APPARATUS AND MIXING AND/OR BUBBLE GENERATING DEVICE ADAPTED

FOR USE WITH THE TOXIC SUBSTANCE REMOVAL APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a CO ₂ and toxic substance removal method and in detail, a CO ₂ toxic substance removal method for removing the CO ₂ toxic substances such as carbon monoxide, and particulate matter from the gas which an internal combustion engine and an incinerator exhausted without using a catalyst containing a rare metal. The present invention also relates to a device for making a gas which is at higher pressure than the atmosphere into fine bubbles and releasing the same into a liquid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Like an internal combustion engine and an incinerator, carbon monoxide is included in gas exhausted by burning fuel and garbage as a toxic substance. As technology to remove the carbon monoxide, the oxidation catalyst which is formed as a filter device with rare metals such as platinum or the vanadium is well-known conventionally. Using such an oxidation catalyst, gas is passed through the filter device, and the oxidation reaction occurs in the presence of a rare metal, so that carbon monoxide of the whole gas is converted into carbon dioxide. Also, a lot of a particulate matter (PM) is included in the exhaust gas drained from a diesel engine and an incinerator as a toxic substance. This particulate matter has the characteristic, wherein as particle diameter becomes small, the particulate matter floating in the whole air lasts for a long time, and whereby pollution is increased due to this characteristic over a wide area and for a long term. Since the particulate matter is deposited into the human respiratory tract and lungs, harming the health, it is known as the main factor of the air pollution and thus the more removal is desired. As a technical embodiment to remove the particulate matter, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-257048 (bulletin) discloses technology to catch particulate matter using a metal filter which opened a lot of bores thereon. Also, according to the recent study, it is known that an activated virus is included in exhausted gas discharged under low temperature. However, it is necessary to use rare metals such as platinum or the vanadium in large quantities to be able to increase purification levels of the exhaust by the oxidation catalyst up to standards of environmental protection, which is becoming more and more difficult. Because of this, supplies of a rare metal are drying up, and the tendency to remarkable rise in cost becomes a social problem. Even more particularly, the carbon dioxide produced by oxidation reaction is a greenhouse gas causing global warming, and it is international problem to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide exhausted into the atmosphere. Also, the filter of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-257048 cannot work for removal of toxic substances other than the particulate matter at the same time and is therefore insufficient.

In addition, when a gas is released into liquid, a bubble generating device is needed for making the gas into bubbles (fine bubbles) for the purpose of dissolving gas in liquid efficiently and for promoting biological and chemical reaction between the gas and liquid. One example of such a device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-142300, which discloses a device including a casing, a liquid supply pipe for introducing the liquid in the casing, and a gas supply pipe. This device makes the liquid provided in the casing swirled in the casing by utilizing a force caused by introduction of liquid into the casing from the liquid supplying tube, whereby negative pressure is generated by centrifugal force of the turning in the vicinity of the center. In this configuration, the disclosed is the configuration that the gas inlet of the gas supply pipe is arranged for a part where the negative pressure is generated, constitution to make introduce gas of outside of the casing into an negative pressure part produced inside of the casing. In this case, it can be considered as that pressure rose portion is generated in the vicinity of outer periphery of swirl in the mixture in swirling state and minute bubble is generated by power of shearing caused by the swirling flow in addition to the change of pressure when the mixture passes through the negative pressure portion and pressure rose portion.

With the conventional bubble generator, liquid is pneumatically transported in a casing and swirling flow is generated thereby, because it is with constitution to take gas in using negative pressure caused by this swirling flow, therefore, amount of gas which can be released in liquid is limited due to the amount of pneumatically transported liquid into the casing. Therefore, when fine bubbles are needed with a large quantity of gas, a device for pneumatically transporting the large amount liquid and a large-scale casing which could accommodate a large quantity of liquid are required, thus creating the problem that a size of such the device must be large scale. Thus, it is desired that a device is developed which can make a large quantity of gas into fine bubbles and release the same into a liquid, without pneumatically transported liquid in a casing, but such a device is not known at present.

Moreover, conventional systems for processing exhaust gas that employ a liquid solution are static, wherein the exhaust gas is merely released into the liquid solution for reaction with the solution. For example, U.S. Pat. Pub. 2009/0016944 discloses a system in which automobile or truck exhaust is released into one or more containers housing a solution of Ca(OH) ₂ for reaction with the solution and removal of carbon dioxide. In conventional systems, such as the system of U.S. Pub. No. 2009/0016944, the exhaust gas is not sufficiently contacted with the liquid solution, and as a result, the reactions between the exhaust gas and the liquid solution, and in particular, the amount of carbon dioxide that can be removed using the liquid solution, are very limited. Moreover, the system of U.S. Pub. No. 2009/0016944 does not provide for any regeneration or recycling of the liquid solution, and thus, relatively frequent replacement or replenishment of the solution is required.

Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide a dynamic system for removal of toxic substances, including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides, sulfur oxides, hydrocarbons and particulate matter, in which the exhaust gas is actively mixed with the liquid solution so as to maximize contact and reactions between the exhaust gas components and the liquid solution.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a system which does not require frequent replacement or replenishment of the solution, and which is capable of recycling and regenerating spent liquid solution for further use by the system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problem and to provide a toxic substance removal method and system for removing at least carbon dioxide and toxic substances such as carbon monoxide and the particulate matter from the gas which is output from an internal combustion engine and an incinerator exhaust without using a catalyst by the rare metal. A further object of the invention is to solve the problems above, and to provide the device in which the gas is made into fine bubbles by introducing the gas which is at higher pressure than the atmospheric pressure and then releasing the same into liquid. It is yet a further object of the invention to provide an active and dynamic system, with active mixing of the gas with the liquid, which maximizes the reactions between the gas and the liquid and which is capable of regenerating and recycling spent liquid for further use by the system. MEANS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM

The technical means by which the present invention solves the problem is a system for reducing at least CO ₂ from automobile exhaust gas comprising a mixing and converting assembly for actively and dynamically mixing the exhaust gas with a predetermined solution, the active and dynamic mixing including providing a dense matrix of the predetermined solution and a further gas that permeates the exhaust gas, such that the CO ₂ in the exhaust gas is converted to one or more other constituents during the active and dynamic mixing so that the resultant exhaust gas has a reduced amount of CO ₂ . The system further comprises a removal unit for removing at least a portion of the one or more other constituents, which include particular matter containing carbon. In addition to reducing the CO ₂ , the system also reduces toxic substances from said automobile exhaust gas.

The mixing and converting assembly of the system forms gas bubbles from the predetermined solution during at least the active and dynamic mixing. In particular, the gas bubbles are formed by actively and dynamically mixing a portion of the predetermined solution with a gas, wherein the portion of the predetermined solution and the gas are one of: both under pressure; and one or the other is under pressure. In addition, the mixing and converting assembly further forms the gas bubbles by actively and dynamically mixing the mixed portion of the predetermined solution and gas with the remainder of the exhaust gas. Further, the mixing and converting assembly passes the mixture of the portion of predetermined solution and the gas actively and dynamically mixed with the remainder of the exhaust gas including the gas bubbles through another portion of the predetermined solution. In certain embodiments, the bubbles are one or more of: fine bubbles; micro-bubbles and foam bubbles, and the gas is the exhaust gas. In addition, in certain embodiments, the predetermined solution includes hydroxyl ions, and in particular, in some embodiments, the predetermined solution is H ₃ O ₂ -.

In some embodiments, one or more of the exhaust gas, the portion of predetermined solution and the gas are ionized in such a way as to facilitate said converting. The system of some embodiments further comprises a burner preceding the mixing and converting assembly for burning particulate matter in the exhaust gas, and a cooling assembly for cooling the exhaust gas from the burner. In certain embodiments, the mixing and converting assembly also includes a condenser for condensing predetermined solution from the resultant exhaust gas. In addition, the mixing and converting assembly is further adapted to muffle the sound produced by an engine generating the exhaust gas.

In certain embodiments, the technical means by which the present invention solves the problem is a gas processing system for processing an exhaust gas to reduce at least CO ₂ therefrom, the system comprising: a gas boosting assembly for outputting a first gas comprising at least a portion of the exhaust gas without pressurizing the first gas and for pressurizing a second gas and outputting pressurized second gas, at least one mixing assembly for mixing the first and second gases with a pressurized predetermined solution for reducing at least CO ₂ from the exhaust gas, wherein the mixing assembly comprises an inner chamber assembly for receiving and mixing the pressurized second gas from the gas boosting assembly and the pressurized predetermined solution, and for outputting a first mixture of the pressurized second gas and the pressurized predetermined solution to an outer flow chamber, the outer flow chamber further receiving the first gas from the gas boosting assembly and mixing the first mixture with the first gas to output a second mixture comprising the first mixture and the first gas, and a fluid tank assembly including a housing for receiving the second mixture output from the mixing assembly, wherein processed exhaust gas is separated from the predetermined solution in the housing and output from the housing. The second gas comprises one or more of: a portion of the exhaust gas, a portion of the processed exhaust gas, air and outside gas. The predetermined solution also reduces toxic substances in the exhaust gas. In some embodiments, the predetermined solution comprises one or more of: hydroxyl ions and H ₃ O ₂ -.

In some embodiments, the fluid tank assembly further comprises a condensing assembly disposed in the housing for condensing the predetermined solution from the second mixture, and the condensing assembly comprises at least one of (1) one or more layers of packing materials, and (2) one or more baffles for forming a predetermined flow path for the processed exhaust gas to a first outlet in the housing for outputting the processed exhaust gas. In some embodiments, the system further comprises a burn chamber for pre-processing the exhaust gas using heat, wherein the burn chamber includes one or more ceramic members heated by a power source and adapted for the exhaust gas to be passed through the one or more ceramic members. The burn chamber outputs pre-processed exhaust gas to the gas boosting assembly. In addition, the system comprises a heat transfer device for cooling the exhaust gas output from the burn chamber.

In some embodiments, the system further comprises a gas ionizing assembly for negatively ionizing at least the second gas. In certain embodiments, the gas ionizing assembly negatively ionizes the first gas and the second gas. In some embodiments, the system further comprises a liquid recycling assembly for recycling the predetermined solution from the fluid tank assembly to the mixing assembly. In such embodiments, the liquid recycling assembly comprises one or more filters for filtering the predetermined solution, one or more boosting devices for increasing the pressure of the predetermined solution and a liquid ionizing assembly for negatively ionizing the predetermined solution. In some embodiments, the system further comprises a particulate matter removal device for reducing particulate matter in the processed exhaust gas.

In certain embodiments, the inner chamber assembly of the mixing assembly is disposed within the outer flow chamber and the inner chamber assembly comprises at least one mixing chamber that includes a plurality of openings. In some embodiments, the system includes a plurality of mixing assemblies such that each of the mixing assemblies receives a portion of the predetermined solution, a portion of the first gas and a portion of the second gas and outputs the second mixture to the housing of the fluid tank assembly.

In certain embodiments, the technical means by which the present invention solves the problem is a gas processing system for processing an exhaust gas to reduce at least CO ₂ therefrom, the system comprising a liquid boosting and ionizing assembly for pressurizing and negatively ionizing a predetermined solution for reducing at least CO ₂ from the exhaust gas; and at least one mixing assembly for mixing the exhaust gas with the pressurized and negatively ionized predetermined solution. The gas processing system further comprises a gas boosting and ionizing assembly for pressurizing and negatively ionizing a gas which includes at least one of: exhaust gas, processed exhaust gas, air and outside gas. The gas boosting and ionizing assembly outputs a first gas comprising at least a portion of the exhaust gas to the at least one mixing assembly without pressurizing the first gas and pressurizes and negatively ionizes a second gas and outputs pressurized and negatively ionized second gas to the at least one mixing assembly. In some embodiments, the gas boosting and ionizing assembly negatively ionizes the first gas before outputting it to the mixing assembly. In addition, the predetermined solution also reduces toxic substances from the exhaust gas. The predetermined solution comprises one or more of: hydroxyl ions and H ₃ O ₂ -. In some embodiments, the system further comprises a fluid tank assembly comprising a housing that receives a mixture comprising the exhaust gas and the predetermined solution from the at least one mixing assembly, wherein processed exhaust gas is separated from the predetermined solution in the housing and output from the housing, and the liquid boosting and ionizing assembly also recycles the predetermined solution from the housing to the at least one mixing assembly. The fluid tank assembly further comprises a condensing assembly for separating the processed exhaust from the predetermined solution by condensation, wherein the condensing assembly includes at least one of (1) one or more layers of packing materials, and (2) one or more baffles forming a predetermined flow path for the processed exhaust gas.

In certain embodiments, the system further comprises one or more of: a burn chamber for pre-processing the exhaust gas using heat before conveying the exhaust gas to the gas boosting and ionizing assembly, a heat transfer device for cooling the exhaust gas before conveying it to the gas boosting and ionizing assembly, and a particulate matter removal device for reducing particulate matter in the processed exhaust gas separated from the predetermined solution.

In certain embodiments, the technical means by which the present invention solves the problem is a mixing assembly adapted to receive a plurality of fluids and to mix said plurality of fluids, the mixing assembly comprising: an outer flow chamber housing a mixing chamber assembly, the mixing chamber assembly including at least one mixing chamber adapted to receive two or more fluids of the plurality of fluids and to mix the two or more fluids therein, wherein the at least one mixing chamber includes a plurality of openings for outputting a first mixture of the two or more fluids into the outer flow chamber assembly at an increased pressure, and wherein the outer flow chamber comprises one or more mixing members for further mixing the first mixture. In some embodiments, the outer flow chamber also receives one or more of the plurality of fluids and mixes the one or more of the plurality of fluids with the first mixture output from the mixing chamber assembly to output a second mixture. In certain embodiments, the technical means by which the present invention solves the problem is a mixing assembly adapted to receive and mix a plurality of fluids, the mixing assembly comprising: a mixing chamber assembly for mixing at least a portion of said plurality of fluids, the mixing chamber assembly comprising a first mixing chamber and a second mixing chamber, the first mixing chamber includes an inlet for receiving at least a portion of the plurality of fluids and an a plurality of first outlet openings for outputting a first mixture comprising the at least a portion of the plurality of fluids to the second mixing chamber, and the second mixing chamber is configured to receive the first mixture from the first mixing chamber and includes a plurality of second outlet openings for outputting a second mixture comprising at least the first mixture, wherein the first outlet openings in the first mixing chamber have a different configuration from the second outlet openings in the second mixing chamber. The first outlet openings comprise a plurality of rounded through apertures, while the second outlet openings comprise one of a plurality of slots and a plurality of angled slots. In addition, the first mixing chamber may be disposed within the second mixing chamber. In some embodiments the mixing assembly further comprises an outer flow chamber enclosing the mixing chamber assembly and adapted to receive at least the second mixture from the plurality of second outlet openings of the second mixing chamber. The technical means by which the present invention solves the problem also includes methods of processing exhaust gas to reduce at least CO ₂ therefrom and mixing methods for mixing a plurality of fluids using a mixing assembly. One of the gas processing methods comprises the steps of conveying a first gas comprising at least a portion of the exhaust gas without pressurizing the first gas, pressurizing a second gas and outputting pressurized second gas, mixing the first gas, the pressurized second gas and a pressurized predetermined solution for reducing at least CO ₂ from the exhaust gas, wherein the mixing comprises: mixing the pressurized second gas with the pressurized predetermined solution and outputting a first mixture of the pressurized second gas and the pressurized predetermined solution; and mixing the first mixture with the first gas and outputting a second mixture comprising the first mixture and the first gas; separating processed exhaust gas from the predetermined solution and outputting the processed exhaust gas. Another gas processing method comprises the steps of: pressurizing and negatively ionizing a predetermined solution for reducing at least CO ₂ from the exhaust gas; and mixing the exhaust gas with the pressurized and negatively ionized predetermined solution.

One mixing method for mixing a plurality of fluids using a mixing assembly comprises: receiving two or more fluids in a mixing chamber assembly including at least one mixing chamber; outputting a first mixture of the two or more fluids from the mixing chamber assembly through a plurality of openings in the mixing chamber assembly at an increased pressure, and mixing at least the first mixture in an outer flow chamber using one or more mixing members. Another mixing method comprises mixing at least a portion of the plurality of fluids in a first mixing chamber and outputting a first mixture comprising at least a portion of the plurality of fluids to a second mixing chamber through a plurality of first outlet openings in the first mixing chamber; outputting a second mixture comprising at least the first mixture from the second mixing chamber through a plurality of second outlet openings in the second mixing chamber; wherein the first outlet openings in the first mixing chamber have a different configuration from the second outlet openings in the second mixing chamber.

The technical means which the present invention made to solve the problem is a method to remove the toxic substance of gas, and a toxic substance removal method to remove a toxic substance of the gas by releasing gas including the toxic substance in the state of a micro gas bubble in liquid including at least the hydroxyl ion. Also, the toxic substance removal method may have preprocessing process ionizing gas including the toxic substance before toxic substance removal processing process. Also, the toxic substance removal method heats gas including the toxic substance before a toxic substance removal processing process, and an incineration process burning up the toxic substance of gas may be provided. Also, after a toxic substance removal processing process, the toxic substance removal method passes toxic substance removal processed gas through a filter including at least the catechin, and a deodorization antibacterial process for deodorizing a smell of the whole gas and for controlling the activity of the virus may be provided. The present invention is also a toxic substance removal apparatus having a toxic substance removal processing section comprising: a housing pooled with liquid including at least hydroxyl ion; and a micro gas bubble generating portion introducing a gas including the toxic substance in the housing and making the gas to a micro gas bubble and releasing the gas into liquid including at least hydroxyl ion. In this case, the micro gas bubble generating portion may be constitution that is provided an introduction pipe for introducing introduced gas in the liquid, inner region of the introduction pipe comprising: a liquid introduction part to introduce liquid including the hydroxyl ion pooled in a housing into the inner region of the introduction pipe; a swirling portion having a guiding path in which introduced gas is introduced and liquid including hydroxyl ion introduced from the liquid introduction part can move with swirling through the induction pipe; a second gas introduction part introducing the outside gas of the housing into downstream side of the swirling portion of the introduction pipe; and a collision board disposed so as to collide the introduced gas, the liquid including hydroxyl ion introduced by a liquid introduction part and the gas introduced from the second gas introduction part. Also, the toxic substance removal apparatus may have a preprocessing section comprising: a housing that can introduce a gas including the toxic substance; and a pair of electrodes which is disposed so as to oppose each other and to have the distance through which the gas including the toxic substance can pass in the inner region of the housing, prior to the toxic substance removal processing section. Also, the toxic substance removal apparatus may have an incineration processing section comprising: a housing that can introduce the gas including the toxic substance; and a heat device being accommodated in the inner region of the housing, prior to the toxic substance removal processing section. Also, the toxic substance removal apparatus may have a deodorization antibacterial processing section comprising: a housing that can introduce the gas processed by the toxic substance removal processing section; and a filter including at least catechin and being accommodated in the inner region of the housing, after the toxic substance removal processing section.

Note that, in a toxic substance removal method and a toxic substance removal apparatus for removing the toxic substance from gas including the toxic substance, the toxic substance to be removed may be either one of or a plural of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and the particulate matter.

Another technical means which the present invention made to solve the problem is to adopt a fine bubble generating device for making pneumatically transported gas into fine bubbles and for releasing the same into a liquid, the device comprising: an introduction pipe which is tube shape, a gas introduction part introducing pneumatically transported gas is installed in one end side thereof, and a discharge part is disposed in liquid and installed in the another end side thereof to release the introduced gas in liquid; a liquid introduction part introducing the liquid into inside of the introduction pipe; a mixture portion which is disposed between the liquid introduction part and the discharge part in the introduction pipe, and mixes gas and liquid introduced in the introduction pipe; and a collision board which is disposed between the mixture portion and the discharge part in the introduction pipe, and the gas and liquid mixed in the mixture portion is collided thereto.

In this case, the liquid introduction part may be the constitution that consists of a hole penetrated from the outside of the introduction pipe to the inside thereof and an introduction part which is disposed to communicate with the hole in the introduction pipe and opens at the position closed to the mixture part than the hose, and liquid is taken from the liquid introduction part into the introduction pipe by negative pressure caused when gas passes through inside of the introduction pipe. Further, the mixture portion may be the constitution that comprises plural blade members dividing region of the liquid introduction part side and region of the discharge part side; and mixture course which is disposed between each of the blade members and communicate the region of the liquid introduction part side with the region of the discharge part side, the mixture course has smaller cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of the introduction pipe at the liquid introduction part side or divides region of the liquid introduction part side and region of the discharge part side and communicates therewith in a spiral shape and has smaller cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of the introduction pipe at the liquid introduction part side. In these cases, gas and liquid introduced in the introduction pipe is mixed efficiently when they pass through the mixture course having smaller cross sectional area.

