| abstract |
An apparatus and method for removing pollutant from exhaust gas of a lean burn engine (11). The apparatus has at least one device (13) for removing oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulates in the exhaust gas. The device (13) is selected from the group consisting of selective catalytic reduction catalysts, particulate traps, and three-way catalysts, and is positioned, such that at least a portion of the exhaust gas stream (18) from the lean burn engine (11) passes through the device (13); and at least one a device (14, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80) for producing a non-thermal plasma in at least a portion of the exhaust gas stream (18). A portion of the exhaust gas stream (18) is exposed to the non-thermal plasma (14, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80), and introduced into the exhaust gas stream (18) at a point upstream of the catalytic converter (13) for removing at least one of oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulates. |