Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
s
METHOD OF CONTROLLING CHEMICAL AND/OR PHYSICAL
_EACTIONS IN THE ATMOSPHERE
Abstract of the Disclosure
The invention relates to a method for local and
wide-area controlling of chemical and/or physical reactions
in the atmosphere. For instance, sulphur dioxide contained
in flue gases is known to be the source of the problems
associated with "acid rain" and with the "dry fallout". An
effective tackling of these problems has been as little
successful as that of resolving the problem of smog formation.
Flue gas desulfurizing devices altogether produce a very
low result which is disproportionate to the cost. These
and other problems can be solved according to the invention
such that by a system comprised of smokestacks or other
building structures producing the updraft effect, which is
known per se, and by using thermal and kinetic flows in the
atmosphere, active substances are introduced into the
atmosphere in sucha volume and spatial distribution that the
active substances produce the respective desired control
in reac~ing with the components already contained in the
atmosphere. The active substances can be adjusted to the
respective desired purpose and can be systematically
introduced into the atmosphere such that an effective
protection is also possible over large regions.
Background of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for local and
wide-area controlling of chemical and/or physical reactions
in the atmosphere.
Strong flue emissions arise, for instance, in
--1--
~q~
~2~Q25
densely populated regions and above all in industrial regions.
They contain acid forming components, particularly sulphur
dioxide and nitric oxide. These components are to be
viewed as harmful substances even in small concentrations
since they give rise to the formation of acids by reacting
with moisture contained in the atmosphere. Problems
occurring in greater distances from the flue gas sources
and associated with the so-called "acid rain" are well known.
The same applies in connection with the damages sustained
due to the "dry fallout" of acid formers onto plants and
cultural-historical building structures. The reasons for
this type of harmful effect are not immediately the
mentioned oxides but xather the oxygen dissociated from
same.
Furthermore, the acid components of the flue gases
themselves give rise to damages in respirationorgans of people,
animals and plants when the gas concentration in the air is
too high.
A special case of this phenomenon is the smog
situation. Under the smog, an atmospheric stratum is
formed near the ground which is of such a high content in
harmful substances that the wellbeing and even the health
of people living under the influence of smog is severely
endangered. ~esides the acid formers, other harmful
substances can also contribute to the smog formation so
that the smog can be accompanied by entirely different
harmful substances at different levels or areas.
A systematic and particularly large-area relieving
of the atmosphere is :Lmpossible with measures known thus far.
For instance, in the absence of better possibilities, efforts
~2~
have been made for some time to prevent the entry of harmful
substances into the atmosphere such that large and complex
devices were provided with suitable Eiltering devices,
particularly with flue gas desulfurizing devices or the like.
The objective is that the harmful substances be prevented
from entering in the atmosphere in the first place.
The flue gas desulfurizing devices for the removal
of sulfur dioxide require an extremely high technological
and economic expense. For smaller technological devices
and for a number of different discharged substances, the
cost of this magnitude is out of the question on economic
grounds. However, they would be important since the large
flue producing devices contribute only to a small degree
of about 25% to the harmful substance contents in the
atmosphere. Despite the great expense covering only the
mentioned relatively small portion, therefore, the atmosphere
is protected from excessive acidification to merely a
negligible degree. It is to be realized that often up to
50~ of harmful substances contained in the atmosphere is
brought from considerably remote regions by atmospheric
currents. Thus, the local effect obtainable by the flue
gas desulfurizing devices is further reduced.
The smog generation takes place particularly in
spatially limited agglomeration regions as is, to a
substantial portion, also attributable to exhaust gases
produced by motor vehicles. Attempts have been made to
reduce the content of harmful substances in exhaust gases.
~Iowever, the improvements thus far achieved are too small
in order to sufficiently prevent the smog formation.
Similarly, other researches of protective methods have
~2~ Z5
produced only limited effects as the number of smaller and
smallest harmful substance sources is too large and the
possibilities for the reduction of emissions are low to
produce a sufficient decrease of the total emission of
harmful substances. In smog endangered regions, enforcements
have therefore been effected on unfavourable weather conditions
to enforce reduced emission limits. However, this still
presents only an emergency provision which can stay in
effect for only a limited time. Still, the great number
of smaller sources of discharge of harmful substances,
inclusive motor vehicles, present a portion of the entire
harmful substance emission which can often be between 25%
and 75% and which is therefore to be viewed as entirely
substantial. Smog from further remote areas brought by
atmospheric currents cannot be successfully dealt with thus
far.