In addition, the micro gas bubble generating device may have a gas breathing portion which is disposed for breathing outside gas of the introduction pipe into between the mixture portion and the discharge part in the introduction pipe, or may be the constitution that a gas introduction tube having length from the gas introduction part of the introduction pipe to the discharge part is furnished in the introduction pipe, the gas introduction tube is formed as slim tubular shape and in which an end portion located in the same position as the gas introduction part side of the introduction pipe has a gas breathing portion and an end portion located in the same position as the discharge part side of the introduction pipe has a second discharge part, a gas introduction space is formed between outside of the gas introduction tube and inside of the introduction pipe and is over from the gas introduction part to the discharge part, and the mixture portion is provided in a gas introduction space being between outside of the gas introduction tube and inside of the introduction pipe, and the second discharge part opens to between the mixture portion and the collision board.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, it is accomplished to provide toxic substance removal method and apparatus for removing the toxic substances such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and the particulate matter from the gas which an internal combustion engine and an incinerator exhausted without using a catalyst by the rare metal. In addition, the present invention provides a device in which the gas is made to a micro gas bubble by introducing the gas which is high pressure than the atmospheric pressure and release the gas in liquid. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram presenting the process of the toxic substance removal method by embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is an illustration showing the outline constitution of a processing apparatus working to remove of the toxic substance by embodiment 1.

FIG. 3 is an illustration showing the outline constitution of the toxic substance removal processing apparatus by embodiment 1.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the constitution of the toxic substance removal processing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a widthwise direction showing the constitution of the toxic substance removal processing apparatus.

FIG. 6 shows an outline constitution of the micro gas bubble generating portion. FIG. 7 is an illustration showing constitution of the blade member of the micro gas bubble generating portion.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the micro gas bubble generating portion. FIG. 9 is an evaluation test result when a toxic substance removal processing apparatus by embodiment 1 was installed.

FIG. 10 is an evaluation test result when a toxic substance removal processing apparatus by embodiment 1 was removed.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram presenting the process of the toxic substance removal method by embodiment 2.

FIG. 12 is an illustration showing the outline constitution of a processing apparatus working to remove the toxic substance by embodiment 2. FIG. 13 is an illustration showing the outline constitution of the processing apparatus of the preprocessing process by embodiment 2.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the processing apparatus of the preprocessing process. FIG. 15 is a flow diagram presenting the process of the toxic substance removal method by embodiment 3.

FIG. 16 is an illustration showing the outline constitution of a processing apparatus working to remove of the toxic substance by embodiment 3.

FIG. 17 is an illustration showing the outline constitution of the processing apparatus of the deodorization antibacterial process by embodiment 3.

FIG. 18 is the horizontal cross-sectional view of the processing apparatus in a deodorization antibacterial process.

FIG. 19 is a flow diagram presenting the process of the toxic substance removal method by embodiment 4. FIG. 20 is an illustration showing the outline constitution of a processing apparatus working to remove of the toxic substance by embodiment 4.

FIG. 21 is an illustration showing the outline constitution of the processing apparatus of the destruction by incineration process by embodiment 4.

FIG. 22 is the vertical cross-sectional view of the processing apparatus of the destruction by incineration process.

FIG. 23 shows the appearance perspective diagram of another embodiment of the bubble generating device discussed in Example 1.

FIG. 24 is a perspective diagram showing the internal structure of the bubble generating device of FIG. 23. FIG. 25 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 23 along line E-E. FIG. 26 is an end elevation of the device shown in FIG. 25 along line F-F. FIG. 27 is an end elevation of the device shown in FIG. 25 along line G-G. FIG. 28 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 25 along line H- H.

FIG. 29 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 25 along line I-I. FIG. 30 is a sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 25 along line J-J. FIG. 31 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the mixing and/or bubble generating device of the present invention. FIG. 32 is a detailed view of a mixing assembly of the mixing and/or bubble generating device of FIG. 31.

FIG. 33 is a simplified view of another embodiment of the toxic substance removal system.

FIG. 34 is a more detailed view of the toxic substance removal system of FIG. 33. FIG. 35 is a detailed sectional view of a burn chamber of the toxic substance removal system of FIGS. 33 and 34.

FIG. 36 is a detailed view of an illustrative ceramic member used in the burn chamber of FIG. 35.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Toxic substance removal method and apparatus according to the present invention is explained in detail as follows. Note that the removal in the present invention is a concept to include not only the case that all the toxic substances are removed but also the state (the state that the discharge of the toxic substance was reduced) removed partly of the toxic substance. Also, note that the toxic substance in the present invention carbon can nominate carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, carbon dioxide, particulate matter as an embodiment of the toxic substance, but it is not interpreted at all only limitation to these ones and it is a concept to include other common knowledge toxic substances within the present invention, and in the embodiments explained as follows, the concept of the toxic substance which can be removed in each embodiment by an each of process may be different. Also, if the particulate matter is a very small particle floating in the air, it is the concept to include also earthly affairs and a soot particle and the mine dust. Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram presenting the process of the toxic substance removal method by embodiment 1. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, it is assumed the case to remove a toxic substance from the exhaust of an internal combustion engine (A). In other words, the toxic substance removal processing method by the present embodiment adopts the method that as shown in FIG. 1, the toxic substances included in exhaust (gas) such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, the particulate matter which is drained from an internal combustion engine (A) and then force-fed by exhaust pressure is introduced into toxic substance removal processing process B and then discharged (F) as being in a clean condition after processing. In the toxic substance removal processing process B, the gas including the toxic substance is processed by reaction to the liquid S. Note that the liquid S uses the water which contained at least a hydroxyl ion (hydrogen-oxide bridging ligand) in the present embodiment. The hydroxyl ion is generated by ion decomposition of water and is a negative ion presented with composition type of "H3O2-". When the toxic substances such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, the particulate matter included in gas came in contact with the liquid S, it is disassembled by responding with a hydroxyl ion (a negative ion), and removal process is done thereto accordingly. Outline of one constitution example of a processing apparatus used by toxic substance removal method according to the present embodiment is described below. FIG. 2 shows the outline constitution of the toxic substance removal processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in the vertical direction of the toxic substance removal processing apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the horizontal direction (an arrow a direction of FIG. 3) of the toxic substance removal processing apparatus, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view (an arrow b direction of FIG. 4) of the widthwise direction of the toxic substance removal processing apparatus. FIG. 6 shows an example of an gas bubble generating portion MB that is a part of the toxic substance removal processing apparatus, FIG. 7 shows a mixture portion 40 of the micro gas bubble generating portion MB of FIG. 6 and FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the micro gas bubble generating portion MB.

The processing apparatus adopted in the present embodiment is constituted as shown in FIG. 2 from a toxic substance removal processing section 2a and a pipe AP which introduces gas including toxic substance into toxic substance removal processing section 2a, and the toxic substance removal processing process B is processed inside of this toxic substance removal processing section 2a.

Toxic substance removal processing section 2a has an introduction bore 2d to which a pipe AP is connected and introduce gas to be processed (gas including the toxic substance) and a discharge port 2e exhausting removal processed gas, and further has a housing Hl formed in sealing state except for the introduction bore 2d and the discharge port 2e, this housing Hl having the liquid S accommodating into lower portions 2f of the housing Hl, a micro gas bubble generating portion MB generating micro bubble B from air introduced from the introduction bore 2d and discharging the same into the liquid S, a subdivided layer SL for subdivided gas bubble, and a discharge course OR which leads the gas which passed the subdivided layer SL to the discharge port 2e.

The introduction bore 2d is provided so as to penetrate through the inside and outside of the housing Hl in a central part portion 2c of the side of the housing Hl. And it is connected between the internal combustion engine (A) and the pipe AP at the outside of the housing Hl, gas including the toxic substance exhausted by the internal combustion engine (A) is introduced into the inside of the housing Hl, and in the inside of the housing Hl, the micro gas bubble generating portion MB is coupled therewith. Note that, in the toxic substance removal processing section 2a according to the present embodiment, two micro gas bubble generating portion MB is provided in parallel, and two introduction bore 2d coupled with the micro gas bubble generating portion MB is also provided. The discharge port 2e is provided so as to penetrates through the inside and outside of the housing Hl in an upper section 2b of the housing Hl, and the pipe BP exhausting gas to the outside of the housing Hl is connected thereto. Note that, in the present embodiment, the discharge port 2e is provided on housing Hl at the little-closed position of the introduction bore 2d on panel b5. Construction of the micro gas bubble generating portion MB shown in FIGS. 6-7 is described below. Note that since two micro gas bubble generating portions MB have the same constitution respectively, only one micro gas bubble generating portion MB is explained herein. The micro gas bubble generating portion MB, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, comprising: an introduction pipe 10 in which a gas introduction part 20 to introduce gas force-fed is installed in one end 11 side (upstream), and a discharge part 70 which is disposed in liquid and release gas introduced from the gas introduction part 20 is installed in another end 12 side (downstream); a liquid introduction part 30 introducing liquid into inside of the introduction pipe 10; a mixture portion 40 disposed between the liquid introduction part 30 and the discharge part 70 in the introduction pipe 10; a gas breathing portion 50 introducing outside gas of the introduction pipe 10 in between the mixture portion 40 in the introduction pipe 10 and the discharge part 70; and a collision board 60 disposed between the mixture portion 40 in the introduction pipe and the discharge part 70. The gas introduction part 20 is provided as an opening of the one end 11 (the play edge of first member 13) of the introduction pipe 10 and gas is introduced in the introduction pipe 10.

A pneumatic transportation pipe (cf. reference numeral AP of Fig. 2) transporting gas drained from an internal combustion engine (cf. reference numeral A of Fig. 2) is coupled with the gas introduction part 20 directly or the pneumatic transportation pipe is coupled with the gas introduction part 20 by a relay pipe so that the gas sent out from the pneumatic transportation pipe under the pressure force that is higher than the atmosphere is introduced in the introduction pipe 10.

Note that, in the present embodiment, the constitution to introduce gas into two micro gas bubble generating portion MB is assumed by one pneumatic transportation pipe (or, relay pipe). Because of this, as for the gas introduction part 20 of each of two micro gas bubble generating portions MB, it is for coupleable structure in the pneumatic transportation pipe (or, relay pipe) of the one in the outside of housing Hl. Concretely, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a communication portion 21 for communicating each of the gas introduction part 20 mutually is formed in the outside of the housing Hl, and a joint portion 22 which can couple the pneumatic transportation pipe (or, relay pipe) with the communication portion 21 is provided. Thus, according to gas introduction part 20 formed as mentioned above, the gas fed in the joint portion 22 is distributed between two micro gas bubble generating portions MB by the communication portion 21 by the pneumatic transportation pipe (or, relay pipe). The discharge part 70, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, is provided as an aperture of another end 12 of the introduction pipe 10, is disposed in the liquid S, and the gas introduced from the gas introduction part 20 is changed into a micro gas bubble and released in liquid from the discharge part 70. The introduction pipe 10 is installed includes a first member 13 which opened both ends and circular tube-shaped, a second member 14, which is provided so as to communicate with the first member 13 and is opened at both ends and circular tube- shaped, and a third member 15, which is provided so as to communicate with the second member 14 and is opened both ends and circular tube-shaped with the second member 14. Thus, according to the present embodiment, the flow path of the form of circular tube that an inner area communicated from the first member to the third member is formed, and an aperture of the play edge of the first member side is the gas introduction part 20 and the aperture of the play edge of the third member side is the discharge part 70.

Also, the first member 13 is formed in an alignment having an axis 13b in a horizontal direction. The second member 14 is formed in an alignment having the axis 14 which is in longitudinal direction and intersects with an axis 13b of the first member 13 at a right angle. The third member 15 is formed in the alignment having an axis 15b, which is in a horizontal direction, intersects with the axis 14b of the second member 14 at a right angle and is parallel with the axis 13b of the first member 13. By this, the introduction pipe 10 makes so-called crank shape as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8. Also, the introduction pipe 10 is formed in the shape of a pipe having the same inside diameter, for embodiment, the inside diameter of the introduction pipe 10 is set to 40mm. In other embodiments, however, the inside diameter of the introduction pipe can be set to 60 mm.

And, as for the introduction pipe 10, it is installed so that the first member 13 and upper part of the second member 14 is located in the upper part than the liquid Surface W of the liquid, and it is installed so that lower part of the second member 14 and the third member 15 sink in the bottom than the liquid Surface W of the liquid. Thus, the discharge part 70 installed in another end 12 of the introduction pipe 10, namely the end of the third member 15 becomes to be disposed so as to sink in the liquid S. Note that it is raised as one embodiment that the first member 13, the second member

14 and the third member 15 which was formed in the shape of circular tube respectively and they are coupled with crank shape integrally as external shape of the introduction pipe 10, but the external form shape of the introduction pipe 10 needs not to be limited to the shape. For example, the introduction pipe 10 may be constituted as the first member 13 and the second member 14 and the third member 15 being integrally coupled in a substantially straight line. Also, the first member 13, the second member 14 and the third member 15 may be formed as an S-shaped assembly. Even more particularly, the introduction pipe 10 consists of three members in the present embodiment, but the constitution number may be 2 and more than 4, and is not limited. Also, it is not limited to those consisting of plural members like the present embodiment, may be formed in a single and communicating long pipe shaped one and is within scope of the present invention. Also, even if it is in the case of this form, the total appearance shape may be an alignment, crank or S-shaped, and it is not interpreted as being limited one. Also, the inside diameter of the introduction pipe 10 may be set freely without being limited to the above-mentioned numerical value setting in response to demands such as a purpose of use or the use environment of the micro gas bubble generating portion MB 1. Also, on this occasion, the inside diameter of the introduction pipe 10 may be unequal from one end 11 to another end 12 and may change owing to setting to be large diameter or small diameter. Also, in the present embodiment, a cross-section of the introduction pipe 10 was assumed to be a circle, but it is not limited thereto and if the introduction pipe 10 is formed to be tubular, a cross-section of other shape may be had. For example, it may be a rectangular cross-section.

The liquid introduction part 30 is, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, disposed to an upstream side from the mixture portion (described in later part), and consists of a hole 31 penetrating from outer surface to inner surface of the introduction pipe 10 and the introduction part 32 arranged in the introduction pipe 10 so as to communicate with the hole 31. The hole 31 positions, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, at the gas introduction part 20 side of the second member 14 and is formed at the position so as to sink in liquid when the micro gas bubble generating portion MBl is installed and so as to penetrate from the outside to inside of the second member 14 (the introduction pipe 10). In accordance with the present embodiments, the diameter of the hole 31 is set to 21mm. Note that the diameter of the hole 31 should be set freely without limitation to this and it may respond to the demand of the quantity of liquid introduced into the introduction pipe 10.

The introduction part 32 is coupled with the hole 31 as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8 without a gap, and comprising: the first cylindrical member 34a that is hollow cylinder shape and protrudes to intersect with an axis 14b of the second member 14 at a right angle in the inside space of the second member 14 from the hole 31; and the second cylindrical member 34b that is hollow cylinder shape, communicate with the first cylindrical member 34a and is disposed for downstream (downward look in the figure) and parallel to the aforementioned the axis 14b, and having an aperture 33 at the play edge of the second cylindrical member 34b side. Also, the introduction part 32 is disposed so that the aperture 33 is closed to the mixture portion 40 (described later) intensively from the hole 31.

Also, in the present embodiment, the second cylindrical member 34b is formed as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8 so that the aperture 33 is located in the vicinity of the axis 15b of the third member 15. Accordingly, when the gas passes the introduction pipe 10, the outskirts of liquid introduction part 30 are subjected to negative pressure by the speed and thus outside liquid of the introduction pipe 10 is drawn into the inside space of the second member 14 (the introduction pipe 10) from the hole 31 and then is released in the inside space of the introduction pipe 10 from the aperture 33 being at the downstream side of the hole 31. Also, in the present embodiment, the aperture 33 is formed so as to be located in the vicinity of the axis 15b of the third member 15, because the aperture 33 opens in the vicinity of the axis 15b, the liquid introduced in the introduction pipe 10 is pulled by the air current of the gas sent to the direction of the mixture portion 40 (described later), and it comes to advance to the direction of the mixture portion 40 efficiently.

Note that the liquid introduction part 30 is not interpreted in only constitution explained in the present embodiment and design modification is possible within the present invention. Also, in the present embodiment, it is explained as one embodiment that the hole 31 is positioned at the predetermined place of the second member 14 sinking in liquid, but it may be the form that the holes 31 is located at outward being far from liquid. In other words, if it is the form that the outside pipe (not illustrated in this Figure) located in liquid connects with the hole 31 positioned outward of the liquid Similar operation and effect like the present invention can be played. Note that, condition as to length of the outside pipe is length so that liquid can be drawn into in the introduction pipe 10 by the negative pressure formed in the introduction pipe 10.

The mixture portion 40 is formed in the shape of a propeller in three pieces of blade members 42a, 42b, 42c as shown in FIG. 7 and the blade members 42a, 42b, 42c are coupled by a joint member 53 respectively. Specifically, the joint member 53 is formed to be tetrahedron shape having a hollow inner region 53a whose one surface (a plane becoming the base of so-called tetrahedron shape) is a aperture portion 53e of the triangle shape, and is arranged in the center of cross-sectional direction of the introduction pipe 10 so that axis line connecting the aperture portion 53e with a top 55a (being opposed to the aperture portion 53e) of the tetrahedron become the same line as the axis 15b of the third member 15. Note that the aperture portion 53e of the joint member 53 is located at closer position of the discharge part 70 of the mixture portion 40.

The blade members 42a, 42b, 42c, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, are arranged so as to be bridged over between each of the slant surface (being formed to be slant shape from a top 55a of the tetrahedron to the aperture portion 53e to be bottom surface) 53c, 53d, 53e except the aperture portion 53e of the joint member 53 and inner surface of the third member 15, and these arranged ones are formed as substantial sector shape respectively.

The blade member 42a comprising: a base end portion 44a integrally fixed to the surface 53c between a top 55b of triangle of the aperture portion 53e and a position 45a being far at the predetermined distance from the other top 55c on the line 43a connecting the other top 55c of the triangle with the top 55a of the tetrahedron; and a rising portion 46a formed in expanding and opening state between the base end portion 44a and inner surface of the third member 15. The upper end of the rising portion 46a is formed in arc shape same as the inside of the third member 15 and is integrally fixed to inside surface of the third member 15. In other words, the blade member 42a is in the shape of the slant blade to which a slant was added by a diametrical direction view of the third member 15.

The blade member 42b comprising: a base end portion 44b integrally fixed to the surface 53d between a top 55e of triangle of the aperture portion 53c and a position 45b being far at the predetermined distance from the other top 55d on the line 43b connecting the other top 55d of the triangle with the top 55a of the tetrahedron; and a rising portion 46b formed in expanding and opening state between the base end portion 44b and inner surface of the third member 15. The upper end of the rising portion 46b is formed in arc shape same as the inside of the third member 15 and is integrally fixed to inside surface of the third member 15. In other words, the blade member 42b is in the shape of the slant blade to which a slant was added by a diametrical direction view of the third member 15.

The blade member 42c comprising: a base end portion 44c integrally fixed to the surface 53e between a top 55b of triangle of the aperture portion 53e and a position 45c being far at the predetermined distance from the other top 55b on the line 43c connecting the other top 55b of the triangle with the top 55a of the tetrahedron; and a rising portion 46c formed in expanding and opening state between the base end portion 44c and inner surface of the third member 15. The upper end of the rising portion 46c is formed in arc shape same as the inside of the third member 15 and is integrally fixed to inside surface of the third member 15. In other words, the blade member 42c is in the shape of the slant blade to which a slant was added by a diametrical direction view of the third member 15.

Thus, each blade member 42a, 42b, 42c, are formed as above, as shown in Fig. 7, they are formed with the overlapping region in which the blade members 42a and 42b, the blade members 42b and 42c, the blade members 42e and 42a are adjacent to each other and they overlap each other with the predetermined distance in the axial direction views of the pipe, and mixture courses 41a, 41b, 41c are formed for communicating the region of the liquid introduction part 30 side with the region of discharge part 70 side respectively in each of the overlapped region.

Thus, the mixture liquid which arrived at the mixture portion 40 by the constitution passes only mixture courses 41a, 41b, 41c, and it flows from the region (a region of the liquid introduction part 30 side upstream from the mixture portion 40) of the upstream of the mixture portion 40 into the region (a region of the discharge part 70 side downstream of the mixture portion 40) of the downstream.

