Method for ionizing gases, electrostatically charging particles, and electrostatically charging particles or ionizing gases for removing contaminants from gas streams
AssigneeAir Pollution Systems, Inc.
InventorsJames J. Schwab, David B. Goodson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A venturi increases the velocity of contaminated gases and guides the gases past a high, extremely dense electrostatic field presented perpendicular to the gas flow and extending radially outward between a central, accurately sized disc electrode and the surface of the venturi throat. Downstream, charged particles are collected by a wet scrubbing process or electrostatic precipitator.
Claims30
A method of removing contaminants from gases, comprising:
- directing the contaminated gases through a tubular outer electrode;
- placing an inner electrode with said outer electrode thereby forming an electrode gap between said electrodes;
- generating an electrostatic field between said electrodes, the intensity of said field being approximately equal to the intensity of the average applied field throughout a distance from said outer electrode at least to about fifty percent of the electrode gap toward said inner electrode such that said field is substantially uniform and is generally wedge shaped diverging outwardly in a direction perpendicular to the flow of gases through said outer electrode, thereby charging the contaminants in said gases;
- and
- collecting the charged contaminants.
A method of ionizing gases, comprising:
- directing the gases through a tubular outer electrode;
- placing an inner electrode within said outer electrode thereby forming an electrode gap between said electrodes;
- generating an electrostatic field between said electrodes, the intensity of said field being approximately equal to the average applied field throughout a distance from said outer electrode at least to about fifty percent of the electrode gap toward said inner electrode such that said field is substantially uniform and is generally wedge shaped diverging outwardly in a direction perpendicular to the flow of gases through said outer electrode, thereby ionizing said gases.
A method of creating a corona discharge within a tubular outer electrode comprising the steps of concentrically mounting an inner electrode with said outer electrode, and generating an isolated corona discharge electrostatic field between said electrodes, said corona discharge electrostatic field having a radial dimension approximately equal to the axial dimension of said corona discharge electrostatic field adjacent said outer electrode.
A method of creating a corona discharge between a pair of inner and outer concentric electrodes, said method comprising the step of generating an electrostatic field between said electrodes, the intensity of said field being approximately equal to the intensity of the average applied field throughout at least fifty percent of the distance from said outer electrode toward said inner electrode, and equivalent to an average intensity in air of greater than 15 kv/cm at standard temperature and pressure.
A method of creating a corona discharge, comprising:
- generating an electrostatic field defined in a cylindrical coordinate system as having radial and axial components, the field, when viewed in a radial cross section of said cylindrical coordinate system, being substantially identical to the electrostatic field between a concentric wire and cylinder when viewed along the axis of said cylinder, and said field, when viewed in an axial cross section of said cylindrical coordinate system, being substantially identical to the field between a parallel wire and plane when viewed along the axis of said wire.
A method for increasing the operating intensity of a relatively thin electrostatic field extending between a pair of electrodes and generally perpendicular to a gas stream, said method comprising adjusting the voltage between said electrodes and the velocity of said gas stream to allow the voltage between said electrodes to be increased beyond the normal sparkover voltage between said electrodes and zero velocity conditions such that said gas stream sweeps the excess spark charge downstream out of the electrostatic field thereby preventing sparkover between said electrodes at said increased voltage.
A method of removing contaminants from gases, comprising:
- directing the contaminated gases along a path between a pair of concentric inner and outer electrodes;
- generating in said path between said electrodes an electrostatic field having an average intensity approximately equal to the intensity of the average applied field throughout at least fifty percent of the distance from said outer electrode toward said inner electrode, and equivalent to an average intensity in air of at least 12 kv/cm at standard temperature and pressure, said field lying at right angles to said path such that said gases pass through said field thereby charging said contaminants;
- and
- collecting the charged contaminants.
A method of ionizing a gas, comprising:
- directing said gas along a path between a pair of concentric inner and outer electrodes;
- and
- generating in said path between said electrodes an electrostatic field having an average intensity approximately equal to the intensity of the average applied field throughout at least fifty percent of the distance from said outer electrode toward said inner electrode, and equivalent to an average intensity in air of at least 12 kv/cm at standard temperature and pressure, said field lying at right angles to said path such that said gases pass through said field and is ionized therein.
A method of ionizing gases, comprising:
- moving said gases along a predetermined path between a pair of concentric inner and outer electrodes, and
- generating a corona discharge, electrostatic field across said path between said electrodes having an average field intensity approximately equal to the intensity of the average applied field throughout at least fifty percent of the distance from said outer electrode toward said inner electrode, and equivalent to an average intensity in air of more than 10 kv/cm at standard temperature and pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.