Method and apparatus for precipitating particles from a gaseous effluent

A method as defined in claim 8 wherein the volume of said second region is less than about 10% of the volume of said first region.

A method for electrostatically precipitating particles from a gaseous medium carrying the same, comprising the steps of:

• passing the medium through an electrostatic precipitating station in a manner whereby the medium passes near at least one positively and at least one negatively charged electrode located at said station, said electrodes being charged to produce a strong electric field within said precipitating station;
• subjecting said medium adjacent the positively charged electrode to high energy electrons from an electron beam generating means;
• said electrons being effective to produce a plasma of predetermined thickness in a region adjacent said positive electrode, the positive ions traveling outside of said region bombarding the particles of the medium, thereby resulting in said particles acquiring a net positive charge so that the magnitude of the attractive force between the particles and said negative electrode increases sufficiently so that the particles move towards said negatively charged electrode.

A method for removing particles from a gaseous medium at a precipitating station having a plurality of electrodes including at least one anode and at least one cathode, the cathode being adapted to attract particles having a net positive charge, comprising the steps of:

• charging said electrodes to produce a strong, uniform electrical field within said precipitating station;
• passing the particle containing medium through at least one channel in the precipitating station with sufficient mixing action to sweep the said particles out of any region having a plasma with a predominately neutral net charge therein;
• subjecting the medium to high energy electrons generated by an electron beam generator as said particles enter said precipitating station, said generator being effective to produce a plasma region having positive and negative ions, said plasma region being small relative to the volume of said channel, the positive ions passing out of said plasma region bombarding particles of said medium and causing them to acquire a net positive charge, the mixing action and the high electric field therein effecting said positively charged particles to be attracted to said cathode.

A method for removing particles from a gaseous medium at a precipitating station having a plurality of electrodes including one or more positively charged anodes and one or more negatively charged cathodes, the anodes being adapted to attract particles having a net negative charge, comprising the steps of:

• charging said electrodes to provide a uniform, strong electrical field within said precipitating station;
• passing the medium through at least one channel in the precipitating station with sufficient mixing action to sweep the said particles out of any region of plasma with a predominately neutral net charge therein;
• subjecting the medium containing the particles to electrons generated by an electron beam generator as said particles enter said precipitating station, said generator being effective to produce a plasma region having positive and negative ions, said plasma region being small relative to the volume of said channel, the negative ions passing out of said plasma region bombarding particles of said medium and causing them to acquire a net negative charge, the mixing action and electrical influence therein effecting attraction between said negatively charged particles and said anode.