These mixture courses 41a, 41b, 41c have the cross section that is narrower than the cross section of the introduction pipe 10 of the liquid introduction part 30 side. Accordingly, when the mixture that the gas introduced from the gas introduction part 20 and liquid introduced from the liquid introduction part 30 are coexisted is gradually guided to the direction for the inner surface side of the third member 15 along slants of three surfaces of the joint member 53, i.e. the surface 53c, the surface 53d, the surface 53e, and when the mixture passed through the mixture courses 41a, 41b, 41c, flow speed becomes fast, and is mixed efficiently, spiral swirling movement along the axis of the third member 15 comes to be done more.

Note that when the mixture of the gas and liquid is subjected to the swirling movement, the centrifugal force left for the outer circumferential side (the side with the inside of introduction pipe 10) of swirling movement is acted on the mixture. In this time, as for the pressure force distribution of the mixture, pressure force of the outer circumferential side rises and pressure force of the center side (a side with the axis of the third member 15) goes low.

Because of this, in the outer circumferential side, an gas bubble is dissolved in liquid due to the pressure force being high and on the other hand, in the central side, an gas bubble occurs by cavitations due to the pressure force being low. Thus, gas becomes the micro gas bubble by repeating the dissolution and the generation of the gas bubble.

In accordance with exemplary embodiments, as one example, the case that the joint member 53 is formed by tetrahedron shape is explained, but if it does not become easily the resistance of the flow of the interior region of the introduction pipe 10, another shape of the joint member 53 may be adopted without being limited to this. For example, it may be formed by cannonball- shaped conical shape and the bottom of the cone may become the aperture. Also, in the present embodiment, it was described with the thing which had the joint member 53 as constitution of the mixture portion 40, but the joint member 53 may not be essential constituent features in the present invention and may be constructed by only the blade members 42a, 42b, 42c.

Note that, in the present embodiment, it is mentioned above as the blade member constitution, but design modification is possible within scope of the present invention without restriction interpretation to this. For example, the embodiment that the end portions 44a, 44b, 44c are installed from the each top 55b, 55c, 55d of triangle of the aperture portion 53e is explained, but even if it is the form that it is installed in the spaced-apart position from each top 55b, 55c, 55d from the spaced-apart position, it is within scope of the present invention. Also, the end portions 44a, 44b, 44c may be made in parallel with each triangular side of the aperture portion 53e. In other words, when mixture from gas and liquid at the upstream than the mixture portion 40 is sent to the discharge part 70 being downstream side of the mixture portion 40, if constitution having the cross section that the mixture courses 41a, 41b, 41c through which a mixture passes are smaller than the cross section of the introduction pipe 10 is adopted, it is not limited to the shape particularly.

A gas breathing portion 50 comprises a pipe 52 which introduces gas as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG- 8 from the outside of the introduction pipe 10, and the pipe 52 is positioned closer to the discharge part 70 than mixture portion 40. The pipe 52 intersects with axis 15b of the third member 15 at a right angle through a through-bore 54 provided at upper portion of the third member 15 from the joint member 52 of the mixture portion 40 and is disposed so that an aperture 52c of one end portion 52a of the pipe 52 is located in the upper part than liquid level W of the liquid.

Also, an air pump AC is connected to one end portion 52a of the pipe 52 of the gas breathing portion 50 as shown in FIG. 2, outside air is introduced forcibly by the air pump AC.

In accordance with exemplary embodiments, the air pump AC is placed by an outside pipe AP of the housing Hl . As a result, the amount of exhaust gas exhausted from the joint member 53 of the gas breathing portion 50 can be changed according to the amount of running of the air pump.

The air pump AC adopted in the present embodiment has both a turbine TB coupled in one axis RS and a compressor CN. The turbine TB is placed between the pipe AP and a joint portion 22. By this, the gas including the toxic substance is sent to the joint portion 22 via the air pump AC by the pipe AP. The turbine TB is turned by a flow of the gas including the toxic substance, the compressor CN coupled with the turbine TB in axis RS turns with a turn of the turbine TB. The compressor CN is disposed so that it is coupled by one end portion 52a of the pipe 52 of the gas breathing portion 50. And the compressor CN supplies outside air breathed in by the turn in one end portion 52a of the pipe 52 of the gas breathing portion 50. Thus, the quantity of gas sent into the gas breathing portion 50 responds to quantity (quantity of gas sent into the gas introduction part 20) of gas drifting to the joint portion 22 from the pipe AP, and it can be changed. Note that, in the present embodiment, since two micro gas bubble generating portion MB are installed, the outside air sent out from the compressor CN is distributed to each of the gas breathing portion 50 of two micro gas bubble generating portion MB. Also, in the present embodiment, although the explained constitution is that the air pump AC is placed to the outside pipe AP of the housing Hl, the air pump AC may be provided with the housing Hl of the toxic substance removal processing section 2a without being placed at the pipe AP. In that case, a processing apparatus in a toxic substance removal processing process B can be simplified to the toxic substance removal processing section 2a only.

Also, another end portion 52b of the pipe 52 is put in the inner region of the third member 15 through the through-bore 54 as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, and the aperture 52d of the another end portion 52b communicates with the hollow inner region 53a of the joint member 53 in an upstream side (being liquid introduction part 30 side) than the blade members 42a, 42b, 42c. Note that the through-bore 54 is formed to be slightly larger diameter than the outer diameter of pipe 52, but outside liquid of the third member 15 does not invade the interior region of the third member 15 from the through -bore 54 since a gap between the through-bore 54 and the pipe 52 is closed.

By this, the outside gas of the introduction pipe 10 is introduced from one end portion 52a of the pipe 52 and is breathed in the inner region 53a of the joint member 53 from another end portion 53b. In this case, since the aperture 53e of the joint member 53 is positioned more closed to the discharge part 70 in the mixture portion 40, gas at the outside of the introduction pipe 10 become taken more closed to the discharge part 70 than the mixture portion 40. Note that the outer diameter of the pipe 52 of the present embodiment is set to 6rom, the inside diameter is set to 4mm. Note that the outer diameter and the inside diameter of the pipe 52 respond to a demand of the quantity to introduce outside gas of the introduction pipe 10 without limitation to this, and it should be set freely.

In the downstream side of the mixture portion 40, the swirl of the mixture along axis 15b of the third member 15 is formed by the mixture portion 40 and gas which is taken from the gas breathing portion 50 and exhausted from the aperture 53b of the joint member 53 joins in generally center portion of the swirl. Because pressure force becomes low in generally center portion of the swirl in comparison with the outer diameter side share of the swirl, and the gas of the gas introduction part 20 is high pressure than the atmospheric pressure, the gas from the gas breathing portion 50 is breathed to the introduction pipe 10 efficiently without a mixture flowing backward in the inner region 53a of the joint member 53. And the gas from the gas breathing portion 50 becomes to be a micro gas bubble by repeating swirling movement with the mixture in which the gas and liquid coexisted.

A collision board 60 is a board disposed between the mixture portion 40 and the discharge part 70 as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, and it is extended along axis 15b of the third member 15 from the inside of introduction pipe 10. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, the collision board 60 stands up to half height of the inside diameter of introduction pipe 10 toward axis 15b from the bottom inside surface of the third member 15, and an upstream side of the collision board 60 is formed in the shape of an arc. The swirled mixture takes in gas from the gas breathing portion 50, keeps on swirling and become swirl, and it collides to the collision board 60. Comparatively big gas bubble that did not become the micro gas bubble when it passed through the mixture portion 40 and gas from gas breathing portion 50 are sheared, and thus it becomes a micro gas bubble. In addition the flow of the swirling direction of the mixture is rectified by the collision board 60 to the flow of released directions from the discharge part 70 into the liquid.

When, according to the micro gas bubble generating portion MB of the present embodiment, outside liquid of the introduction pipe 10 is introduced in the introduction pipe 10 by negative pressure when gas introduced in the introduction pipe 10 from the gas introduction part 20 passes the liquid introduction part 30, and gas introduced in the introduction pipe 10 and liquid introduced from the liquid introduction part 30 are mixed efficiently when they pass through mixture courses 41a, 41b, 41c of the mixture portion 40. After passing through the mixture portion 40, the mixed gas and liquid is making a micro gas bubble, a micro gas bubble (a micro bubble) is generated in large quantities by colliding to the collision board 60, and is released in liquid. Even more particularly, the quantity of a micro gas bubble can be increased by introducing outside air from the gas breathing portion 50 additionally.

The gas which passes through the micro gas bubble generating portion MB does not need pressure for feeding the liquid into the casing (into device), which is economic, and the gas bubble generating portion MB produces a lot of micro gas bubbles B which are released into the liquid S. Micro bubbles B, rather than the big bubbles, are active in contacting the exhaust gas with the liquid S, and thus it is preferable because processing of the gas is promoted. Since the gas bubble generating portion MB can generate micro gas bubbles in response to the introduced amount of the outside air, it s preferable in cases where the exhausted gas is dissolved in liquid and cleaned, so that the biological or chemical reaction between the gas and the liquid is accelerated.

Note that, in the present embodiment, two micro gas bubble generating portion MB are adjusted so that each discharge part 70 is directed to slightly inside. While a micro gas bubble discharged from each discharge part 70 mixes each other and is moving complicatedly by this, it floats in the liquid S for a long time and thus it is expected the effect that reaction of gas (a gas bubble) with the liquid S is done well.

Also, in the micro gas bubble generating portion MB of the present embodiment, it is explained as the constitution that the liquid introduction part 30 is disposed at the position of sinking in liquid, but it can be done with the constitution that was disposed to be located in the upper part than liquid level W of liquid without the liquid introduction part 30 sinking in liquid.

In this case, it may be the constitution that the outside of the introduction pipe 10 extends without gap from an opening 31 of the liquid introduction part 30 and whose tip side is sank in the liquid S so that the liquid is supplied into the opening 31.

Also, if the air pump AC which sends outside gas into the gas breathing portion 50 has a function to send outside gas into the gas breathing portion 50, it is not necessary to be previously described structure. For embodiment, outside air may be sent into the gas breathing portion 50 by a compressor rotating by electricity. Also, in the micro gas bubble generating portion MB of the present embodiment, constitution comprising the gas breathing portion 50 was explained, but it may be the constitution that does not comprise the gas breathing portion 50 without being limited to this. In the constitution with which the gas breathing portion 50 is not provided, it is the constitution that only pneumatically transported gas from the gas introduction part 20 is introduced into the introduction pipe 10, it is constitution that only pneumatically transported gas from the gas introduction part 20 be included in a micro gas bubble released from the discharge part 70, outside gas of the introduction pipe 10 is not included therein, and thus it is selectable in response to a demand to generate micro gas bubble which is only pneumatically transported gas from the gas introduction part 20. In the illustrative embodiment described above, the gas bubble generating device MB is used as part of the toxic substance removal apparatus of FIGS. 1-5, 11-12 and 15-20. However, it is contemplated that the gas bubble generating portion, or assembly, may be used in other applications where creation of bubbles and mixing of any of gaseous, liquid and/or solid substances is required. Moreover, other embodiments of the bubble generating devices are described herein below, which may be used either in the toxic substance removal apparatus for facilitating removal of toxic substances from a gas, or in other applications where mixing and/or generation of bubbles is needed.

Referring now back to the apparatus of FIGS. 2-5, the subdivision layer SL is constructed from a floor board bl, a floor board b2 and a lot of ceramic burning body L put between the floor board bland the floor board b2, and is disposed at the direct top of the discharge part 70 of the micro gas bubble generating portion MB. The floor board bl is built central part region 2c of the housing Hl over the horizontal direction without a gap. Further the floor board b2 is placed with the predetermined distance on the upper side of the floor board bl, and it is built over the horizontal direction in parallel with the floor board bi without a gap.

Also, liquid S taken to the lower region 2f of the housing Hl in the present embodiment is filled so that liquid level of the liquid S is located in gap with the predetermined distance between the floor surface bland the floor surface b2. The liquid level of the liquid S is adjusted by this so as to have space for the upper region 2b side than the introduction bore 2d of the housing Hl . A lot of bore H penetrated each of the floor board bland the floor board b2 so as to be penetrated through the top and bottom of the board respectively. Specifically, a stainless steel board of thickness 2mm having a lot of circular apertures at 8mm diameter punched is selected as the floor board bland the floor board b2 respectively (cf. FIG. 4). In the floor board bland the floor board b2, a bore bhl through which second part 14 of the micro gas bubble generating portion MB penetrates and a bore bh2 through which the pipe 52 of the gas breathing portion 50 penetrates are placed to combine with the micro gas bubble generating portion MB. Also, in the space formed between the floor board bl and the floor board b2, a lot of ceramic burning body L having many bores are laid.

A discharge course OR is provided between the upper region of the subdivision layer SL and the discharge port 2e generating gas in upper section 2b of the housing Hl as shown in FIG.3 and FIG.5, and is a passing course through which the gas passed the subdivision layer SL is passed when the gas move to the discharge port 2e. The discharge course OR of the present embodiment comprises two pieces of the board b3, b4 placed at upper section 2b of the housing Hl. Board b3 is a board-shaped member built over the horizontal direction in upper section 2b of housing Hl, and has a predetermined gap in the micro gas bubble generating portion MB side. The board b4 is a board-shaped member which is placed with the predetermined distance from the board b3 in upper direction and is built over the board b3 in parallel, and also has the predetermined gap in the opposite side of the micro gas bubble generating portion MB.

Two connecting courses comprising a first course ORl formed between the board b2 and the board b3 and a second course OR2 formed between the board b4 and the top panel b5, and they are separated by the board b3 and the board b4 and constructed as the discharge course OR. Also, the first course ORl communicates with the upper region of the subdivision layer SL in side of the micro gas bubble generating portion MB, and the second course OR2 communicates with the first course ORl in opposite side of the micro gas bubble generating portion MB. Also, the micro gas bubble generating portion MB side of the second course OR2 communicates with the discharge port 2e. Thereby, the gas which passed the subdivision layer SL enters into the first course ORl from side of the micro gas bubble generating portion MB, move thorough the first course ORl in opposite direction of the micro gas bubble generating portion MB and enter into the second course 0R2, and move through the second course OR2 in direction of the micro gas bubble generating portion MB and is discharged to the discharge port 2e.

According to the aforementioned processing apparatus, the exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine (A) is sent through the pipe AP, becomes the micro gas bubble by the micro gas bubble generating portion MB, and is released in the liquid S. And the bubble H of gas released in the liquid S is floating in the liquid S, it is responded with a hydroxyl ion included in the liquid S. The carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in the gas couple with the negative ion of a hydroxyl ion included in the liquid S and are removed, and further a particulate matter is adsorbed by the negative ion of a hydroxyl ion included in the liquid S, is processed separation from the gas and is deposited in the bottom of the housing Hl so as to be taken into the liquid S.

Even more particularly, the particulate matter floating in the liquid S is adsorbed by a lot of bores of the ceramic burning body L of the subdivision layer SL and it is removed. Also, even if lot of micro gas bubbles coupled with each other and was a big gas bubble accordingly, the subdivision layer SL can subdivide the same when the big gas bubble pass through the ceramic burning body L having many bores. Thereby, even if it is put in the vicinity of liquid level of the liquid S, reaction of gas with the hydroxyl ion in the liquid S are promoted.

The gas which passed the subdivision layer SL and stayed in the upper region of the subdivision layer SL passes the first course ORl and the second course OR2 in zigzag manner and whereby spray of water of the liquid S is removed, and is exhausted through the discharge port 2e. Also, the exhaust from an internal combustion engine (A) passes the liquid S in an inner region of the housing Hl, pass the first course ORl and the second course OR2 in zigzag manner further and whereby temperature (exhaust heat) of the exhaust depressed and a sound (exhaust sound) when exhaust is exhausted to the outside is reduced further.

In other words, in a processing process, when the temporary reserved gas in upper section 2b of the housing Hl passes the liquid S, it is responded with a hydroxyl ion and thus carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and a particulate matter are removed. Accordingly, the gas which pass the pipe BP from discharge the port 2e, and discharge (F) to the outside of the housing Hl is clean gas which as mentioned above, a toxic substance is removed, exhaust heat is depressed and the exhaust sound is reduced.

The test result done by the toxic substance processing apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment is herein described in which it evaluated the effect when the toxic substance of the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine was processed. Note that an internal combustion engine used is a turbocharger diesel engine (engine form 2KD-FTV) of 2,500cc displacement for the van type car of Japan specifications made by Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota MOTOR CORPORATION). Also, in this test, as a sample of the cases (embodiment) using the toxic substance processing apparatus by the present embodiment, mechanism (a catalyst device and a muffler device) of the downstream than the turbocharger of the exhaust system of the van type car is detached, the processing apparatus of the present embodiment is attached instead, the exhaust of the engine is introduced into the processing apparatus, and exhaust gas exhausted by a processing apparatus was measured. Further, as a sample (a comparative embodiment) when the toxic substance processing apparatus by the present embodiment is not used, exhaust gas exhausted from the rear end of the muffler device of the exhaust system of the van type car was measured. Note that using ALTIA EG 1800-5000 made by Kabushiki Kaisha Altia as a measurement apparatus, carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC) , carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (02) in the whole exhaust gas were measured thereby. For a measurement method, carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (02) which remained in the gas drained from the processing apparatus were measured, when the RPM of the engine is at the time of 0 rpm (being in state of the atmosphere that exhaust gas is not exhausted), 800rpm (being in idling state), lOOOrpm, 2000rpm, 3000rpm and 4000rpm respectively.

A test result by the embodiment is shown in FIG. 9. In this test result, at first, when RPM of the engine is at the time of Orpm, in other words, in state of the atmosphere, value of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon dioxide (C02) are all O (Vol%) and value of the oxygen (02) is 20.8 (Vol%). Next, when RPM of the engine is at the time of 800rpm in other words in idling state, among remained one in exhaust, value of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are all 0 (Vol%) and value of the oxygen (02) is 20.9 (Vol%). After this, when each value at the time of lOOOrpm, 2000rpm, 3000rpm and 4000rpm being the RPM of the engine was tested respectively, but there were no change from value at the time of 800rpm. A test result by the comparative embodiment is shown in FIG. 10. In this test result, at first, when RPM of the engine is at the time of Orpm, in other words, in state of the atmosphere, value of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are all 0 (Vol%)and value of the oxygen (02) is 20.8 (Vol%). Next, when RPM of the engine is at the time of 800rpm in other words in idling state, among remained one in exhaust, value of carbon monoxide (CO) is 0 (Vol%), value of hydrocarbon (HC) is 9 (Volppm) and value of carbon dioxide (CO2) is 3.5 (Vol%) and value of the oxygen (02) is 17.5 (Vol%). Next, when RPM of the engine is at the time of lOOOrpm, among remained one in exhaust, value of carbon monoxide (CO) is 0.01 (Vol%), value of hydrocarbon (HC) is 9 (Volppm) and value of carbon dioxide (CO2) is 3.4 (Vol%) and value of the oxygen (02) is 16.9 (Vol%). Next, when RPM of the engine is at the time of 2000rpm, among remained one in exhaust, value of carbon monoxide (CO) is 0.02 (Vol%), value of hydrocarbon (HC) is 8 (Volppm) and value of carbon dioxide (CO2) is 4.0 (Vol%) and value of the oxygen (02) is 16.3 (Vol%). Next, when RPM of the engine is at the time of 3000rpm, among remained one in exhaust, value of carbon monoxide (CO) is 0.06 (Vol%), value of hydrocarbon (HC) is 8 (Volppm) and value of carbon dioxide (CO2) is 4.0 (Vol%) and value of the oxygen (02) is 16.3 (Vol%). Next, when RPM of the engine is at the time of 4000rpm, among remained one in exhaust, value of carbon monoxide (CO) is 0.06 (Vol%), value of hydrocarbon (HC) is 8 (Volppm) and value of carbon dioxide (CO2) is 3.9 (Vol%) and value of the oxygen (02) is 16.2 (Vol%). A test result (FIG. 10) by the comparative embodiment is compared with a test result

(FIG. 9) by above embodiments and it is evaluated. By the test result by the comparative embodiment, hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are exhausted from idling time, when the RPM of the engine is beyond lOOOrpm, carbon monoxide (CO) is exhausted as well as hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Also, as far as an engine rotates, it is found that the oxygen (02) always decreases. In contrast, carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon dioxide (CO2) were not always exhausted regardless of the RPM of the engine according to the test result of the embodiment. Also, it is found that oxygen (02) is always contained at the same ratio as the atmosphere. By this comparison evaluation, it is found that the exhaust including a toxic substance drained from an internal combustion engine is processed by the toxic substance removal apparatus (a toxic substance removal method) of the present embodiment and whereby it is found that a toxic substance is removed and the gas become clean gas same as the atmosphere and was exhausted. Embodiment 2

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram presenting the process of the toxic substance removal method by embodiment 2. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIG. 11, process (preprocessing process C) for ionizing gas including the toxic substance is prepared before the toxic substance removal processing process B explained by the above embodiment 1. The present embodiment adopts method that a toxic substance of gas preprocessed in preprocessing process C was efficiently removed in the toxic substance removal processing process B and after that, was discharged (F) to outside. Since the toxic substance removal processing process B has the same constitution as that illustrated in the above embodiment 1, the explanation is omitted and the preprocessing process C is herein described.

