gaseous stream and a plurality of inlet openings for receiving an aqueous stream thereinto, the cyclone unit further comprising at least one swirling means concentrically positioned and mounted within the housing coaxially with the longitudinal axis so as to provide a first annular space between an inner surface of the housing peripheral wall and the outer facing surfaces of the swirling means and to provide a second inner annular space between inwardly facing surfaces of the swirling means and the core element, the swirling means incorporating a plurality of slit-like elongated openings extending substantially tangentially with respect to the inner annular space so as to enable angular passage from the first annular space towards the second inner annular space, wherein the cyclone unit is characterized in that the openings for receiving the aqueous stream are located in the upper extremity, and are positioned to inject at least most of the aqueous stream into the passages.