Furthermore, attempts have been made to influence
or control reactions taking place in the atmosphere such
that from an airplane suitable active substances or agents
were spread into the atmosphere. In particular, silver
iodide has been seeded from airplanes in order to produce
artificial rain. Such method, however, is still very
expensive and, above all, can be carried out within only
a relatively small area.
Summary of the Invention
It is an object of the present invention to
provide a method suitable for controlling chemical and/or
physical reactions in the atmosphere and capable of being
carried out with economically justifiable means, by which
method the chemical and/or physical reactions taking place
in the atmosphere are systematically influenced, namely
in limited regions as well as over wide areas.
In order to solve the above object, it is proposed
according to the invention that by a system of smokestacks
and/or other building structures having an updraft effect
known per se, and under the utilization of thermal and
kinetic currents in the atmosphere, active substances
be introduced into the atmosphere in such an amount and
spatial distribution that the agents, together with the
substance particles contained in the atmosphere produce
the respective influence or at least release same.
The invention enables, firstly, a systematic
protection both within spatial limits and across a very
wide area, for instance a continent or a large part thereof.
The protection does not have to be extended only to harmful
effects known at the present time. Future harmful effects
which may still be discovered can also be tackled with the
aid of the method proposed by the invention.
Description of Examples of Application of the Method
In regions to be protected, wherein the undesired
highly harmful effects are generally to be expected, structures
having updraft effect are systematically to be provided
such that the already existing high building structures
such as smokestacks, cooling towers or the like can be
preferably included in the system. With the aid oE the
system, it is possible to counteract the respective harmful
substance content established in the atmosphere, the
counteracting being independent on whether the harmful
substance originate in the given region itself or whether
they are brought from a farther, remote region by atmospheric
currents.
--5--
ZS
The number of the smokestaeks and/or updraft
producing building structures required for the system is
governed, among others, by the size of the region to be
protected and by the volume of the active substance or agent
to be introduced into the atmosphere. In certain cases,
only few smokestaeks or building struetures having updraft
effect can suffice for the formation of sueh a system.
The height of the smokestaeks and updraft produeing
struetures included in the system is of signifieanee. If
the height is large and amounts, for instanee, to 300 - 400 m,
atmospherie boundary layers can be penetrated. This can be
disadvantageous at least for a part of the possibilities
to be considered. For instance, since smog is located
mainly at lower le~els, smokestaeks or updraft produeing
building structures have to be low also (less than 300 m)
if they are to enable effective attacking of the smog and to
influence lower and mid-level air strata.
Furthermore, it is advantageous in the art of
attaeking smog that the aetive substances directed to the
atmosphere ean be seleetively added not only with respeet to
the volume but also with respect to the type of the particular
harmful substances eontained in the smog.
Within the framework of application of the method
of the invention, information is needed about the type and
eoneentration of the respeetive harmful substances eontained
in the atmosphere. Such information is already available
but only for partieularly endangered regions and in
relatively rough graduations, whieh is probably due to the
relatively low smog eontrolling effeetiveness of the known
pollution fighting methods. Surely, the provision of
information about harmful substanee contents already present
--6--
in the atmosphere is available with the required exactness
evenover large areas. In accordance with the results
produced by such monitoring, according to the invention,
and while simultaneously o~serving the current patterns
prevailing in the atmosphere, active substances or agents
of suitable type are introduced into the atmosphere by
means of the entire system or only by a part thereof, in
the respective suitable volume, in order to counter the
harful effects.
It is now no longer necessary, at least in most
cases, to attack the harmfulsubstances contained in a
flue gas or exhaust gas flow directly at its origin or at
the respective source at which, for instance, flue gas
desulfurizing devices or the like are provided. Instead,
the reactions neutralizing the harmful effect take place
in the atmosphere. The expensive filtering and flue gas
desulfurizing devices can thus be omitted entirely or at
least to a substantial degree. Yet, all harmful effects
so far caused by the "acid rain" and by "dry fallout" as
well as the acid depositions of dust can be avoided or at
least substantially reduced. This also applies with
reference to harmful acidic substances which have so far
been deposited for instance on cultural-his-torical building
structures and caused heavy damages to same.