In the preprocessing process C, a positron is acted to gas including the toxic substance and whereby process to make a toxic substance to a positive ion is done. Specifically, a power is supplied to a pair of electrodes respectively, electron drifting between electrodes is acted to toxic substance included in gas by passing gas including the toxic substance between a pair of electrodes and a toxic substance is made to a positive ion. Also, the toxic substance made to positive ion in the preprocessing process C before the toxic substance removal processing process B, when process in the toxic substance removal process B is performed, is easy to be tied to the negative ion of the hydroxyl ion and thus efficiency of removing a toxic substance rises. In the toxic substance removal method by the present embodiment, it can be worked to remove a toxic substance from gas including the toxic substance like above embodiment 1.

An outline of one constitution embodiment of a processing apparatus used by a toxic substance removal method by the present embodiment is explained (FIG. 12-FIG. 14), FIG. 12 shows the outline constitution of the toxic substance removal apparatus used by the toxic substance removal method by the present embodiment, FIG. 13 shows the outline constitution of the processing apparatus (preprocessing section 3a) of the preprocessing process C that is a part constituting the toxic substance removal apparatus used for the toxic substance removal method in accordance with the present embodiment, and FIG. 14 shows the section of the vertical direction (FIG. 13, arrow c direction) of the preprocessing section 3a. The toxic substance removal apparatus by the present embodiment comprises the preprocessing section 3a and the toxic substance removal processing section 2a. As for the toxic substance removal processing section 2a, the explanation is omitted, because the constitution is similar to that illustrated by above embodiment 1, and constitution of the preprocessing section 3a is mainly herein explained.

The preprocessing section 3a adopted in the present embodiment is shown in FIG. 12 - FIG. 14. The aforementioned preprocessing process C is handled in the processing component 3a. The preprocessing section 3a has an introduction bore 3d for introducing gas (gas including the toxic substance) to be processing object, a discharge port 3e exhausting the processed gas, and a housing H2 formed in sealing state except the introduction bore 3d and the discharge port 3e and a pair of electrode 3b, 3c are provided in the housing H2.

The introduction bore 3d is provided on the one side of the housing H2 so as to penetrate through the inside and outside of the housing H2. This introduction bore 3d is connected to an internal combustion engine W with the pipe CP and thus gas including a toxic substance drained from the internal combustion engine (A) is introduced to the inside of the housing H2. The discharge port 3e is provided on the opposite side surface facing to the introduction bore 3d of the housing H2 so as to penetrate through the inside and outside of the housing H2. This discharge port 3e is connected to the introduction bore 2d of the toxic substance removal processing section 2a via the pipe AP.

The electrode 3b is formed by double-cross combination of plural copper rhabdom and is installed in side of the introduction bore 3d inside of the housing H2. The electric wire 3fis connected to the electrode 3b. Specifically, the first electrodes 3ba are formed by five copper rhabdoms being arranged in parallelism at equal distance in one side of direction of the housing H2. Further, with a slight interval left in the direction of the discharge port 3e from the first electrodes 3ba, the second electrodes 3bb are formed by five copper rhabdoms being arranged in parallelism at equal distance in another side direction that 90 degrees rotated direction of the aforementioned side of direction of the housing H2. Further, with a slight interval left in the direction of the discharge port 3e from the second electrodes 3bb, the third electrodes 3bc are formed by five copper rhabdoms being arranged in parallelism at equal distance in the aforementioned side of direction of the housing H2. Also, one end of electric wire 3f couples all electrodes 3b (3ba, 3bb, 3bc) , and another end side of the electric wire 3f penetrates through the housing H2, and it follows to the outside of the housing H2. The electrodes 3c are formed by double, cross combination of plural stainless- steel plate like body and are installed in side of the discharge bore 3e inside of the housing H2. The electric wire 3g is connected to the electrode 3c. Specifically, the first electrodes 3ea are formed by three stainless-steel plate-like bodies being arranged in parallelism at equal distance in one side of direction of the housing H2. Further, with a slight interval left in the direction of the introduction bore 3d from the first electrodes 3ea, the second electrodes 3cb are formed by three stainless-steel plate-like bodies being arranged in parallelism at equal distance in another side direction that 90 degrees rotated direction of the aforementioned side of direction of the housing H2. Further, with a slight interval left in the direction of the introduction bore 3d from the second electrodes 3cb, the third electrodes 3cc are formed by three stainless- steel plate-like bodies being arranged in parallelism at equal distance in the aforementioned side of direction of the housing H2. Further, with a slight interval left in the direction of the introduction bore 3d from the third electrodes 3ec, the fourth electrodes 3cd are formed by three stainless-steal plate-like bodies being arranged in parallelism at equal distance in another side direction that 90 degrees rotated direction of the aforementioned side of direction of the housing H2. Further, with a slight interval left in the direction of the introduction bore 3d from the fourth electrodes 3ed, the fifth electrodes 3ce are formed by three stainless- steel plate-like bodies being arranged in parallelism at equal distance in the aforementioned side of direction of the housing H2. Also, one end of electric wire 3g couples all electrodes 3c (3ca, 3cb, 3cc, 3ed, 3ce), and another end side of the electric wire 3g penetrates through the housing H2, and it follows to the outside of the housing H2.

In the preprocessing section 3a constituted as mentioned above, gas including the toxic substance is introduced from the introduction bore 3d to the housing H2. The electric wire 3f of the copper electrode 3b is connected to the anode (+ terminal) of the DC power supply beforehand on this occasion, the electric wire 3g of the electrode 3c made from stainless- steel is connected to the cathode (- terminal) of the DC power supply. Note that, in the present embodiment, a lead storage battery (battery) of 12V is used as DC power supply. In this regard, the state that movement of electron of the copper electrode 3b to the electrode 3c made from stainless- steel occurs in the space between the electrode 3b and the electrode 3c. In this condition, the gas including the toxic substance is made to a positive ion by passing through space between the electrode 3b and the electrode 3c, and it is exhausted to outside of the housing H2 through the discharge port 3e. Note that the pipe AP is connected to the discharge port 3e of the housing H2. The gas including the ionization processed toxic substance by the preprocessing section 3a is sent into the toxic substance removal processing section 2a through the pipe AP, and then is processed to remove a toxic substance of the whole gas. Because the toxic substance is made to a positive ion by the preprocessing section 3a, it is easy to be tied to the negative ion of the hydroxyl ion and thus efficiency of removing a toxic substance rises. Embodiment 3

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram presenting the process of the toxic substance removal method by the embodiment 3. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, deodorization antibacterial process D is provided after the toxic substance removal processing process B as well as the preprocessing process C and the toxic substance removal processing process B explained in the above embodiment 1. In this regards, the present embodiment adopts the method that as shown in FIG. 15, gas which is preprocessed in the preprocessing process C and removal of toxic substance is efficiently processed therefrom is discharged (F) to outside after process of antibacterial deodorization in the deodorization antibacterial process D. Since the toxic substance removal processing process B has the same constitution as that illustrated in the above embodiment 1 and the preprocessing process C has the same constitution as that illustrated in the above embodiment 2, explanations of them are omitted and the deodorization antibacterial process D is herein described.

In the deodorization antibacterial process D, a catechin acts to the gas which processed and exhausted in the toxic substance removal processing process Band whereby remove the bad-smelling ingredient which is included in gas and process control of the activity of a virus included in gas. Specifically, in the deodorization antibacterial process D, gas drained in the toxic substance removal processing process B is passed through a filter including the catechin and whereby the catechin ingredient of the filter responds to bad- smelling ingredient of the gas and thus removal process is done and the catechin ingredient catches a virus to control the activity of the virus. The gas processed in the deodorization antibacterial process D is unscented and thus can be friendly gas for the neighboring environment where gas is exhausted. In the toxic substance removal method by the present embodiment, it can be worked to remove a toxic substance from gas including the toxic substance like above embodiment 1.

An outline of one constitution embodiment of a processing apparatus used for the toxic substance removal method by the present embodiment is explained (FIG. 16-FIG. 18). FIG. 16 shows the outline constitution of the toxic substance removal apparatus used by the toxic substance removal method by the present embodiment, FIG. 17 shows the outline constitution of the processing apparatus (deodorization antibacterial processing section 4a) of the deodorization antibacterial process D that is a part constituting the toxic substance removal apparatus used for the toxic substance removal method in accordance with the present embodiment, and FIG. 18 shows the section of the horizontal direction (FIG. 17, arrow d direction) of the deodorization antibacterial processing section 4a. The toxic substance removal apparatus by the present embodiment comprises the preprocessing section 3a, the toxic substance removal processing section 2a and the deodorization antibacterial processing section 4a. As for the toxic substance removal processing section 2a, because the constitution is similar to that illustrated by the above embodiment 1, and as for the preprocessing section 3a, because the constitution is similar to that illustrated by the above embodiment 2, the explanation of them are omitted and constitution of the deodorization antibacterial processing section 4a is mainly herein explained.

The deodorization antibacterial processing section 4a adopted in the present embodiment is shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18. The deodorization antibacterial process D is performed in this deodorization antibacterial processing section 4a. The deodorization antibacterial processing section 4a has an introduction bore 4d for introducing gas (gas with the smell) to be processing object, a discharge port 4e exhausting the processed gas and a housing H3 formed in sealing state except the introduction bore 4d and the discharge port 4e, and the housing H3 has a filter 4f including at least catechin, a board 4g for placing the filter 4f in predetermined region in the housing H3, and the outside air breathing pipe EP for breathing outside air in the lower region 4c from outside of the housing H3.

The introduction bore 4d is provided in the lower region 4c of the housing H3 so as to penetrate through the inside and outside of the housing H3. This introduction bore 4d is connected to the discharge port 2e of the toxic substance processing section 2a via the pipe BP. The discharge port 4e is provided in the upper region 4b of the housing H3 so as to penetrate through the inside and outside of the housing H3. This discharge port 4e is connected to the Pipe EP and deodorization antibacterial processed gas is exhausted to the outside therethrough. Board 4g is built over the horizontal direction without a gap so as to partition off upper region 4b with lower region 4c of the housing H3. The filter 4f is placed in lower region 4c than the board 4g in the housing H3. Also, the board 4g has lot of bore H so as to be penetrated through the top and bottom of the board 4g as shown in FIG. 18. Specifically, a stainless steel board of thickness 2mm having a lot of circular apertures at 8mm diameter punched is selected as board 4g. Also, the board 4g is constituted like this can prevent the filter 4f from rising by force of gas introduced from the introduction bore 4d of the housing H3. Also, the gas which passed the filter 4d passes the bore H of the board 4g, and it can move to the upper part (a direction of discharge port 4e) of the board 4g. The filter 4f includes catechin. Specifically, the tea leaf of the Japanese green tea is adopted. It is known the fact that the tea leaf of the Japanese green tea includes catechin abundantly. In accordance with exemplary - embodiments, a volume of the tea leaf of Japanese green tea is filled with the lower region 4c of the housing H3, and is borne down by the floor board 4g. When the gas taken from the introduction bore 4d passes through a volume of the tea leaves of Japanese green tea, a catechin ingredient responds to a bad- smelling ingredient of the gas and thus the removal process is done, a catechin ingredient catches a virus, and the activity of the virus is controlled. By this the tea leaf of the Japanese green tea functions as the filter 4f. The outside air breathing pipe EP is the pipe which penetrated into the lower region

4c from the outside of the housing H3 as shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 18. Note that, in the present embodiment, the outside air breathing pipe FP is formed in the shape of the pipe of 4mm inside diameter. The one end of the outside air breathing pipe FP is inserted in the filter 4f provided to the lower region 4c of the housing H3. The side of another end of the outside air breathing pipe EP goes inside of the pipe EP connected to the discharge port 4e from the upper region 4b of the housing H3, extends to outside of the enclosure of the pipe EP, penetrates through the inside and outside of the peripheral wall of the pipe EP, and coupled with the compressor CN of the previously described air pump AC (FIG. 16). Note that since the gas breathing portion 50 of the micro gas bubble generating portion MB is connected to the compressor CN, the outside air sent out by the compressor CN is supplied to both the outside gas breathing portion 50 of the micro gas bubble generating portion MB of the toxic substance removal processing section 2a and the outside air breathing pipe EP of the deodorization antibacterial processing section 4a. Thus, since outside air sent off by the compressor CN is sent into the filter 4f of the lower region 4c of the housing H3, outside air passes through the tea leaves of Japanese green tea constituting the filter 4f, and moisture adsorbed on the tea leaf of the Japanese green tea is removed. By this, the tea leaf of the Japanese green tea can hold a function as the filter 4f. Note that, in the present embodiment, the tea leaf of the Japanese green tea was adopted as the filter 4f including the catechin, however without being limited to this, if catechin is included and a smell of the gas can respond to catechin by passing gas, it may be what kind of constitution. For example, the filter which it is reticular, and ceramic including the catechin is fired may be adopted. Embodiment 4

FIG. 19 is a flow diagram presenting the process of the toxic substance removal method by the embodiment 4. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, an incineration process E is comprised between a preprocessing process C and a toxic substance removal processing process B, in addition to the constitution explained by the aforementioned embodiment 1, i.e., the preprocessing process C, the toxic substance removal processing process B and a deodorization antibacterial process D. In this regards, the present embodiment adopts the method that as shown in FIG. 19, gas which is preprocessed in the preprocessing process C and includes toxic substance is, after heating and incinerating toxic substance by the incineration process E, efficiently processed removal of toxic substance therefrom, and discharged (F) to outside after process of antibacterial deodorization in the deodorization antibacterial process D. Since the toxic substance removal processing process B has the same constitution as that illustrated in the above embodiment 1, the preprocessing process C has the same constitution as that illustrated in the above embodiment 2 and the deodorization antibacterial process D has the same constitution as that illustrated in the above embodiment 3, explanations of them are omitted and the incineration process E is herein described.

In the incineration process E, the gas including toxic substance is heated by a heating pathway which is heated at high temperature and whereby toxic substance is burnt up. Specifically, a gas including toxic substance is put though the hollow portions of the plural ceramic pipes heated at a high temperature by electrically-heated wire and whereby toxic substance included in a gas is heated by radiant heat from the heated plural ceramic pipes. Suspended particulate matters (PM) among toxic substances are especially heated and thus pyrolysis processing is done thereto. Further, since the toxic substance was burn up in the incineration process E before the toxic substance removal process B, the toxic substances which was not burnt up in the incineration process E may be processed in the toxic substance removal process B, thus a burden for removing a toxic substance in the toxic substance removal processing process B is reduced and efficiency of removal of a toxic substance is high. In the toxic substance removal method by the present embodiment, it can be worked to remove a toxic substance from gas including the toxic substance like above embodiments 1. An outline of one constitution embodiment of the toxic substance removal apparatus used for the toxic substance removal method by the present embodiment is explained (FIG. 20-FIG. 22). FIG. 20 shows the outline constitution of the toxic substance removal apparatus used by the toxic substance removal method by the present embodiment, FIG. 21 shows the outline constitution of the processing apparatus (the incineration processing section 5a) of the incineration process E that is a part constituting the toxic substance removal apparatus used for the toxic substance removal method in accordance with the present embodiment, FIG. 22 shows the section of the vertical direction (FIG. 21, arrow e direction) of the incineration processing section 5a. The toxic substance removal apparatus by the present embodiment comprises the preprocessing section 3a, the incineration processing section 5a and the toxic substance removal processing section 2a. As for the toxic substance removal processing section 2a, because the constitution is similar to that illustrated by the above embodiment 1, as for the preprocessing section 3a, because the constitution is similar to that illustrated by the above embodiment 2, as for the deodorization antibacterial processing section 4a, because the constitution is similar to that illustrated by the above embodiment 3, the explanation of them are omitted and constitution of the incineration processing section 5a is mainly herein explained.

The incineration processing section 5a adopted in the present embodiment is shown in FIG. 21 and FIG. 22. The incineration process E is performed in this incineration processing section 5a. The incineration processing section 5a has an introduction bore 5d for introducing gas to be processing object, a discharge port 5e exhausting the processed gas, a housing H4 formed in sealing state except the introduction bore 5d and a discharge port 5e, and a heating device 5b accommodated in the housing H4. The introduction bore 5d is provided in one side surface of the housing H4 so as to penetrate through the inside and outside of the housing H4. This introduction bore 5d is connected to the discharge port 33 of the preprocessing apparatus 3a via a pipe DP and thus the preprocessed gas including a toxic substance is introduced into inside of the housing H4. The discharge port 5e is provided on the opposite side surface facing to the introduction bore 5d of the housing H4 so as to penetrate through the inside and outside of the housing H4.

This discharge port 5e is connected to the introduction bore 2d of the toxic substance removal processing section 2a via the pipe AP.

The heating device 5b, as shown in FIG. 21 and FIG. 22, consists of plural heat source 6 which are formed in the shape of a cylinder of the predetermined length and arranged in the housing H4, and electrically-heated wire 6c which is wound on a heat source 6 and makes the heat source 6 been in heated state. The heat source 6 is a fired ceramics and shaped cylindrically, and installed so that one end of hollow portion 6b of the cylinder is directed to the side of the introduction bore 5d of the housing H4 and the another end of the hollow portion 6b is directed to the side of the discharge port 53 of the housing H4. The exterior surface of the heat source 6 is covered by protective member 6a made by stainless steel. A protective member 6a is formed in cylindrical shape which has inner diameter slightly larger than outer diameter of the heat source 6, is thin-walled and is same length as that of the heat source. Since the heat source 6 is completely placed in inner diameter portion of the hollow portion of the protective member 6, heat of the heat source 6 stays at inside diameter of the hollow portion of the protective member 6a and whereby keeping heat of the heat source 6 can be kept easily.

Also, in the present embodiment, three steps of 12 heat sources 6 is displayed in the crosswise direction four lines as shown in FIG. 21 in the housing H4 in lengthwise direction. Also, the 12 heat sources 6 are arranged so as to approach to the discharge port 5e side of the housing H4. Accordingly, the housing H4 is formed so as to have the big cross-section at side of the discharge port 5e thereof being able to accommodate the 12 heat sources 6 and the small cross-section at side of the introduction bore 5d thereof being narrower than the discharge port 5e side. Note that because the heat source 6 is covered in a protective member 6a, even if the 12 heat sources 6 is installed on display, it can be prevented the heat source 6 from break which is caused by direct contact of each heat source 6 when a shock from the outside is added thereto.

An electrically-heated wire 6c is wound around the 12 pieces of the heat source 6 in diametrical direction of the heat source 6, and both end portions 6f and 6g of the heat source 6c are penetrate through the housing H4 respectively and continues to the outside of the housing H4. The electrically-heated wire 6c is heated by heat transfer from DC power supply connected with the both end portions 6f and 6g of the electrically-heated wire 50 and thus the protective member 6a and the heat source 6 are heated. In this case, the heat source 6 formed with ceramic has a function of heat accumulation and thus the hollow portion 6b of the heat source 6 can hold high heat. Note that, in the present embodiment, a lead storage battery (battery) of 12V is used as DC power supply.

In the incineration processing section 5a having such constitution, gas including the toxic substance is introduced into the housing H4 in which electricity is provided to the electrically-heated wire 6c in advance and thus the heat source 6 is heated. In this condition, the gas including the toxic substance is introduced from one end of the hollow portion 6b of the heat source 6 via another end and then drained from the discharge port 5e. In this step, heat accumulated in the heat source 6 is transferred to a toxic substance, and a toxic substance is heated and then is burnt up. In accordance with the aforementioned constitution, the gas including a toxic substance which burn up by the incineration processing section 5a is sent to the toxic substance removal processing section 2a, and a toxic substance of the whole gas removes. Because the part of the toxic substance is burn up by the incineration processing section 5a, the toxic substance removal processing section 2a may process only the residual toxic substance in the gas. This may reduce a burden of the removal processing by the toxic substance removal processing section 2a and thus it results in high efficiency for removing a toxic substance by the toxic substance removal apparatus.

