Method, system, and device for decontaminating polluted combustion gas using volcanic rock

Abstract

The present disclosure encompasses methods and systems for decontaminating polluted gas using heated volcanic rock.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for removing at least one pollutant from a combustion gas comprising:
 A single combustion chamber having an inside and an outside, said inside including a single heat source therein, said heat source generating a combustion gas that includes pollutants therein;   An exhaust passageway having an entrance inside said single combustion chamber and an exit outside said single combustion chamber and connecting said single combustion chamber inside with said single combustion chamber outside;   A quantity of volcanic rock positioned inside said single combustion chamber, said volcanic rock being spaced from said heat source and positioned between said heat source and said entrance to said exhaust passageway;   wherein all of said combustion gas contacts said volcanic rock prior to entering said entrance to said exhaust passageway thereby removing at least one pollutant from said combustion gas prior to entering said exhaust passageway and exiting the inside of said single combustion chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pollutant is selected from a group consisting of dioxins, styrene gas, polychlorinated biphenyls, mercury, furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, formaldehyde, hexachlorobenzene, volatile organic compounds, hydrochloric acid, carbon monoxide, benzo(a)pyrene, sulfur oxides, benzene, hexavalent chromium, lead, hydrocarbons from unburned fuel, nitrogen oxides, nitric acid, ozone, soot, diesel particulate matter, heavy metals, methane, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said single combustion chamber is located in a device selected from a group consisting of a furnace, stove, incinerator, boiler, automotive exhaust system, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said heat source uses a fuel selected from a group consisting of liquefied fuel, gaseous fuel, contaminating fuel, wood, charcoal, peat, coal, hexamine fuel tablets, pellets made from wood, corn, wheat, rye, or other plants, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said volcanic rock is in a form selected from a group consisting of chunks, blocks, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said quantity of volcanic rock occupies from about ⅓rd to 1/25th of a volume of said single combustion chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said quantity of volcanic rocks is positioned in said single combustion chamber such that there is an empty space between said quantity of volcanic rock and the entrance to the exhaust passageway. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cleaning mechanism for cleaning said quantity of volcanic rock. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 An internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber therein, said combustion chamber including a fuel burning area which generates exhaust that is vented to the outside environment when a fuel is being burned;   An exhaust port having a first end in proximity to said fuel burning area and a second end in communication with said first end, wherein said second end is in proximity to the outside environment outside said internal combustion engine;   A quantity of volcanic rock disposed between said fuel burning area and said first end of said exhaust port for removing at least one pollutant from the exhaust of an internal combustion engine; and   An air current generator positioned between said first end of said exhaust port and said second end of said exhaust port.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a canister in communication with said exhaust port, said canister having a diameter greater than a diameter of said exhaust port. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said volcanic rock is disposed within said canister. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one pollutant is selected from a group consisting of dioxins, styrene gas, polychlorinated biphenyls, mercury, furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, formaldehyde, hexachlorobenzene, volatile organic compounds, hydrochloric acid, carbon monoxide, benzo(a)pyrene, sulfur oxides, benzene, hexavalent chromium, lead, hydrocarbons from unburned fuel, nitrogen oxides, nitric acid, ozone, soot, diesel particulate matter, heavy metals, methane, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said fuel is selected from a group consisting of liquefied fuel and gaseous fuel. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said volcanic rock is in a form selected from a group consisting of chunks, blocks, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said quantity of volcanic rock occupies from about ⅓rd to 1/25th of a volume of said combustion chamber. 
     
     
         16 . A method of decontaminating polluted combustion gas comprising a step of:
 contacting all of said polluted combustion gas with volcanic rock located in a single combustion chamber comprising a container having walls separating the inside from the outside, the inside having a volume defined by the walls and further comprising a heat source inside of the single combustion chamber, said volcanic rock being spaced from the heat source used in the single combustion chamber for a time sufficient to remove at least one pollutant from said polluted combustion gas.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said at least one pollutant is selected from a group consisting of dioxins, styrene gas, polychlorinated biphenyls, mercury, furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, formaldehyde, hexachlorobenzene, volatile organic compounds, hydrochloric acid, carbon monoxide, benzo(a)pyrene, sulfur oxides, benzene, hexavalent chromium, lead, hydrocarbons from unburned fuel, nitrogen oxides, nitric acid, ozone, soot, diesel particulate matter, heavy metals, methane, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said polluted combustion gas is formed in the single combustion chamber of a device selected from a group consisting of a furnace, stove, incinerator, boiler, automotive exhaust system, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said polluted combustion gas is formed from combustion of a fuel selected from a group consisting of liquefied fuel, gaseous fuel, contaminating fuel, wood, charcoal, peat, coal, hexamine fuel tablets, pellets made from wood, corn, wheat, rye, or other plants, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said volcanic rock is in a form selected from a group consisting of chunks, blocks, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said volcanic rock occupies from about ⅓rd to 1/25th of the volume of said single combustion chamber. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising a step of cleaning said volcanic rock. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said cleaning is effected in said single combustion chamber.