Furthermore, with the aid of the invention, it is
now possible, if required, to produce artificial rain
wherein, instead of relatively expensive silver iodide,
less expensive agents on which air moisture condenses
can be introduces into the atmosphere.
Also, it is possible with the method of the present
invention to counteract the ozone formation. Suitable
active substances can be introduced into the atmosphere
in such a volume and spatial distribution that the reactive
oxygen, whether before or after the separation, is bonded
before the ozone forming takes place.
Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide as well as
hydrofluoric acid are bonded with dissociated hydrogen,
i.e. with free hydrogen ions which react, in the air or on
the ground, with other substances and have harmful effects.
One selects such substances for the active agents, for
instance, alkalis with OH-ions bonding the dissociated
hydrogen and form with same harmless substances or, as
much as possible, even useful substances.
Furthermore, accor~ing to a further proposal of
the invention, it is possible to reduce the portion of
harmful substances such that the harmful effect is reduced
at least substantially before reaching the atmosphere.
This is achieved such that to the gas streams discharged
from the smokestacks are added active substances neutralizing
the harmful effect of the harmful substances already on the
way of the flue gas or the like towards the atmosphere.
Since in this case mainly sulphur dioxide and/or nitrogen
oxide are involved, base formers are added which have
an effect on the above mentioned oxide already inside the
smokestack. However, it may also be of advantage for the
smokestacks or for other building structures having an
updraft effect and used within the framework of the inventive
system, if the active substances are added to the discharged
gas flow above the outlet of the respective smokestack or
building structure. Here, too, the gas stream is still
compact so that the addition of the active substances is
not made difficult. I'he proposed step brings about the
advantage that the possibly harmful effects of the active
--8--
substance onto the lining of the smokestack or of the
building structure is not to be taken into consideration.
It is further within the framework of the invention
to introduce the active substances into the atmosphere by
means of an exhaust air or exhaust gas stream which is at
least nearLy free of harmful substances. Particularly in
the proximity oE or in the regions endangered by acid
emissions, additional building structures having an updraft
effect can be provided if the addition of the active
substances in the required volume and distribution cannot
be secured by the presently available smokestacks, cooling
towers or the like. In order to provide influence limited
to a predetermined region, it may be feasible to attack
harmful substances particularly in proximity to the ground.
The introduction of the active substances in to the
corresponding air strata must then be effected with stacks
or structures having a small or medium height.
When the active substances are added to flue gases
discharged from a smokestack on their way into the atmosphere,
the active substances are generally added in such a volume
which corresponds to an at least stoichiometric proportion
with respect to the harmful substances contained in the
flue gas. The same applies also to the discharge of active
substances into the atmosphere as long as the content of
the harmful substances can be established. In accordance
with the invention, it can still be of advantage if the
addition of the act:ive substances is made in more than
stoichiometric proportion with respect to the component
of harmful substances contained in the flue gas or in the
atmosphere.
If the more than stoichiometric component relative
S
to the harmful substances contained in the flue gas of a
particular smokestack is introduced, then the additional
part of the active substances will produce effect on the
remaining harmful substance components that have already
reached the atmosphere. If the more than stoichiometric
component is introduced with respect to the volume of
harmful substances already contained in the atmosphere,
then by such excessive addition the established fact is
taken into consideration, namely that in practice a spatial
distribution of the active substances within the region to
be protected cannot be done with an absolute accuracy.
Due to the excessive addition into the atmosphere, the
harmful substances contained therein are made harmless in
any event. Sufficient safety is also achieved by same.
By such addition, harmful substances can also be neutralized and
unexpectedly brought from entirely different geographic
regions by atmospheric currents into the particular
restricted region to be protected. The more than
stoichiometric component can always be established such
that too great an overdoes of the base formers is prevented.
When base formers are to be introduced into the
atmosphere in order to combat harmful acidic substances,
then it is advantageous according to the invention when
ammonia, potassium or sodium compositions and/or other
pH-value increasing substances are used as base formers,
which simultaneously have the effect of fertilizing.