Note that the hollow portion 6b of a cylindrically- formed heat source 6 may have plural concave portions formed therein radially in diametric direction. In this way that the concave portions are formed, since an area contacting with the gas is increased, a toxic substance in gas is heated at high temperature and thus efficiency of removal process is high. Also, in the present embodiment, the adopted constitution is that 12 pieces of the heat source 6 are arranged and thus arranged ones are wounded around by the electrically-heated wire 6c in diametrical direction of the heat source 6, but the electrically-heated wire 6c may be wound around the heat source 6 respectively. In this case, efficiency to heating the heat source 6 is improved because each heat source 6 is heated individually. Even more particularly, even if any of the electrically-heated wire 6c heating the heat source 6 resulted in failure by any chance, the other heat sources 6 can be heated instead and thus stability of the operation of the incineration processing section 5a can be found. Note that and this case, the electrically-heated wire 6c may be directly wounded to the heat source 6 itself or to the protective member 6a in which the heat source 6 is accommodated.

The liquid S used for the toxic substance removal processing process B (the toxic substance processing section 2a) of each of the aforementioned embodiments may contain a hydroxyl ion at least and the other ingredients may be added thereto. In that case, it is preferable to select an ingredient making further promote efficiency of the toxic substance removal processing by the hydroxyl ion. Also, the ratio in which a hydroxyl ion is included shall be set optionally depending on the density of toxic substance of the gas.

In each toxic substance removal apparatus which is explained in the aforementioned embodiments 2 to the embodiment 4, housing in which each process is done is arranged abreast in lines, but a placement form of the housings may be other placement forms. For example, it can line up lengthwise corresponding to the order of the processing process. Instead of the construction that each of housings is not connected to through pipe, it is also preferable construction that each housing is connected directly and adjacently with each other and thus gas is fed into each housing. Even more particularly, plural processing apparatus may be constructed in one housing in a mass. Also, the shape of the housing of each toxic substance removal apparatus explained with the embodiment 1 to the embodiment 4 should be designed optionally corresponding to an object and the environment in where the toxic substance removal apparatus is used. For example, it may be form of a box or it may be form of a pipe.

Also, each processing process (the toxic substance removal processing process B, the preprocessing process C, the deodorization antibacterial process D, the incineration process E) and the sequence of each processing component (the toxic substance removal processing section 2a, the preprocessing section 3a, the deodorization antibacterial processing section 4a, the incineration processing section 5a) may be arranged like next without it being limited to constitution of each of the aforementioned embodiments. In other words, it may be a combination of the toxic substance removal processing process B (the toxic substance removal processing section 2a) and the deodorization antibacterial process D (the deodorization antibacterial processing section 4a), it may be also a combination of the toxic substance removal processing process B (the toxic substance removal processing section 2a) and the incineration process E (the incineration processing section 5a), it may be also a combination of the toxic substance removal processing process B (the toxic substance removal processing section 2a), the preprocessing process C (the preprocessing section 3a) and the incineration process E (incineration processing section 5a), and it may be also a combination of the toxic substance removal processing process B (the toxic substance removal processing section 2a), the incineration process E (the incineration processing section 5a) and the deodorization antibacterial process D (the deodorization antibacterial processing section 4a). Also, in the each of the aforementioned embodiments, the case assuming a toxic substance being removed from the exhaust of the internal combustion engine (A) is explained, but if gas including the toxic substance is the gas, which includes a removable toxic substance in each embodiment, it is not limited to this case. For embodiment, it may be exhaust drained from an incinerator. Also, in each of the aforementioned embodiments, the case which the exhausted gas is forcedly fed by the exhaust pressure of the internal combustion engine is explained, but gas including the toxic substance may be forcedly fed by air pumps and the like.

Other Configurations of the Bubble Generating Device

As mentioned herein above, the configuration of the bubble generating device MB is not limited to the specific configuration shown in FIGS. 6-8, and other configurations of the bubble generating devices and assemblies may be employed in the aforementioned embodiments of the toxic substance removal apparatus for generating bubbles and mixing the exhaust with the liquid. These embodiments of the bubble generating device will now be described with reference to FIGS. 23-32 in Examples 1-4. Example 1

The same effects of the gas bubble generating device 1 of FIGS. 6-8 can be achieved using other configurations of the bubble generating device. In this Example, the second embodiment of the gas bubble generating device 1 is shown in FIGS. 23-30 is described as follows.

The micro gas bubble generating device 1 in this example comprises: an introduction pipe 10 in which a gas introduction part 20 to introduce pneumatically transported gas is installed in one end 11 side (upstream), and a discharge part 70 which is disposed in liquid and release gas introduced from the gas introduction part 20 is installed in another end 12 side (downstream); a liquid introduction part 30 introducing liquid into inside of the introduction pipe 10; a mixture portion 40 disposed between the liquid introduction part 30 and the discharge part 70 in the introduction pipe 10; a gas breathing tube 80 installed in the introduction pipe 10 and breathing gas of the gas introduction part 20 side between the mixture portion 40 in the introduction pipe 10 and the discharge part 70; and a collision board 60 disposed between the mixture portion 30 in the introduction pipe 10 and the discharge part 70 (refer to FIG. 23 to FIG. 30).

Further in this example, outline of shape of the introduction pipe 10 and constitution of the gas introduction part 20 and the discharge part 70 are same as those of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-8 described above, and thus descriptions thereof are omitted. The following are explanations of constitutions as to the liquid introduction part 30, the mixture portion 40, the gas introduction tube 80 and the collision boards 60 as characteristic constitutions of the present invention. In this example, the first member 13 and upper part of the second member 14 of the introduction pipe 10 are located in the upper part than liquid level W of the liquid and middle part of the second member 14 and the third member 15 of the introduction pipe 10 are arranged so as to be sank in lower part than liquid level W of the liquid. Thus, the liquid introduction part 30 arranged in the middle part of the second member 14 and the discharge part 70 located in the end part of the third member 15 are sank in the liquid.

The gas introduction tube 80 of the present example is, as shown in the FIG. 23 and FIG. 24, furnished and arranged in the gas introduction pipe 10 from the gas introduction part 20 to the discharge part. The gas introduction tube 80 is formed as slim tubular shape and in which an end portion 81a located in the same position as the gas introduction part 20 side of the introduction pipe 10 has a gas breathing portion 81c and an end portion 81b located in the same position as the discharge part 70 side of the introduction pipe 10 has a second discharge part 8 Id. In particular, the gas introduction tube 80 is formed along the axes 13b, 14b and 15b in each direction of elongation of the first member 13, the second member 14 and the third member 15 of the introduction pipe 10, the gas breathing portion 81c opens on the same surface as the gas introduction part 20 of the introduction pipe 10, and the second discharge part 8 Id opens between the mixture portion 40 and the collision board.

The gas introduction tube 80 is arranged as above, a part of gas introduced from the gas introduction part 20 to the introduction pipe 10 is introduced from the gas breathing portion 81c into the gas introduction tube 80 and is discharged to between the mixture portion 40 and the collision board 60 through the second discharge part 8 Id. In this example, the gas breathing portion 81c of the gas introduction tube 80 opens on the same surface as the gas introduction part 20 of the introduction pipe 10 and thus the amount of gas discharged from the second discharge part 8 Id is changed in response to the amount of gas which is pneumatically transported and introduced to the gas introduction part 20.

A gas introduction space 10a is formed between outside of the gas introduction tube 80 and inside of the introduction pipe 10 and is over from the gas introduction part 20 of the introduction pipe 10 to the discharge part 8 Id. The gas introduction space 10a is a channel for feeding the gas, which is introduced from the gas introduction part 20 into the introduction pipe 10 to the mixture portion 40 along the introduction pipe 10 and through outer circumference of the gas introduction tube 30. Accordingly, the outer diameter of the gas introduction tube 80 is required for setting to be sufficiently smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the introduction pipe 10 in order to leave the gas introduction space 10a so that the gas can pass through inside region of the introduction pipe 10 sufficiently. In this example, the diameter of the introduction pipe 10 is 60mm and on the contrary, in the gas introduction tube 80, the outer diameter of is set to 17mm and the inside diameter is set to 15mm. The outer diameter of the gas introduction tube 80 is not limited to this and may be set freely in response to a demand for the amount of gas introduced in the gas introduction tube 80.

Further, the gas introduction tube 80 is, as shown in the FIGS. 24 to 26 and FIGS. 28 to 29, supported at substantially center portion in case of sectional view and by a supporting member 80a which is slim and in the shape of a rod and installed with directing from internal surface of the introduction pipe 10 to the gas introduction tube 80. In this example, the supporting member 80a is disposed in the vicinity of the gas introduction part 20 of the first member 13 (the introduction pipe 10), at the downstream side 13a of the first member 13 (the introduction pipe 10) and at the upstream side of the third member 15 (the introduction pipe 10). In concrete, in respect of each supporting member 80a, four pieces of the supporting member 80a are respectively disposed at quarter intervals in case of sectional view of the introduction pipe 10 in the vicinity of the gas introduction part 20 of the first member 13, and three pieces of the supporting member 80a are respectively disposed at quarter intervals in case of sectional view of the introduction pipe 10 at the downstream side 13a of the first member 13 and at the upstream side of the third member 15.

The liquid introduction part 30 constitutes, as shown in the FIG. 23 to FIG. 29, one or more holes or openings 31, each of which sucks liquid in the outside of the introduction pipe 10 in the inside thereof and an introduction member 32 which releases the liquid sucked from the hole 31 to the inside region of the second member 14 and is closer to the mixture portion 40 than the hole 31. The one or more openings 31 are formed on the second member 14 which is located at the downstream side of the gas introduction part 20 and penetrate from the outside of the introduction pipe 10 to inside thereof at the place where sink in the liquid when the micro gas bubble generating device 1 is installed. In the present example, the one or more openings 31 include four openings, including an opening 31a, an opening 31b, an opening 31c and an opening 3 Id. In this regard, two of openings 31a and 31c are formed so as to oppose each other in the diametrical direction of the second member 14 of the introduction pipe 10, as shown in FIG. 26 to FIG. 30. Further, the opening 31b is formed so as to be arranged in the longitudinal direction with the opening 31a, as shown in FIG. 26 to FIG. 27. Furthermore, the opening 3 Id is formed so as to be arranged in the longitudinal direction with the opening 31b and to oppose to the opening 31b each other in the diametrical direction of the second member 14, as shown in FIG. 26 to FIG. 30. With respect to the diameters of one or more openings 31, the openings 31a and 31b are formed to have an inside diameter at 8mm and the openings 31c and 3 Id are formed to have an inside diameter at 10mm. In the present example, the positions in the longitudinal direction of the openings 31a and 31b and the openings 31c and 3 Id which oppose each other in the diametrical direction of the second member 14 are not located at the same height and are arranged in turn as the opening 31a, the opening 31c, the opening 31b and the opening 3 Id from upper side one after the other. In the present example, the inside diameters of the openings 31a and 31b and the openings 31c and 3 Id are the above-mentioned inside diameters, however the inside diameter may be set freely in response to a demand of usage environment and performance for generating a micro gas bubble. Further, in the present example, the one or more openings 31 of the liquid introduction part 30 is explained as example having four openings, i.e., the openings 31a, 31b, 31c and 3 Id. However the number of the openings is not limited thereto and may be set in response to the conditions e.g. amount of the gas introduced from the gas introduction part 20, diameter of the introduction pipe 10 and so on. Also, the positions of the openings 31a, 31b, 31c and 3 Id are not limited to the ones shown and may be set in response to the usage environment. The introduction part 32 is, as shown in FIG. 24 and FIG. 28, the box-shaped member that is closely attached with the inside of the second member 14 so as to cover opening 31 from the interior region side of the second member 14, and has an aperture 33 in downstream side from the opening 31. In the constitution according to the present example, four openings are provided as openings 31a, 31b, 31c and 3 Id, and each of the openings is provided with an introduction part, similar to an introduction part 32a to the opening 31a, an introduction part 32b to the opening 31b, an introduction part 32c to the opening 31c and an introduction part 32d to the opening 3 Id, respectively. In particular, as shown in FIG. 24, the introduction part 32a (the introduction 32b, the introduction 32c, or the introduction 32d) is formed to be same shape respectively, covers upstream (the upper part in the figure) and both sides of the opening 31a (the openings 31b, 31c and 3Id) are covered respectively and has aperture 33a (apertures 33b, 33c, and 33d) in the downstream (bottom out of the figure), and protrudes to the axis 14b of the second member 14 from the inside of introduction pipe 10. By this construction, in each cover 32a (32b, 32c and 32d), the opening 31a (the openings 31b, 31c and 3Id) and the aperture 33a (the apertures 33b, 33c and 33d) communicate each other, and the covers are formed integrally with the inside of the introduction pipe 10.

Also, when the gas is introduced with great force into the gas introduction part 20 and passes through the second member 14 of the introduction pipe 10, it causes positive pressure in the vicinity of the introduction parts 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d, because the openings 31a, 31b, 31c, and 3 Id of the liquid introduction part 30 are sank in liquid. In this situation, outside liquid of the second member 14 (introduction pipe 10) is drawn into the inside of introduction pipe 10 which is acted upon by the positive pressure from the openings 31a, 31b, 31c and 3 Id. Note that, in the present example, it is explained about the case that the apertures 33a, 33b, 33c and 33d of the introduction parts 32a, 32b and 32c were arranged to downstream side (bottom side of the figure), but the opening direction of the apertures 33a, 33b, 33c and 33d is not limited to this, and if it is opened at further downstream side than those of the openings 31a, 31b, 31c and 3 Id in order to avoid the case that inside gas of introduction pipe 10 flows backward at the time of liquid introduction, it is not limited especially. For example, it may possible that the aperture 33a, 33b, 33c and 33d are further downstream side than the openings 31a, 31b, 31c and 3 Id and are disposed along the inside circumferential surface of the introduction pipe 10.

A mixture portion 40 is, as shown in FIG. 24 and FIG. 25, is arranged on between the liquid introduction part 30 in the third member 15 placed in downstream of the liquid introduction part 30 and discharge part 70, and in a gas introduction space 10a between the outside of the gas introduction pipe 80 and the inside of introduction pipe 10. In concrete, the mixture portion 40 is, as shown in FIG. 24, formed in which a wall 41 disposed to be spiral shape (shape of conical helix) so as to divide the gas introduction space 10a into the region of the liquid introduction part 30 side and the region of the discharge part 70 side is formed integrally with the inside of the introduction pipe 10 and whereby it forms a spiral mixture course 41a which communicates the region of the liquid introduction part 30 side and the region of the discharge part 70 side.

The cross section of the mixture course 41a is set more narrowly than the cross section of the introduction pipe 10 of the liquid introduction 30 side. This brings effects that when the mixture in which the gas introduced from the gas introduction part 20 and the liquid introduced from the liquid introduction part 30 coexisted passes the mixture course 41a, while its speed becomes fast and it is mixed efficiently, spiral shaped- swirl movement along the axis 15b of the third member 15 comes to be done more.

Note that when the mixture in which the gas and the liquid coexisted does the swirl movement, as it explained in the above embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-8, the centrifugal force that left for the outer circumferential side (to the inside of the introduction pipe 10) of swirl turns up pressure force of the circumferential side and turns down pressure force of the center side (the axis 15b side of the third member 15). The dissolution of gas bubble generated in this time and the generation of gas bubble caused by the cavitations make gas into a micro gas bubble.

In the downstream of the mixture portion 40, the vortex of the mixture along the axis 15b of the extension direction of the third member 15 is formed by the mixture portion 40, the gas exhausted by the second discharge part 8 Id of the gas breathing portion 80 joins substantive center portion of the vortex. Since the pressure force becomes low in the substantive center portion of the vortex in comparison with the outer diameter side of the vortex and the gas of the gas introduction part 20 is high pressure than the atmospheric pressure, the gas which went by way of the gas breathing portion 80 is breathed in the introduction pipe 1 efficiently without a mixture flowing backward in the second discharge region 8 Id. The gas breathed in the introduction pipe 1 from the gas breathing portion 80 is taken in a vortex by the mixture portion 40. Since the pipe 81 of the gas breathing portion 80 is formed to be a small diameter, the gas exhausted from the second discharge part 8 Id of the gas breathing portion 580 is a comparatively small gas bubble and then this small gas bubble is taken in the vortex and thus is micro gas bubble. A collision board 60 is, as shown in FIG. 23 - FIG. 25 and FIG. 27, the board that is disposed between the second discharge region 8 Id of the gas breathing portion 80 and the discharge part 70, and it is extended along the axis 15b of the third member 15 from the inside of the introduction pipe 10. In the present example, the collision board 60 stands toward the axis 15b from the inside of the sectional side of the third member 15. The swirled mixture takes in the gas from the gas breathing portion 80, is continuing swirl, become a vortex, and it collides to the collision board 60. At this time, comparatively large gas bubble that did not become micro gas bubble and gas from the gas breathing portion 80 is sheared and then becomes micro gas bubble. In addition to that, the flow of the swirling direction of the mixture is rectified by the collision board 60 to the flow of released directions from the discharge part 70 to the liquid inside.

Also, in the present example, the constitution comprising the gas breathing portion 80 was explained, but it is not necessary to limit it to this and may be the constitution that does not comprise the gas breathing portion 80. Since in the event of the constitution that does not comprise the gas breathing portion 80, it is with the constitution that only pneumatically transported gas from gas introduction part 20 is introduced into to the introduction pipe 10, because only pneumatically transported gas from the gas introduction part 20 be included in a micro gas bubble released from the discharge part 70, and outside gas of the introduction pipe 10 is not included, it responds to a demand to generate micro gas bubble only for pneumatically transported gas from the gas introduction part 20, and should be selected. Example 2

As for the micro gas bubble generating device 1, the gas introduction tube 80 of the previous example (Example 1) may be combined with the mixture portion 40 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-8. Even if it is such a constitution, similar effect to the embodiment of the bubble generating device of FIGS. 6-7 and of the bubble generating device of Example 1 can be obtained. In other words, it may be the constitution that the gas introduction tube is furnished and arranged over from the gas introduction part 20 of the introduction pipe 10 to the discharge part 70, and further the blade members 42a, 42b and 42c of the form of propeller is formed in the gas introduction space 10a which is formed between the outside of the gas introduction tube 80 and the inside of the introduction pipe 10 and whereby has the mixture course 41a between the blade members 42a, 42b and 42c. In respect of the other constitutions, the explanation thereof is omitted because they are similar to the aforementioned embodiment of FIGS. 6-8 and Example 1. Example 3

As for the micro gas bubble generating device 1, the gas breathing portion 50 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-8 may be combined with the mixture portion 40 described in Example 1. Even if it is such a constitution, similar effect to the embodiment of the bubble generating device of FIGS. 6-8 and of the bubble generating device of Example 1 can be obtained. In other words, it may be the constitution that a wall 41 disposed to be spiral shape (shape of conical helix) so as to divide the region of the liquid introduction part 30 side and the region of the discharge part 70 side in succession is formed integrally with the inside of the introduction pipe 10 and whereby it forms a spiral mixture course 41a which communicates the region of the liquid introduction part 30 side and the region of the discharge part 70 side. The aperture 52d of another end 52b of the pipe 52 of the gas breathing portion 50 to take outside gas of the introduction pipe 10 in between the mixture portion 40 and the discharge part 70 of such a constitution may communicate. In respect of the other constitutions, the explanation thereof is omitted because they are similar to the aforementioned embodiment of FIGS. 6-8 and of the embodiment described in Example 1. Example 4

FIG. 31 shows a further configuration of a device for mixing two or more fluids, including one or more of liquids, gases and solids, such as granulated solids. The mixing device of FIG. 31 allows the two or more fluids to be mixed at independently controlled volumes and pressures so as to obtain a desired mixture. As discussed in more detail herein below, the mixing device of FIG. 31 can also be used for mixing one or more gases with one or more liquids and for generating fine bubbles when the one or more gases is released into the one or more liquids. Fine bubbles generated by the mixing device include micro bubbles as well as larger sized bubbles.

The mixing device 100 of FIG. 31 comprises a plurality of supply paths 101, each of which supplies a fluid to be mixed with another fluid(s) to a mixing assembly 104. The supply paths can be formed as pipes or pipe-like members through which the fluids to be mixed are provided to the mixing assembly 104 for mixing and/or generating bubbles.

Suitable materials used for forming the supply paths are dependent on the fluids being mixed, and include, but are not limited to metallic materials, such as copper, aluminum and stainless steel, plastic, PVC, fiberglass, and the like. Moreover, the supply paths in the mixing device 100 are not required to be formed from the same materials. Thus, for example, some of the supply paths in the device 100 may be formed from metals, such as copper or stainless steel, while one or more other supply paths may be formed from plastics or PVC or other suitable materials.

