Exhaust Gases Washed and Cooled
Page 51
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A N apparatus for cooling and scrub
bing the exhaust gases from oil engines has been developed at the instigation of Mr. F. A. Lesser, managing director of Borax Holdings, Ltd. The company wished to replace electric vehicles by oilers, for reasons of economy, 'for operation underground in borate and potash mines in California and New Mexico.
The device is said to have proved efficient and reliable, and Borax Consolidated, Ltd., Borax House, Carlisle Place, London, are willing to release the patent under licence.
Hot exhaust gases are first passed into an .expansion chamber and then travel downward to be discharged through numerous small openings into large containers of alkaline water, which is a weak solution of sodium carbonate.
Agitation of the water causes rapid cooling and scrubbing of the gases. These, together with entrained water, are passed upward through filter chambers; composed of packed lightweight concrete or similar porous and inert aggregate, supported over the containers on coarse-mesh screens. . Further cooling and scrubbing take
place within the filter chambers and some of the entrained water is extracted.
Residual gases then traverse cyclone separators for the further extraction of water and are finally passed through a body of activated carbon to complete their purification before discharging into the surrounding air through a rectangular opening covered by a gauze screen.
The size of the apparatus will vary with engine size and the amount of exhaust gas to be passed. Back pressure on the engine exhaust is claimed to be substantially similar to that experienced with conventional silencing systems.
The state of the alkaline water solution may be checked with the use of litmus paper, whereas saturation of the final purifier can be detected by smell, re-activation of the carbon being effected by oven heating.
[Apart from the provisions of the Road Traffic Act relating to exhaust fumes, under Section 16 of the Clean Air Act, anyone can lodge a complaint against any fume emitter, but the local authority must satisfy itself that a nuisance has occurred and the complaint is justified before taking action.]