It is known that acidic substances in a small
concentration are useful as fertilizers. They are therefore
added in farming to the soil, particularly in the form of
sulphur- or nitrogen compositions as a direct fertilizer.
However, even in this case, the acid formers are to be
neutralized which is generally achieved such that lime or
--10--
magnesium is added to the sulphur- and nitrogen fertilizer
prior to its spreading over the ground. Lime and magnesium
are not particularly suitable as neutralizers for the
atmosphere due to their tendency to form dust.
Attempts have been made to justify the high cost
of flue gas desulfurizing devices by pointing out that the
neutralization produce obtained in such devices, for instance
ammonium sulfate, can be used as a fertilizer. However,
it cannot be stored in the required volume due to its strong
water-solubility. On the contrary, in the present invention,
ammonium sulfate is produced in the atmosphere when ammonia
is used as the active substance. Thus, a high cost
production of this fertilizer is eliminated together with
relatively expensive distribution or spreading onto the
soil surface in farming and forestry. If caustic soda is
used within the framework of the present invention, as a
neutralizing agent, sodium sulfate is formed in the
atmosphere and on the gr`ound which is a good fertilizer
e.g. also for pine or spruce. Thus, by the inventive
method, acid fertilizers can be distributed over the soil
surface by the rain in an already neutralized form. Dry
acidic and basic substances already deposited on the ground,
can also be neutralized by same.
Consequently, the method proposed by the invention
can simultaneously be viewed as a method whereby the
fertilizing of the soil can be effected in a substantially
simpler way and more economically. Thus, the required
expenses in farming and in forestry are correspondingly
reduced.
The basic idea contained in the invention is
therefore to be seen in that the neutralizing of the effect
~2~
by harmful substances takes place in the atmosphere,
wherein the influence effected upon the harmful substances
can start already at the place of emission if necessary.
While in the known flue gas desulfurizing devices only a
relatively short reaction time is available, in which the
acid formers and base formers can react with each other, in
the framework of the method of the present invention,
sufficiently long duration is available. The invention
further includes a transport system by which the active
substances can be brought to the harmful substances by
utilizing the existing smokestacks and higher building
structures producing updraft effect, and with the aid of
further building structures in the required extent, having
updraft effect. The control can thus be effected in an
economically useful and also well controllable way.
The advantages include, in other respects, also
the availability of systematic protection of nature,
particularly of the plants, which have thus far been very
strongly affected by the ozone formation or by acid components.
According to the invention, the neutralizing of the harmful
substance components contained in the atmosphere can be
effected in another advantageous way. References have
already made pointing out to the fact that the harmful
substances introduced into the atmosphere with the exhaust
gases of motor vehicles have a substantial effect onto
the formation of smog. Thus, the invention proposed for
the obtaining of the above effect, that active substances
be added to the exhaust gases of combustion engines which,
by reacting with the harmful substances contained in the
exhaust gas, neutralize same in the region of the respective
exhaust device and/or in the atmosphere.
-12-
~23L~
To the harmful substances contained in the exhaust
gas of the combustion engines belong among others, carbon
monoxide and carbon dioxide. In certain countries or states,
statutory regulations have been issued prescribing as to
which maximum content of such harmful substances can be
present in exhaust gases of combustion engines. The
compliance with these regulations often presents a substantial
technological expense in the field of carburetors and fuel
injection devices as difficult and extremely exact adjustments
thereof are required. sy the invention, it is not only
secured that the expense associated therewith is eliminated
but it is also achieved that basically all harmful substances
contained in the exhaust gas can be neutralized generally
entirely.
For this purpose, the motor vehicles can be
provided with separate storage tanks with suitable active
substances. These may contain base formers such as ammonia
which can be added in the desired or required ratio to the
exhaust gases to eventually become emitted with same by
the exhaust system.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate tha-t the
invention is applicable in a very broad range of different
situations, wherein a vast number of specific conditions
may have to be met. Therefore, the invention is not to
be viewed as being strictly limited to the above exemplary
circumstances~ Instead, the scope of the present invention
is to be interpreted Erom the accompanying claims.
-13-