In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 31, the supply paths 101 include a first supply path 101a which supplies a first fluid, a second supply path 101b which supplies a second fluid, and a third supply path 101c which supplies a third fluid. The sizes of the first, second and third supply paths 101a, 101b and 101c may be same or different depending on the desired pressures and volumes of the fluids to be mixed, and it is contemplated that the sizes of the supply paths 101a, 101b and 101c may be varied so that the fluids are supplied to the mixing assembly 104 at desired pressures and volumes. In addition, if a fluid is to be mixed at increased pressure, the supply path for that fluid may be coupled to a boosting device, such as a turbo device or a pump, that increases the pressure of the fluid either before it is conveyed to the supply path or while it is being conveyed through the supply path. For example, in FIG. 31, the pressure of the second fluid is increased using a boosting device 202, such as a pump, so that the second fluid is pressurized and conveyed to the second supply path 101b at an increased pressure. Similarly, the pressure of the third fluid is increased by a boosting device 207, such as a pump, so that the third fluid is pressurized and conveyed to the third supply path 101c at an increased pressure.

In the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 31, the size and cross-section of the first supply path 101a is greater than the sizes and cross-sections of the second and third supply paths

101b, 101c so that a high volume of the first fluid is supplied to the mixing assembly 104 at a lower pressure. Also, in the embodiment of FIG. 31, the size and cross-section of the second supply path 101b is greater than the size and cross-section of the third supply path 101c so that the second supply path 101b is able to convey a greater volume of the fluid than the third supply path 101c. In the configuration shown in FIG. 31, the supply paths 101a, 101b, 101c are disposed so that at least a portion of the third supply path 101c is disposed within at least a portion of the second supply path 101b, and at least a portion of the second supply path 101b is disposed within at least a portion of the first supply path 101c. However, it is understood that this arrangement of the supply paths may be varied and is not intended to be limiting.

As shown in FIG. 31, the mixing assembly 104, to which the fluids are conveyed for mixing, includes an outer flow chamber 150 adapted to receive at least one of the fluids to be mixed and an inner flow chamber 143 adapted to receive at least one other fluid to be mixed. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the outer flow chamber 150 is adapted to receive the first fluid from the first fluid supply path 101a, while the inner flow chamber 143 is adapted to receive the second and third fluids from the second and third fluid supply paths 101b, 101c. FIG. 32 shows a more detailed cross-sectional view of the mixing assembly 104 of

FIG. 31. As shown, the inner flow chamber 143 of the mixing assembly 104 is positioned within the outer flow chamber 150, and includes a fluid receiving chamber 149 coupled with the second and third supply paths 101b, 101c, and a mixing chamber assembly 144 coupled with the fluid receiving chamber 149. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 32, the outer flow chamber 150 encloses the entire length of the inner flow chamber 143. However, the positioning of the outer flow chamber 150 relative to the inner flow chamber 143 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 32 and may be varied so as to produce desired mixing of the fluids.

The outer flow chamber 150 in FIG. 32 is formed as a hollow, substantially cylindrical body 150a, so that one end of the cylindrical body 150a is coupled with the first supply path 101a and is adapted to receive the first fluid, and the other end of the cylindrical body 150a is adapted to output mixed first, second and third fluids. Materials used for forming the outer flow chamber 150 include metallic materials, such as copper, aluminum or stainless steel, plastics, PVC, and any other suitable materials. As shown, the outer flow chamber 150 includes one or more swirling portions 142 which extend inwardly from the inner surface of the outer flow chamber's cylindrical body 150a along at least a portion of the length of the outer flow chamber 150 and around the inner flow chamber 143. The swirling portions 142 have a helical or substantially helical configuration so as to wrap around the inner surface of the outer flow chamber's body 150a in the direction of the gas flow. In this way, the swirling portions 142 interact with the first fluid flowing through the outer flow chamber 150 so as to cause the first fluid to move along the length of the outer flow chamber 150 in a swirling motion and to facilitate mixing of the first fluid with the second and third fluids conveyed from the inner flow chamber 143. In certain embodiments, the outer flow chamber 150 includes one swirling portion 142 which has a helical configuration and continuously extends around the inner surface of the chamber's body 150a. In other embodiments, the outer flow chamber 150 includes a plurality of swirling portions 142 having helical or substantially helical configurations, wherein the swirling portions 142 are positioned along the length of the outer flow chamber 150 so that the extent of each swirling portion along the length of the flow chamber 150 overlaps with the extent of at least one other swirling portion.

As shown in FIG. 32, the outer flow chamber 150 also includes an end portion 157, which can be formed integrally with the cylindrical body 150a of outer flow chamber 150 or, as a separate portion which can be attached and/or detached from the body 150a of the outer flow chamber 150. The latter embodiment in which the end portion 157 is formed as a separate end portion is shown in FIG. 32. The end portion 157 includes one or more stop plates 145, or collision boards, which extend inwardly from the inner periphery of the end portion 157. The stop plates 145 are used for impacting the mixture of the fluids flowing from the outer flow chamber 150 so as to further facilitate the mixing of the fluids. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 32, the end portion 157 includes three stop plates 145 which are equidistant from one another and each of which extends substantially perpendicular to the inner periphery of the end portion at the point of attachment. However, the number of stop plates 145 formed in the end portion 157 may be varied, and the angles of the stop plates 145 relative to the inner periphery of the end portion at the point of their attachment to the end portion may be varied so as to provide for the desired impact between the stop plates and the fluid mixture. Moreover, in some configurations, the outer flow chamber 150 may not include any stop plates 145 so as to simplify the design of the mixing assembly 104. The outer flow chamber 150 may be formed from the same materials as the supply paths or from different materials. Suitable materials for forming the outer flow chamber include, but are not limited to, metallic materials, such as copper, aluminum and stainless steel, plastics, PVC, and other suitable materials.

As mentioned herein above, the inner flow chamber 143 includes the fluid receiving chamber 149 coupled with the second and third supply paths 101b, 101c, and a mixing chamber assembly 144 coupled with the fluid receiving chamber 149. The fluid receiving chamber 149, as shown in FIG. 32, encloses the third supply path 101c and couples the third supply path 101c to the mixing chamber assembly 144. The fluid receiving chamber 149 also includes a through opening which is similarly sized to the second supply path 101b and which receives the second fluid and couples the second fluid to the mixing chamber assembly 144. In this way, the mixing chamber assembly 144 receives the second and third fluids. In another embodiment, the fluid receiving chamber 149 encloses both the second and third supply paths and couples the second and third supply paths to the mixing chamber assembly 144. In yet other embodiments, the fluid receiving chamber 149 may be used for pre-mixing the second and third fluids and thereafter supplying the fluid mixture to the mixing chamber assembly 144. Further, it is understood that in some embodiments, the fluid receiving chamber 149 may be reduced in length or eliminated based on the size of the mixing chamber assembly 144 and the size of the outer flow chamber 150.

The mixing chamber assembly 144 comprises a first mixing chamber 148a and a second mixing chamber 148b, with one of the first and second mixing chambers 148a,b being disposed within another one of the first and second mixing chambers 148a,b. As shown in FIG. 32, the first mixing chamber 148a is formed as an inner mixing chamber, which is disposed within, and is enclosed by, the second mixing chamber 148b. In some embodiments, the mixing chamber assembly 144 further includes a distributor (not shown) disposed within the first mixing chamber 148a and coupled to the third supply path 101c so as to receive the third fluid. The distributor in such embodiments is used for evenly distributing the third fluid along the length of the first mixing chamber 148a so that the third fluid is evenly mixed with the second fluid throughout the first mixing chamber 148a. In some embodiments, the distributor may be used instead of the fluid receiving chamber 149 so that the second fluid is coupled and supplied to the first mixing chamber 148a directly while the third fluid is supplied to the first mixing chamber 148a by the distributor coupled to the third supply path.

The inner flow chamber 143, including the fluid receiving chamber 149 and/or the distributor, and the first and second mixing chambers 148a, 148b components thereof, may be formed from the same materials as the outer flow chamber 150, or from different materials, depending on the requirements of the mixing device 100. Suitable materials for forming the inner flow chamber components include, but are not limited to, metallic materials, such as copper, aluminum and stainless steel, plastics, PVC, and other suitable materials.

The first mixing chamber 148a and the second mixing chamber 148b are coupled with one another using a fastener 147. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 32, the second mixing chamber 148b is rotatably coupled with the first mixing chamber 148a so that the second mixing chamber 148b forms a mixing turbine and rotates relative to the first mixing chamber 148a. In the embodiment shown, the first and second mixing chambers 148a,b are rotatably coupled using a bearing 146, such as a forward mounted bearing, positioned along a portion of overlapping surfaces of the first and second mixing chambers 148a,b, and the fastener 147, such as a screw, which fastens the second mixing chamber 148b to the bearing 146. Using this coupling mechanism, the second mixing chamber 148b can be rotated around the first mixing chamber 148a, while the first mixing chamber 148a remains stationary during operation. Other types of bearings and/or additional bearings may be used between the first and second mixing chambers depending on the size of the mixing chamber assembly so as to provide sufficient support for the mixing chambers. In other embodiments of the mixing chamber assembly 144, the first and second mixing chambers 148a, 148b are configured so that both mixing chambers 148a, 148b are stationary during operation. In yet other embodiments of the mixing chamber assembly 144, the first and second mixing chambers 148a, 148b are configured so that both the first and second mixing chambers 148a, 148b comprise mixing turbines and can be rotated during operation in the same or opposite direction, or so that the first mixing chamber 148a is a mixing turbine rotatable within the second mixing chamber 148b while the second mixing chamber 148b remains stationary during operation. As shown in FIG. 32, the first mixing chamber 148a has a cylindrical or a substantially cylindrical shape with a hollow interior which is adapted to receive the second and third fluids from the second and third flow paths or from the fluid receiving chamber 149 and to mix the second and third fluids therein. It is understood, however, that the shape of the first mixing chamber 148 a is not limited to a cylinder and that mixing chambers of other shapes may be used. The first mixing chamber 148 a includes a plurality of through openings or orifices 155 formed in its sidewall which allow the mixture of second and third fluids to pass therethrough and into the second mixing chamber 148b enclosing the first mixing chamber 148a. The openings 155 in the first mixing chamber 148a facilitate mixing between the second and third fluids and formation of bubbles in cases where one of the second and third fluids is a liquid and the other one of the second and third fluids is a gas.

In the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 32, the through openings 155 are substantially round or square, with openings 155 having diameters which may be equal or different. The shape and size of the openings 155 may be varied depending on the types of fluids being mixed and the extent of the mixing desired. Thus, for example, if the fluids being mixed are gases only, the size of the openings 155 in the first mixing chamber may be made smaller, while if one or more of the fluids being mixed includes a liquid, particularly a liquid having a higher viscosity, the size of the openings 155 may be made larger so as to allow the liquid to pass through the openings. The second mixing chamber 148b shown in FIG. 32 also has a cylindrical or a substantially cylindrical shape with a hollow interior which is adapted to enclose the first mixing chamber 148a and to receive a mixture of the second and third fluids from the openings 155 in the first mixing chamber 148a. The shape of the second mixing chamber 148b is not limited to a cylindrical shape and it is understood that any other suitable shape may be used for the second mixing chamber 148b. In FIG. 32, the second mixing chamber 148b is shown as a cut-away portion of the second mixing chamber so as to allow the first mixing turbine 148a to be viewed. However, it is understood, that the second mixing chamber 148b completely encloses the first mixing chamber 148a. As shown in FIG. 32, the second mixing chamber 148b includes a plurality of through slots 156, or slit-like openings, formed in its sidewalls which allow the mixture of the second and third fluids to pass therethrough and promote further mixing of the second and third fluids. In particular, the slots 156 are parallel, or substantially parallel to one another, and extend along the length of the second mixing chamber 148b in the overall direction of the gas flow through the mixing assembly 104. The length and/or width of the slots 156 may be varied depending on the type of fluids being mixed and depending on the extent of the mixing desired.

In addition, in the present illustrative embodiment, the slots 156 are angled with respect to the direction of thickness of the sidewalls. With this construction of the second mixing chamber 148b, when the mixture of the second and third fluids is provided into the second mixing chamber 148b through the openings 155 of the first mixing chamber 148a, the mixture strikes against the walls of the angled slots 156 while passing through the slots 156 and causes the second mixing chamber 148b to rotate with respect to the first mixing chamber 148a. In other embodiments, the angle at which the slots 156 are formed may be varied from slot to slot or from one sidewall area of the second mixing chamber 148b to another sidewall area. In yet other embodiments, the slots 156 of the second mixing chamber 148b are not angled relative to the thickness direction of the sidewalls. In still other embodiments, each of the slots 156 may be cut so that only a portion of the slot is cut at an angle and/or so that the angle at which the slot 156 is cut may be varied from one portion of the slot to another either in the wall thickness direction or in the slot length direction.

As discussed above, in some embodiments the first mixing chamberl48a and/or the second mixing chamber 148b comprises a mixing turbine and is rotated in order to promote mixing between the fluids. Although in some embodiments described above, the force of the mixture against the angled slots 156 in the second mixing chamber 148b is sufficient to cause the second mixing chamber to rotate, in other embodiments, the second mixing chamber 148b may be driven by an external force using a driving device. Similarly, in the embodiments in which the first mixing chamber 148a is a turbine which is rotated, a driving device may be used to drive the rotation of the first mixing chamber 148a. Suitable driving devices include driving motors, a plurality of magnets driven by an induced electrical current, and other conventional driving assemblies.

In the construction of the mixing chamber assembly 144 shown in FIG. 32, the second and third fluids are provided to the first mixing chamber 148a at increased pressure and are mixed inside the first mixing chamber 148a. The mixture of the second and third fluids is forced from the first mixing chamber 148a through the plurality of openings 155 and into the second mixing chamber 148b. In the second mixing chamber 148b the second and third fluids are further mixed and are forced from the second mixing chamber 148b through the slots 156 and into the outer flow chamber 150. Since the second and third fluids are provided to the mixing chamber assembly 144 at increased pressure, the mixing in each of the first and second mixing chambers occurs also at an increased pressure. As a result, a homogeneous, or a substantially homogeneous, mixture of the second and third fluids is produced and output at an increased pressure from the mixing chamber assembly 144 into the outer flow chamber 150. In the outer flow chamber 150, the mixture of the second and third fluids is further mixed with the first fluid which flows at a lower pressure through the outer flow chamber 150 in a spiral or swirling motion. Since the mixture of the second and third fluids is output from the mixing chamber assembly 144 at an increased pressure into the flow path of the first fluid which is at low pressure, the lower pressure first fluid is mixed with the mixture from the mixing chamber assembly 144 so as to produce a homogeneous, or a substantially homogeneous, mixture of all three fluids. Moreover, the mixture of the first, second and third fluids is impacted against the stop plates 145 in the end portion 157 as it leaves the outer flow chamber 150.

As mentioned above, the mixing device 100 can be used for mixing gases with liquids so that the gas(es) are homogeneously dispersed in the liquid(s) as a plurality of fine bubbles. In such cases, the combination of the openings 155 in the first mixing chamber 148a and of the slots 156 in the second mixing chamber 148b produces a homogeneous mixture of the liquid and gas in which the gas is formed into a mass or a cloud of fine bubbles dispersed in the liquid. Therefore, the mixing device may be used for mixing gases with liquids so as to increase interaction and contact between the gas and the liquid and, in particular, to facilitate a reaction between the gas and the liquid. Such use of the mixing device 100 of FIGS. 31 and 32 is described below, wherein the mixing assembly 104 is used in a CO ₂ and toxic substance removal apparatus.

Although the construction of the mixing device 100 shown in FIGS. 31 and 32 is adapted for mixing three fluids, it is also contemplated within the scope of the invention that the configuration of the mixing device 100 can be adapted for mixing two fluids, or more than three fluids. In addition, the arrangement of the supply paths 101 a- 101c is not limited to the arrangement shown and other configurations and relative sizes of the supply paths 10 Ia- 101c may be used so as to accommodate different volumes, pressures and flow rates of fluids to create a desired mixture. Thus, for example, if the fluids to be mixed are to be supplied to the mixing assembly 104 in equal proportions, then supply paths of substantially equal surface areas and sizes may be used for supplying the fluids. In other cases, if one fluid to be mixed is to have a larger proportion relative to the other fluids, then the size and surface area of the supply path supplying the fluid having the larger proportion may be made larger relative to the sizes and surface areas of the supply paths used for fluids having smaller proportions.

Moreover, the configuration of the mixing assembly 104 is not limited to the specific configuration shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, and may be varied depending on the fluids to be mixed, the size and shape constraints and other factors. For example, in some embodiments, the first mixing chamber 148a can be disposed outside the second mixing chamber 148b, e.g. in tandem, and may instead be coupled with the second mixing chamber 148b so that the fluid(s) leaving the first mixing chamber 148a are conveyed directly to the second mixing chamber 148b.

Other Configurations of the CO? and Toxic Substance Removal Apparatus

The configurations of the CO ₂ and toxic substance removal apparatus and system are not limited to the configurations described above in Embodiments 1-4 and shown in FIGS. 1-

22. A further configuration of the CO ₂ and toxic substance removal system will now be described in the following Embodiment 5, with reference to FIGS. 33-36. The configuration of the CO ₂ and toxic substance removal system of Embodiment 5 is particularly adapted to be used with the bubble generating device described herein above in Example 4. However, it is also contemplated that other configurations of the bubble generating device, including those described in Embodiment 1 with reference to FIGS. 6-8 and in Examples 1-3 with reference to FIGS. 23-30, can be employed in the CO ₂ and toxic substance removal system of

Embodiment 5.

Embodiment 5

FIG. 33 shows a simplified view of the CO ₂ and toxic substance removal system 200 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 34 shows a more detailed view of the CO ₂ and toxic substance removal system 200 of this embodiment. The CO ₂ and toxic substance removal system 200 is used for processing exhaust gases, particularly diesel exhaust gases from automobiles and trucks, so as to reduce and/or remove carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) and toxic substances from the exhaust gas, including, but not limited to, hydrocarbons (HC), nitrous oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx) and carbon monoxide (CO). The system 200 receives the exhaust gas to be processed from an exhaust manifold of the exhaust generating device, and subjects the exhaust gas to several processing steps.

As shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the toxic substance removal system 200 includes a burn chamber 201, a heat transfer device 209, a gas boosting and ionizing assembly 202, a mixing device 204, a fluid tank assembly 205 and a liquid recycling assembly 203. Each of these components of the toxic removal system will be described in more detail herein below.

As shown in FIG. 33, the exhaust gas received by the system 200 from an exhaust generating device is first processed in the burn chamber 201 to reduce or eliminate hydrocarbons, nitrous oxides, sulfur oxides and carbon monoxide in the exhaust gas. The exhaust gas is then cooled using the heat transfer device 209 and conveyed to the gas boosting and ionizing assembly 202, which provides a first portion of the exhaust gas to the mixing device 204, without increasing its pressure, and increases the pressure of a second portion of the exhaust gas and ionizes the second portion of the exhaust before conveying the pressurized and ionized second portion to the mixing device 204. As shown in FIG. 33, the mixing device 204 also receives a predetermined solution, in liquid form, from the liquid recycling assembly 203, and mixes the solution with the first and second portions of the exhaust gas so as to output a homogeneous, or a substantially homogeneous, mixture of the solution and the exhaust gas into the fluid tank assembly 205. In the fluid tank assembly 205, the exhaust gas is cleansed using the solution so as to reduce or eliminate other toxic substances, such as CO ₂ , from the exhaust, and the cleansed or processed exhaust gas is then separated from the solution and output from the fluid tank assembly 205. The solution separated from the exhaust gas after cleansing or processing the exhaust gas, is output from the fluid tank assembly to the liquid recycling assembly 203, which processes and recycles the solution back to the mixing device 204. Also, as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, in some embodiments, the CO ₂ and toxic substance removal system 200 includes a PM removal device 206, which receives cleansed or processed exhaust gas output from the fluid tank assembly and removes any particulate matter from the cleansed or processed exhaust gas before outputting the cleansed or processed exhaust gas from the system 200. The system 200 of FIGS. 33 and 34 and the individual components of the system will now be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 33, the exhaust gas leaving the exhaust generating device (not shown), such as an automobile or a truck, is first conveyed to the burn chamber 201 of the system 200. Typically the exhaust gas leaving the exhaust generating device has a temperature between 250 and 35O ⁰ F. When the exhaust gas passes through the burn chamber, the exhaust gas is heated to a temperature between 500 and 75O ⁰ F so as to reduce or eliminate hydrocarbons, nitrous oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx) and carbon monoxide (CO) from the exhaust gas by burning and/or oxidizing.

