Dual-filter electrically enhanced air-filtration apparatus and method
AssigneeStrionAir, Inc.
InventorPETER J. McKINNEY
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dual-filter electrically enhanced air-filtration apparatus and method are described. One embodiment includes an upstream electrically enhanced filter; a downstream electrically enhanced filter; a first control electrode adjacent to an upstream side of the upstream electrically enhanced filter; a second control electrode adjacent to a downstream side of the downstream electrically enhanced filter; and an ionizing electrode disposed between the upstream and downstream electrically enhanced filters, the ionizing electrode having an electrical potential with respect to the first and second control electrodes. Optional field electrodes may be included to enhance the electric fields associated with the upstream and downstream electrically enhanced filters.
Claims26
An air-filtration apparatus, comprising:
- an upstream electrically enhanced filter;
- a downstream electrically enhanced filter;
- a first control electrode adjacent to an upstream side of the upstream electrically enhanced filter;
- a second control electrode adjacent to a downstream side of the downstream electrically enhanced filter;
- and
- an ionizing electrode disposed between the upstream and downstream electrically enhanced filters, the ionizing electrode having an electrical potential with respect to the first and second control electrodes.
An air-filtration system, comprising:
- a filter assembly including:
- an upstream electrically enhanced filter;
- a downstream electrically enhanced filter;
- a first control electrode adjacent to an upstream side of the upstream electrically enhanced filter;
- a second control electrode adjacent to a downstream side of the downstream electrically enhanced filter;
- and
- an ionizing electrode disposed between the upstream and downstream electrically enhanced filters, the ionizing electrode having an electrical potential with respect to the first and second control electrodes;
- and
- a blower configured to cause air to flow through the filter assembly in a downstream direction.
A method for filtering air, the method comprising:
- applying to an air stream an upstream electric field associated with an upstream electrically enhanced filter, the upstream electric field being capable of polarizing particles in the air stream and portions of a filter medium of the upstream electrically enhanced filter;
- applying to the air stream a downstream electric field associated with a downstream electrically enhanced filter, the downstream electric field being capable of polarizing particles in the air stream and portions of a filter medium of the downstream electrically enhanced filter;
- and
- creating, between the upstream and downstream electrically enhanced filters and within the upstream and downstream electric fields, a space-charge region including ions using an ionizing electrode, the space-charge region being capable of imparting electric charge to particles in the air stream and to portions of the filter media of the upstream and downstream electrically enhanced filters.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.