Electrostatic enhancement of inlet particle separators for engines

A method of enhancing separation of particles from a fluid flow, comprising:

• imparting predominately unipolar charging on each of a plurality of particles in a fluid stream;
• wherein the imparting predominately unipolar charging on each of a plurality of particles in a fluid stream is performed using an electric discharge;
• wherein the electric discharge is generated between one or more protrusions and a curved surface;
• wherein the curved surface is within an annulus;
• wherein the annulus is partitioned into a plurality of partial-annulus sections, and each partial-annulus section has at least one protrusion positioned within it;
• and
• separating the particles after the particles have been charged from a core fluid flow that is substantially free of particles.