A detailed view of an illustrative construction of the burn chamber 201 is shown in FIG. 35. The burn chamber 201 comprises a housing including an inlet portion 301a for receiving the exhaust gas and an outlet portion 301b for outputting the exhaust gas leaving the burn chamber 201. The inlet portion 301a of the burn chamber 201 is sized so as to reduce the pressure of the exhaust gas and to eliminate back pressure that may result in the exhaust gas flowing back to the exhaust generating device. In particular, the size of the inlet portion 301a is relatively large and may be varied based on the configuration of the exhaust generating device and the amount of exhaust produced by the exhaust generating device. The burn chamber 201 may be formed from metallic materials, such as aluminum, stainless steel or copper, or any other suitable materials which are sufficiently strong at high temperatures between 500 and 750 degrees F. In certain embodiments, a conventional housing used for a conventional catalytic converter may be optimized and converted for use as a housing for the burn chamber 201. In the present illustrative embodiment, the burn chamber housing is sized to fit in the space for a catalytic converter conventionally used in an exhaust generating device.

As shown in FIG. 35, the burn chamber 201 also includes a ceramic element assembly 302 which is formed from one or more ceramic members 302a. In the present illustrative embodiment, the ceramic element assembly 302 comprises a plurality of ceramic members 302a which comprise ceramic tiles. The ceramic tiles are disposed in a matrix of ceramic tiles within the housing of the burn chamber. In the present illustrative embodiment, each ceramic tile includes a thermal resistor therein, preferably disposed in the center of the tile. Each thermal resistor is connected with a power source so that when power is supplied from the power source, the corresponding ceramic member is heated via the thermal resistor. In certain embodiments, the thermal resistors are disposed at predetermined locations throughout the matrix of ceramic tiles in the housing.

The shape and size of the ceramic members 302a may be varied, depending on the size of the burn chamber 201 and on the gas flow requirements through the burn chamber. An illustrative example of a ceramic tile, which may be used as one of the ceramic members 302a, is shown in FIG. 36. As shown, the ceramic tile has a substantially cylindrical shape and includes a through opening 303 extending through the length of the cylinder. The shape of the opening may be varied so as to achieve desired heating and flow rate of the exhaust gas. In the example shown in FIG. 36, the through opening 303 has a star or flower shape which increases the surface area of the through opening 303 and thus, increases the contact between the exhaust gas and the ceramic tile. A thermal resistor (not shown) may be disposed in the through opening 303. In addition, the outer surface of the sidewalls of the ceramic tile includes a plurality of ribs so as to increase the outer surface area of the ceramic tile, thereby increasing the contact between the exhaust gas and the ceramic tile. In other embodiments, the outer surface of the sidewalls of the ceramic tile is smooth, without the ribs. As mentioned above, other shapes of ceramic members and openings therein may be used. In certain embodiments, the ceramic element assembly 302 includes a ceramic member 302a that has a cross-section corresponding to the shape of the burn chamber 201 cross-section. In such embodiments, the ceramic member 302a includes a plurality of through openings for conveying exhaust gas therethrough. The ceramic member 302a may also include a plurality of through openings for housing the thermal resistors which heat the ceramic member 302a. In some embodiments, two or more ceramic members 302a having a cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of the burn chamber may be used in series. Referring now back to FIG. 35, the burn chamber 201 also includes diffusion plate 304 disposed between the inlet portion 301a and the ceramic element assembly 302. The diffusion plate 304 is used for agitating the exhaust gas and dispersing the exhaust gas evenly throughout the ceramic element assembly 302. In particular, the diffusion plate 304 is disposed directly in the path of the exhaust gas flowing into the burn chamber 201, so that the exhaust gas conveyed through the inlet portion 301a is impacted against the diffusion plate 304 and caused to flow turbulently through the ceramic element assembly 302 thereafter. The diffusion plate 304 may be constructed from a metallic material, such as aluminum, stainless steel or copper, or any other suitable material having sufficient strength and rigidity at high temperatures. The illustrative diffusion plate 304 shown in FIG. 35 has a rounded or oval shape and in certain embodiments, includes one or more through openings. It is understood, however, that the shape of the diffusion plate 304 is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 35 and other shapes may be used for the diffusion plate 304. In positioning the diffusion plate 304 within the housing 301 of the burn chamber 201, the diffusion plate 304 may be coupled to the ceramic element assembly 302 by one or more supporting legs 304b and/or to the internal wall of the housing 301 so as to hold the diffusion plate 304 in place at a predetermined distance from the ceramic element assembly 302. The size and positioning of the diffusion plate in the housing is dependent on the displacement of the engine which determines the size of the burn chamber. The diffusion plate in this embodiment is positioned so as to minimize any back pressure while maximizing agitation and turbulence of the gas, so that the exhaust gas is more evenly dispersed into the ceramic tile matrix.

The housing 301 and/or ceramic element assembly 302 of the burn chamber is coupled with a power source which heats the ceramic members 302a of the ceramic element assembly 302 to a predetermined temperature. In the present illustrative embodiment, the predetermined temperature to which the ceramic members 302a are heated is between 500 and 75O ⁰ F. Any suitable power source may be used for supplying the energy to heat the ceramic element assembly 302, including but not limited to a battery, heat recycled from a combustion process within the exhaust generating device, and any other suitable heating device. In the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 35, the power source is a battery, and in particular, a 12-volt car battery, which supplies the energy required for heating the ceramic element assembly 302, and the housing 301 of the burn chamber 201 includes a "power in" terminal 305a and a "power out" terminal 305b which are connected to battery terminals. In this embodiment, the "power in" terminal 305a of the burn chamber 201 is coupled with the positive (+) terminal of the battery and the "power out" terminal 305b of the burn chamber 201 is coupled to the negative (-) terminal of the battery.

The amount of energy supplied to heat the ceramic element assembly 302 is controlled so as to maintain the predetermined temperature within the ceramic element assembly 302. In this illustrative embodiment, the battery power source is connected to and controlled by a mechanically adjustable amperage pot which regulates the current drawn from the battery so as to maintain the predetermined temperature in the ceramic element assembly 302. In other embodiments, the battery may be controlled by a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) device which automatically changes the amperage so as to maintain the predetermined temperature in the ceramic element assembly, which is programmed in the PLC device. In particular, the amperage is controlled by the PLC device based on the flow rate of exhaust, which in turn is dependent on the RPM of the engine. In addition, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 35, the burn chamber 201 includes a plurality of thermal sensors 306a-306c, with a first thermal sensor 306a detecting the temperature of the input exhaust gas leaving the exhaust generating device's exhaust manifold, a second thermal sensor 306b detecting the temperature within the ceramic element assembly 302 and a third thermal sensor 306c detecting the temperature of the exhaust gas leaving the ceramic element assembly 302. In particular, the second thermal sensor is disposed within an opening in one of the ceramic members or in a space between ceramic members. Thermal sensors manufactured by Omega, and in particular, Omega precision fine wire thermocouples Part No. 5TC-DG-K-2T-72, are suitable for use in the burn chamber for detecting the internal temperatures in the burn chamber. The amount of energy supplied from the power source to the burn chamber 201 is controlled based on the temperatures detected by the thermal sensors 306a-306c so that the predetermined temperature within the ceramic element assembly 302 is maintained relatively constant.

During operation, the inlet portion 301a of the burn chamber receives exhaust gas output from the exhaust generating device, where the pressure of the exhaust gas is reduced due to the size of the inlet portion 301a and the temperature of the exhaust gas is detected by the first thermal sensor 306a. The exhaust gas then impacts with the diffusion plate 304 which agitates and disperses the exhaust gas so that it travels turbulently through the heated ceramic element assembly 302. In particular, the exhaust gas flows through the openings 303 formed in the ceramic members 302a and through the openings and cavities formed between the ceramic members 302a of the assembly 302. As the exhaust gas flows through the heated ceramic element assembly 302, the gas is heated by the ceramic members to a temperature of 500-750 degrees F and hydrocarbons (HC), nitrous oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx) and carbon monoxide (CO) in the exhaust are substantially reduced or eliminated. The temperature of the exhaust gas leaving the ceramic element assembly is detected by the third thermal sensor before the gas is output from the burn chamber 201.

Exhaust gas output from the burn chamber 201 is then conveyed by a conduit 221, such as a pipe, to the heat transfer device 209 where the gas is cooled to less than 200 degrees F. The illustrative heat transfer device shown in FIGS. 33 and 34 comprises a pipe member, which conveys the exhaust gas therethrough and which includes an inlet for receiving hot exhaust gas and an outlet for outputting cooled exhaust gas, and a plurality of cooling fins 209a which extend radially from the outer surface of the pipe member. In this illustrative embodiment, the pipe member also includes a plate, which is preferably spiral in shape, disposed therein along the length of the pipe member. The cooling fins 209a also include continuous welds on both sides of each fin so as to maximize heat transfer from the exhaust gas. The heat transfer device 209 may be formed from metallic materials, included but not limited to stainless steel, copper and aluminum, or other suitable materials having high thermal conductivity.

Cooled exhaust gas output from the heat transfer device 209 is then conveyed to the gas boosting and ionizing assembly 202 by a conduit 222, such as a pipe, connecting the heat transfer device 209 with the boosting and ionizing assembly 202. The gas boosting and ionizing assembly 202, as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, includes a boosting device 210, such as a turbocharger, coupled to a manifold 208, and a gas ionizing assembly 212. The boosting device 210 of the illustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 33 and 34 comprises a turbocharger, which includes a first pathway 210a for coupling the cooled exhaust gas in the conduit 222 with the manifold 208, and a second pathway 210b for coupling a portion of the exhaust gas in the manifold 208 with the gas ionizing assembly 212. In particular, the first pathway 210a receives the cooled exhaust gas via an inlet and outputs the cooled exhaust to the manifold 208 via an outlet, without compressing or boosting the cooled exhaust. In the manifold 208, the exhaust gas is separated into the first portion and into the second portion, and the first portion of the exhaust gas is output from a first outlet 208a of the manifold to a conduit 224, while the second portion of the exhaust gas is output from a second outlet 208b of the manifold to a conduit 223. In particular, the exhaust gas is separated into the first and second portions by drawing the second portion from the second outlet 208b of the manifold 208 and conveying the second portion to the second pathway 210b of the boosting device 210 via the conduit 223. A gate valve (not shown for purposes of clarity and simplicity) is provided either in the second outlet 208b of the manifold 208 or in the conduit 223 for controlling the amount of the exhaust gas drawn from the manifold as the second portion. In particular, the gate valve controls the amount of the second portion of the exhaust drawn so as to maintain the required pressure in the mixing device 204 and to return any excess exhaust drawn as the second portion back to the manifold 208. The boosting device 210, the conduits 222-225, the manifold 208 and the pathways 210a, 210b of the boosting and ionizing assembly may be formed from metallic materials, including copper, aluminum or stainless steel, or from any other suitable materials. In addition, the ionizing chamber 212 may be formed from metallic materials or from other suitable materials, and in some cases may include a non-conductive coating on its inner surface so that loss of ionization from ionized gas is minimized.

As discussed above, the first portion of the exhaust is not pressurized and is conveyed from the manifold 208 to the mixing device 204 as a lower pressure gas via a conduit 224. In the present illustrative embodiment, the amount of exhaust in the first portion is greater than the amount of exhaust in the second portion so that the mixing device 204 receives a high volume of the lower pressure exhaust gas (first portion) and a lower volume of the higher pressure exhaust gas (second portion). However, in other embodiments, the relative amounts of exhaust gas in the first and second portions may be varied so that the mixing device 204 can achieve desired mixing. Although in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the first portion of the gas is not ionized, in other embodiments, a further ionizer or an ionization assembly is used for negatively ionizing the first exhaust gas portion. This can be done by adding one or more ionizers, similar to the ionizers used in the gas ionizing assembly 212, in the manifold 208.

As also discussed above, the second portion of the exhaust gas is pressurized and ionized before being supplied to the mixing device 204. When the second portion of the exhaust gas is received in the second pathway 210b of the boosting device 210, the second portion is increased in pressure, and then the pressurized second portion is pumped from the boosting device 210 to the ionizing assembly 212 via a conduit 225. In the present illustrative embodiment, the second portion of the exhaust gas is pressurized to a pressure of about 10 psi or more, but in other embodiments, the pressure of the pressurized portion of the second exhaust may be varied based on the amount of exhaust output from the exhaust generating device and mixing requirements of the mixing device. The ionizing assembly 212 comprises one or more ionizing devices, which negatively ionize the pressurized second portion of the exhaust gas received from the conduit 224. In the present illustrative embodiment, each of the ionizing devices generates an ion concentration of about 2,300,000 pcs/cm ³ so as to negatively ionize the pressurized second portion of the exhaust gas. For example, an ionizer, or an air purifier, manufactured by Yiki Corporation and sold as "Mini Automobile All-in- one" by Ionkinesis is suitable for use in the ionizing assembly 212 of the gas boosting and ionizing assembly 202. However, the ionization strength of the ionizing devices may be varied depending on the requirements of the system. In addition, the number of ionizers in the ionizing assembly 212 may be varied depending on the amount of ionization required and dimensional requirements of the system. For example, in some illustrative embodiments six ionizers may be included in the ionizing assembly 212, while in other embodiments ten ionizers may be included in the ionizing assembly 212. In the ionizing assembly 212 that includes a plurality of ionizers, the number of ionizers activated or energized for performing ionization of the second portion of the exhaust may be varied so as to maintain a desired ionized level of the second portion of the exhaust, based on the flow rates of the exhaust gas to the system 200 and/or of the second portion of the exhaust.

After undergoing ionization in the ionizing assembly 212, the pressurized and ionized second portion of the exhaust gas is output to a conduit 226, which conveys it to the mixing device 204. As shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the mixing device 204 also receives the first portion of the exhaust gas, which is at a lower pressure, and the predetermined solution in liquid form, which has been pressurized and ionized in the liquid recycling assembly 203. In the mixing device, the pressurized and ionized second portion of the exhaust gas is first mixed with the predetermined solution, and then the mixture of the second portion and the predetermined solution is mixed with the first portion of the exhaust gas. In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the mixing device 204 described above in Example 4 is used for mixing the first and second portions of the exhaust gas and the predetermined solution. As described in Example 4, the mixing device 204 includes the first supply path, shown in FIGS. 33 and 34 as the conduit 224, which supplies the first portion of the exhaust gas, the second supply path, shown in FIGS. 33 and 34 as a conduit 213, which supplies the second portion of the exhaust gas, and the third supply path, shown in FIGS. 33 and 34 as a conduit 227, which supplies the predetermined solution. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 31-34, a portion of the third supply path 101c, or conduit 227, is disposed within the second supply path 101b, or conduit 213, and a portion of the second supply path 101b, or conduit 213, is disposed within the first supply path 101a, or conduit 224. However, other arrangements of the supply paths are contemplated within the scope of the embodiment so as to supply the first and second portions of the exhaust gas and the predetermined solution to the mixing device 204. The supply paths 224, 213 and 227 may be formed from a variety of materials, including metallic materials, such as copper, aluminum or stainless steel piping, from plastic or PVC materials or other suitable materials. In the present illustrative embodiment, the first and second supply paths 224 and 213 are formed from metallic materials and comprise copper, aluminum or stainless steel pipe-like members, while the third supply path 227 is formed from a non-conductive or less conductive material, such as plastic or PVC, so as to minimize any potential loss of ionization of the predetermined solution conveyed by the third supply path. Moreover, metallic or other conductive materials may be used for any of the supply paths 224, 213 and 227, and a non-conductive coating may be provided on an inner surface of the supply paths, where needed.

As discussed above in Example 4 and as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the mixing device 204 includes a mixing assembly 204a which is coupled with the first, second and third supply paths, and which includes an outer flow chamber 250 and an inner flow chamber 243. The inner flow chamber 243 of the mixing assembly 204a receives and mixes the second portion of the exhaust gas and the predetermined solution, and outputs a mixture of the second portion of the exhaust gas and the predetermined solution. As described above and shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, the inner flow chamber 243 includes a first mixing chamber disposed within, and enclosed by, a second mixing chamber, wherein the first mixing chamber includes a plurality of through openings and the second mixing chamber includes a plurality of slots, or slit-like openings, which in some embodiments are angled with respect to the thickness of the sidewalls of the second mixing chamber. The second exhaust gas portion and the predetermined solution are received by the first mixing chamber from the conduits 213 and 227 and are mixed therein before being outputted into the second mixing chamber via the through openings in the first mixing chamber. As mentioned above in Example 4, the shape and size of the openings in the first mixing chamber may be varied depending on the types of fluids being mixed and the extent of the mixing desired. In this illustrative embodiment, the openings in the first mixing chamber have a diameter or size of about 0.015 inches or of about 0.03 inches. However, depending on the mixing requirements, other sizes of the openings in the first mixing chamber may be used.

As mentioned above, the inner flow chamber may further include a distributor for evenly distributing the predetermined solution along the length of the first mixing chamber, so that the predetermined solution is evenly mixed with the second exhaust gas portion throughout the first mixing chamber. In addition, in the present illustrative embodiment, the pressure of the second portion of the exhaust gas received by the mixing device is about 10 psi or more, and the pressure of the predetermined solution supplied to the first mixing chamber of the mixing device is at least 10 psi, and preferably about 12-15 psi. The pressure of the resulting mixture of the predetermined solution and the second portion of the exhaust gas output from the first mixing chamber into the second mixing chamber is at least 10 psi. However, the pressures of the second portion of the exhaust gas and the predetermine liquids may be lower than 10 psi depending on the system requirements, and thus, the pressure of the resulting mixture output from the first mixing chamber may also be lower than 10 psi.

The second exhaust gas portion and the predetermined solution are further mixed in the second mixing chamber and are outputted as a mixture into the outer flow chamber 250 through the slots, or slit-like openings, in the second mixing chamber. The size and angle of the slots in the second mixing chamber may be varied depending on the size of the second mixing chamber and the mixing requirements. For example, in some embodiments, the slots have a width of 0.02 inches and the length of the slots is such that the slots extend along a substantial length of the second mixing chamber. Since the second exhaust gas portion and the predetermined solution are supplied to the inner flow chamber 243 at increased pressure, e.g. at least 10 psi, the mixture of the second exhaust gas portion and the predetermined solution comprises numerous fine bubbles dispersed throughout the predetermined solution. In addition, in the embodiments in which the second mixing chamber is rotatable relative to the first mixing chamber, the pressure of the mixture of the second exhaust gas portion and the predetermined solution drives the second mixing chamber to rotate as the mixture is being output from the slots in the second mixing chamber. In this way, additional mixing is provided between the exhaust gas and the predetermined solution.

As also described above, the first portion of the exhaust gas is supplied by the conduit 224 (first supply path 101a) to the outer flow chamber 250 which includes a plurality of helical swirling portions that cause the first exhaust gas portion to flow through the outer flow chamber 250 in a swirling motion. The first portion of the exhaust gas flows through the outer flow chamber 250 at a lower pressure, which in this illustrative embodiment is about 0.5 psi. As the first exhaust portion flows through the outer flow chamber 250, the mixture of the second exhaust portion and the predetermined solution is injected into the outer flow chamber 250 from the second mixing chamber of the inner flow chamber 243, and is mixed with the first exhaust portion swirling through the outer flow chamber 250. Since the mixture of the second exhaust portion and the predetermined solution comprises a mass or cloud of bubbles and is output into the outer flow chamber at a higher pressure than the pressure of the first exhaust portion, this mass of bubbles is actively mixed with the spiraling lower-pressure flow of the first exhaust gas. In this way, both the first and second exhaust gas portions are homogeneously mixed with the predetermined solution and are emulsified in the mass of bubbles so as to maximize contact and interactions between the exhaust gas and the predetermined solution.

As discussed above, the outer flow chamber 250 has the end portion which includes one or more stop plates. Before being outputted from the outer flow chamber 250, the mixture of the first and second exhaust portions and the predetermined solution is impacted against the stop plates and is further mixed. In addition, any larger bubbles in the mixture may be split into smaller bubbles by the stop plates. As a result, the mixture of the exhaust portions and the predetermined solution is output from the outer flow chamber 250 as a turbulent gas-liquid mixture that comprises the mass or cloud of fine bubbles dispersed in the predetermined solution.

In mixing the first portion of the exhaust, the predetermined solution and the second portion of the exhaust, the mixing device 204 produces a gas-liquid mixture with numerous bubbles dispersed throughout the predetermined solution. In some embodiments, the mixing device produces a foam-like mixture including the predetermined solution and the first and second portions of the exhaust gas. The mass of bubbles formed by the mixing device 204 promotes contact and interactions between the predetermined solution and the exhaust gas, thereby promoting and accelerating reactions between the predetermined solution and the exhaust gas to remove toxic substances. In particular, the predetermined solution reacts the exhaust gas so as to reduce or eliminate the carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) component of the exhaust, as well as other remaining toxic substances such as nitrous oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx). In the present illustrative embodiment, the predetermined solution used for reducing or eliminating toxic substances, such as carbon dioxide, comprises an aqueous solution of hydroxyl ion (OH-), i.e. solution of hydroxyl ion (OH-) in water. In particular, the solution used in the present embodiment comprises H ₃ O ₂ -, which reacts with carbon dioxide in the exhaust gas, thus reducing or eliminating the CO ₂ from the exhaust. However, it is understood that the predetermined solution is not limited to the aqueous hydroxyl ion solution and that the system may include other suitable solutions that are capable of reducing and/or eliminating toxic substances in the exhaust gas, and in particular solutions capable of reducing and/or eliminating carbon dioxide from the exhaust gas.

The gas-liquid mixture of the first and second exhaust portions and the predetermined solution is output from the outer flow chamber 250 of the mixing device 204 into the fluid tank assembly 205. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the mixing assembly 204a of the mixing device 204 is disposed within the fluid tank assembly 205 so that the gas-liquid mixture is output from the mixing device 204 directly into the fluid tank assembly 205. Although the mixing device 204 is shown as being disposed horizontally in the fluid tank assembly 205, in other configurations, the mixing device may be disposed vertically at any other angle. In other embodiments, a portion of the mixing assembly 204a is disposed in the fluid tank assembly 205, while in still other embodiments, the mixing assembly 204a is disposed outside of the fluid tank assembly 205 with the end portion of the outer flow chamber 250 being coupled to the fluid tank assembly. The construction of the fluid tank assembly is described in more detail below. Although FIGS. 33 and 34 show the system 200 with one mixing device 204, in other embodiments, the system 200 includes a plurality of mixing devices 204. The number of mixing devices 204 depends on the amount of exhaust generated by the exhaust generating device and the pressure and flow requirements for mixing the exhaust gas with the predetermined solution. In certain embodiments, three mixing devices 204 may be used for mixing the exhaust gas and the predetermined solution, which are coupled with the manifold 208, with the gas ionizing assembly 212 and with the liquid recycling assembly 203 in parallel. In such embodiments, the first portion of the exhaust gas is output from the manifold 208 of the gas boosting and ionizing assembly 202 via three conduits 224 coupled to the manifold 208, with each of the conduits 224 receiving approximately the same amount of the first exhaust portion. Each conduit 224 is coupled with the mixing assembly 204a of a corresponding mixing device 204. In addition, the ionizing assembly 212 in such embodiments is coupled with three conduits 226, each of which receives substantially the same amount of the pressurized and ionized second exhaust portion output from the ionizing assembly 212. Each of the three conduits 226 conveys its respective portion of the second exhaust portion to a corresponding conduit 213 coupled with a corresponding mixing assembly 204a. In some configurations, the second portion of the exhaust may be output from the ionizing assembly 212 to one common conduit 226 which is coupled with three conduits 213 and which outputs a substantially same amount of the second exhaust portion to each of the conduits 213. The common conduit 226 may be formed from the same materials as the conduits 213 or from different materials. Suitable materials for the common conduit 226 include metallic materials, such as copper, aluminum or stainless steel, plastics, PVC and the like. Further, the liquid recycling assembly 203 outputs the pressurized predetermined solution to three conduits 227, each of which receives a substantially equal amount of the predetermined solution. Each of the conduits 227 is coupled to the mixing assembly 204a of the corresponding mixing device 204.

The number of mixing devices 204 in the system is not limited to three, and other system embodiments may use two mixing devices or more than three mixing devices, depending on the requirements of the system and the amount of exhaust gas processed by the system. In the embodiments with multiple mixing devices 204, the mixing devices 204 are preferably arranged side by side so as to ensure equal gas and liquid flow and pressure distribution between them. In addition, the mixing devices 204 are preferably similar in size and have like configurations. In some embodiments with multiple mixing devices 204, the conduits 227 receive the predetermined solution from a common conduit (not shown) that has two inlet ends through which the common conduit receives the predetermined solution output from the liquid recycling assembly 203. The two inlet ends of the common conduit are arranged at opposing ends of the common conduit so that all of the conduits 227 are coupled with the common conduit between the two inlet ends. This arrangement ensures that the predetermined solution is supplied from the liquid recycling assembly 203 to each of the conduits 227 at the same and constant pressure so that each of the conduits 227 receives a substantially equal portion of the predetermined solution at about the same pressure. The common conduit supplying the predetermined solution to the conduits 227 may be formed from the same or different materials as the conduits 227, including but not limited to plastics, PVC or metallic materials, such as copper, aluminum or stainless steel, or from coated metallic materials.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the gas boosting and ionizing assembly 202 divides the exhaust gas into the first portion, which is conveyed to the mixing assembly without being pressurized, and the second portion and pressurizes the second portion of the exhaust prior to conveying the second portion to the mixing assembly. However, in other embodiments, the gas boosting and ionizing assembly 202 provides a first gas comprising at least a portion of the exhaust gas to the mixing assembly without pressurizing the first gas and pressurizes a second gas before providing the pressurized second gas to the mixing assembly. The second gas and/or the first gas may also be negatively ionized by the gas boosting and ionizing assembly 202. In such embodiments, the second gas comprises one or more of: a portion of the exhaust gas, all or a portion of cleansed or processed exhaust gas output from the fluid tank assembly, air or another outside gas. The mixing assembly 204 in such embodiments then mixes the pressurized second gas with the pressurized and ionized predetermined solution in the inner flow chamber 243 that includes the first mixing chamber and second mixing chamber. The mixture of the second gas and the predetermined solution output from the inner flow chamber of the mixing assembly 204 is then mixed with the first gas which flows at a lower pressure through the outer flow chamber 250, and a mixture of the first gas, second gas and the predetermined solution is output from the mixing assembly 204 into the fluid tank assembly 205. In such embodiments, the mixing assembly forms a homogeneous mixture of the first gas, second gas and the predetermined solution that includes a cloud or mass of fine bubbles, or comprises a foam of bubbles.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 33 and 34 and described above, the mixing device(s) 204 described above in Example 4 are used for mixing the exhaust gas with the predetermined solution. However, it is understood that the configuration of the mixing devices in the system 200 is not limited to the mixing device described in Example 4, and that other mixing devices, such as those described in other examples above, may be used for mixing the exhaust gas with the predetermined solution. In any case, it is desired that the mixing device(s) used in the system 200 be able to actively and dynamically mix the exhaust gas with the predetermined solution so as to achieve a substantially homogeneous mixture of the exhaust gas and predetermined solution. Active and dynamic mixing includes at least providing a dense matrix of the predetermined solution and the second gas that permeates, saturates and/or engulfs the first gas comprising the exhaust. Such active and dynamic mixing of the exhaust gas and the predetermined solution promotes and maximizes the reactions between the exhaust gas components and the predetermined solution, so as to achieve a greater reduction in, or elimination of, toxic substances from the exhaust gas.

As described above, the fluid tank assembly 205 receives the mixture of the predetermined solution and the first and second exhaust portions, or the mixture of the predetermined solution and the first and second gases, which is output turbulently from the one or more mixing devices 204 and which comprises a mass of bubbles dispersed in the liquid solution. The fluid tank assembly 205 includes a housing 255 which is coupled with the one or more mixing devices 204 and, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, encloses at least a portion of the mixing assembly 204a of each mixing device 204. As shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the housing 255 houses the predetermined solution, which partially fills the housing 255. The amount of the predetermined solution held by the housing 255 may be varied, and depends on the size of the housing 255, the amount of predetermined solution required to maximize the reactions between the exhaust gas and the predetermined solution, and the amount of mixing performed by the mixing device(s) 204. In the embodiment shown, the predetermined solution housed by the housing 255 fills about half of the housing 255 volume or less, and is held in a lower portion of the housing 255. However, it is understood that in some embodiments, more predetermined solution may be housed by the housing, while in other embodiments a small amount or no predetermined solution is housed in the housing 255. As described in more detail below, the predetermined solution housed by the housing and/or received in the housing is recycled from the housing 255 to the liquid recycling assembly 203 and is thereafter mixed with the exhaust gas by the mixing device 204 and output into the housing 255. In this way, the amount of predetermined solution housed by the housing 255 remains relatively constant during the system's operation. The housing 255 of the fluid tank assembly 205 may be formed from metallic materials, such as copper, stainless steel and aluminum, or from other suitable materials, and may include a non-conductive or a less conductive coating on its inner surface so as to limit the loss of ionization from the predetermined solution or from the ionized exhaust gas portion. As shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the fluid tank assembly 205 also comprises a condensing assembly 256 housed in the housing 255 and disposed above the predetermined solution. After the exhaust gas in the mixture output from the mixing device(s) 204 reacts with the predetermined solution, cleansed exhaust gas is separated from the predetermined solution by the condensing assembly 256 so that the cleansed exhaust is output from the housing 255 while the predetermined solution is returned to the lower portion of the housing. In particular, after the gas-liquid mixture is output from the mixing device(s) 204 into the housing 255, the cleansed exhaust gas disposed as bubbles in the predetermined solution, bubbles out of the predetermined solution in the housing 255 and travels in an upward direction. Since the cleansed exhaust gas still has some predetermined solution mixed therewith, either as vapor or as mist-like particles, the condensing assembly 256 condenses the predetermined solution so as to separate the predetermined solution from the cleansed exhaust gas. The condensed and separated predetermined solution is returned to the lower portion of the housing 255. In this way, loss of predetermined solution due to evaporation and escape with the exhaust gas is prevented. In the illustrative embodiment of FIGS. 33 and 34, the condensing assembly 256 comprises a condensing layer of ceramic stones 257 held between screens 258, which are disposed in the housing 255 above the predetermined solution. In certain embodiments, metallic screens formed from aluminum, copper or stainless steel are used for holding the layer of ceramic stones 257. The ceramic stones comprising the condensing layer 257 are preferably small and substantially equal in size so that condensation of the predetermined solution is consistent throughout the condensing layer 257. For example, ceramic stones of about 3/8 inch in size are suitable for use in the condensing layer 257. In other embodiments, the condensing layer 257 may be formed from other packing materials suitable for condensing out the predetermined solution from the cleansed exhaust gas. In addition, the condensing layer 257 may be held between the screens 258 or by any other types of supporting materials capable of supporting the condensing layer and passing the cleansed exhaust gas therethrough.

As also shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the condensing assembly 256 comprises one or more baffles 259 disposed in the housing 255 for directing the flow of the cleansed exhaust gas through the housing. In the present illustrative embodiment, the baffles 259 are disposed in an upper portion of the housing 255 above the condensing layer 257 and create a zig-zag shaped flow path for the cleansed exhaust. In this way, the cleansed exhaust gas flowing through the upper portion of the housing is cooled and any remaining predetermined solution is condensed out and returned back to the lower part of the housing. The baffles may be formed from any suitable material, including from metallic or plastic materials. It is understood that the number of baffles used in the upper portion of the housing 255 may be varied, and that in other embodiments, the condensing assembly 256 may not include any baffles. As shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the cleansed exhaust is output from the housing to a conduit 260 via a gas outlet 255a, disposed at the top or in the upper portion of the housing 255. In some embodiments, the conduit 260 outputs the cleansed exhaust gas from the system 200 without further processing. In other embodiments, such as those shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the conduit 260 conveys the cleansed exhaust gas to a further processing device, such as the PM removal device 206.

As mentioned above and shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the predetermined solution in the housing 255 is recycled to the liquid recycling assembly 203, which processes and recycles the predetermined solution to the mixing device 204 and thereafter back to the housing 255 as part of the gas-liquid mixture output by the mixing device. The housing 255 of the fluid tank assembly 205 includes a liquid outlet 255b through which the predetermined solution is output to the liquid recycling assembly 203. The liquid outlet 255b is preferably located in the bottom portion of the housing so that the predetermined solution is drawn through the outlet 255b from the housing 255 and into the liquid recycling assembly 203. One or more gate valves (not shown for clarity and simplicity) are used for controlling the amount of predetermined solution being drawn from the housing 255 into the liquid recycling assembly 203 and for controlling the level of the predetermined solution in the housing 255. In certain embodiments, the one or more gate valves are disposed at or near the liquid outlet 255b, while in other embodiments the one or more gate valves may be disposed in a conduit of the liquid recycling assembly 203 that conveys the predetermined solution from the housing 255 to the components of the liquid recycling assembly 203.

As shown in FIG. 34, the liquid recycling assembly 203 comprises one or more filters 273, one or more boosting devices 274, such as pumps, and one or more ionization chambers 275. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 34, the liquid recycling assembly 203 also includes a valve 271, such as a gate valve, which is used for controlling the amount of the predetermined solution drawn from the housing 255 of the fluid tank assembly 205, and a holding chamber 272, in which the predetermined solution drawn from the fluid tank assembly 205 is collected.

The one or more filters 273 are used for filtering the predetermined solution after it has been used in the fluid tank assembly 205 and collected in the holding chamber 272 so as to take out any particulate matter and other solid constituents produced by the reactions between the predetermined solution and the exhaust gas. In addition, any heavy metal constituents present in the exhaust gas are captured by the predetermined solution during the reaction in the fluid tank assembly, and are removed from the predetermined solution by the one or more filters 273 of the liquid recycling assembly 203. Filters suitable for filtering the predetermined solution include fuel oil filters manufactured by General Filters, Model No. 1A-25A, which have a filter surface area of 41 square inches. However, other filters may also be used. After the predetermined solution is filtered by the one or more filters 273, it is conveyed to the one or more pumps 274 which pressurize the filtered predetermined solution and pump it to the one or more ionization chambers 275. Suitable pumps for use in the liquid recycling assembly include FloJet Water System Pumps manufactured by FloJet, model no. R3526- 144. These pumps are capable of pumping 2.9 gallons of liquid per minute at 50 psi maximum pressure and are operate with a 12-volt car battery. Other pumps are also suitable for pressurizing the predetermined solution. In the present illustrative embodiment, each ionization chamber 275 includes one or more electrically charged members 276, which can be in the form of electrically-charged screens, which are charged using a power source. A battery, such as a 12-volt battery, is a suitable power source for charging the electrically charged member 276. In this embodiment, the ionization chamber 275 and the electrically charged members 276 are formed from metallic materials, such as aluminum, copper or stainless steel or a combination thereof. As the predetermined solution passes through the one or more electrically charged members 276 of the ionization chamber, the predetermined solution is negatively ionized by the electric current, or electric charge, passing through the electrically charged members 276. The amount of negative ionization of the predetermined solution is controlled by controlling the electric current supplied to the electrically charged members 276 so that the predetermined solution is sufficiently ionized. The control of the electric current in this embodiment is based on the required amount of ionization and based on the flow rate of the predetermined solution through the one or more ionization chambers 275. In this embodiment, the electric current is controlled by a mechanically adjusting amperage pot or by a PLC device. As shown, the pressurized and negatively ionized predetermined solution is output from the one or more ionization chambers 275 to the one or more conduits 227 of the one or more mixing devices 204 via one or more conduits 277. In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 34, the liquid recycling assembly 203 includes two like filters 273 and two like pumps 275 which are arranged in parallel. In particular, each of the two filters 273 receives a portion of the predetermined solution from the holding chamber 272 via a corresponding conduit 273a. After filtering the predetermined solution, each of the filters 273 outputs its respective portion of the predetermined solution to a corresponding pump 274 via a corresponding conduit 274a. Each pump 274 pressurizes its respective portion of the predetermined solution and pumps the pressurized predetermined solution to the ionizing chamber 275 via a corresponding conduit 275a. In this illustrative embodiment, one ionizing chamber 275 receives pressurized predetermined solution from both pumps 274. However, in other embodiments, two ionizing chambers 275 may be used for receiving pressurized predetermined solution from the two corresponding pumps 274 so that each portion of the pressurized predetermined solution is ionized separately.

As shown in FIG. 34, the ionizing chamber 275 outputs ionized predetermined solution to the mixing device 204 via two conduits 277. In certain embodiments described above, in which multiple mixing devices 204 are used for mixing the exhaust gas with the predetermined solution, the conduits 227 of the mixing devices 204 are coupled to the conduits 277 of the liquid recycling assembly 203 through a common conduit (not shown) with two opposing inlet ends. In such cases, each of the conduits 277 of the liquid recycling assembly 203 is coupled to one of the opposing inlet ends of the common conduit so that the pressurized and ionized predetermined solution is conveyed from the liquid recycling assembly 203 to each of the mixing devices 204 at substantially the same pressure and with substantially the same flow rate.

In other embodiments, the liquid recycling assembly 203 includes one conduit 277 for conveying the pressurized and ionized predetermined solution to the one or more mixing devices. In yet other embodiments, the number of conduits 277 in the liquid recycling assembly 203 corresponds to the number of the mixing devices used in the system, so that each conduit 277 supplies the pressurized and ionized predetermined solution to the conduit 227 of one mixing device 204. It is understood that the arrangements of the conduits and components of the liquid recycling assembly 203 may be varied depending on the requirements of the system 200. In addition, in the present illustrative embodiment, the conduits 277 are formed from similar materials as the conduits 227, which in certain embodiments comprise plastic materials. However, in other embodiments, the conduits 277 and 227 may be formed from different materials, which may include plastic, PVC, or a variety of metallic materials.

The liquid recycling assembly 203 enables recycling of spent predetermined solution after it has been used for reacting with CO ₂ and one or more toxic substances in the exhaust gas. In this way, the predetermined solution can be reused multiple times and does not have to be replaced frequently, thus allowing consistent operation of the system 200 over prolonged time periods and prolonged operation of the exhaust generating device. In addition, the liquid recycling assembly 203 pressurizes the predetermined solution before the solution is injected into the mixing device 204, thus improving the mixing between the exhaust gas portions and the predetermined solution. This construction results in a dynamic system in which the reduction or removal of CO ₂ and of one or more toxic substances is performed with the help of the active and dynamic mixing of the exhaust gas with the predetermined solution, thus facilitating and maximizing the reactions between the predetermined solution and the toxic substances and CO ₂ in the exhaust gas.

The above-described construction is particularly suitable for use in systems 200 which use an aqueous solution of hydroxyl ions (OH-) as the predetermined solution, and in particular, the systems in which the predetermined solution comprises H ₃ O ₂ -. This is because the ionization of the predetermined solution by electrically charged members 276 regenerates the predetermined solution so that it can again react with the CO ₂ and the toxic substances in the exhaust gas. In other embodiments, which use different types of predetermined solutions, the ionization chamber 275 may be replaced by a suitable liquid regeneration assembly for regenerating the predetermined solution.

It is also understood that the specific arrangement of the components of the liquid recycling assembly is not limited to those shown in FIG. 34. For example, the predetermined solution may be first ionized in the ionization chamber 275, or regenerated in a regeneration assembly, before being pressurized and pumped by the boosting device 274.

Referring now back to the fluid tank assembly 205 shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the cleansed or processed exhaust gas output from the housing 255 via the conduit 260 is either output from the system 200 or conveyed to the PM removal device 206. The PM removal device 206 comprises any suitable particulate matter removal device, including a conventional particulate trap assembly, an adsorption device and/or an absorption device. The PM removal device removes and collects any particulates present in the cleansed or processed exhaust gas, including carbon and carbonates/bicarbonates, and outputs the exhaust gas from the conduit 214. The conduit 214 comprises a tail pipe of the exhaust generating device, or is coupled to the tail pipe of the exhaust generating device. As discussed above, the exhaust gas output from the exhaust generating device is processed by the toxic substance removal system 200 so as to remove and/or eliminate carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) and toxic substances present in the exhaust gas, such as hydrocarbons (HCs), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrous oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx). These components in the exhaust after the exhaust has been processed by the system 200 are expected to be reduced or eliminated continuously by the system. The performance of the system 200 is attributed to the active and dynamic nature of the system, wherein the exhaust gas is actively and dynamically mixed with the H ₃ O ₂ - solution, thus promoting the reaction between the predetermined solution and the CO ₂ and toxic components of the exhaust gas. The performance of the system is further improved by the negative ionization of at least the second exhaust portion and of the predetermined solution, and by recycling and regenerating of the predetermined solution. These features result in a significantly longer operation of the system and less frequent need to replace the predetermined solution used in the system. Moreover, it has been found that the toxic substance removal system substantially reduced the sound level emitted from the exhaust generating device. Therefore, the toxic substance removal system of the present invention not only eliminates the need for a catalytic converter, but also can be used to eliminate the need for the muffler and resonator, which are conventionally used for reducing the noise levels emitted from exhaust generating devices, such as automobiles and trucks. In all cases it is understood that the above-described arrangements are merely illustrative of the many possible specific embodiments which represent applications of the present invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily devised in accordance with the principles of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Industrial applicability

If the above CO ₂ and toxic substance removal method and the above CO ₂ and toxic substance removal apparatus are applied to the exhaust gas generated from an internal combustion engine and/or an incinerator, the CO ₂ and toxic substances included in the exhaust gas can be removed and thus cleansed gas is output.