Electrostatic air filter having honeycomb filter elements

A filter for the removal of particles suspended in a gas flow comprising in combination:

• an ionizing section disposed in the gas flow defined by first and second spaced apart electrodes, and means for applying an electric potential to the electrodes to effect a corona discharge therebetween;
• means for flowing the gas past the first and second electrodes to electrically charge particles suspended in the flow;
• and a filter section disposed in the gas flow downstream of the ionizing section and having first and second, spaced apart electrodes serially arranged in the direction of the gas flow and constructed of metallic honeycomb having cells oriented substantially parallel to the gas flow through the filter section, means for subjecting the third and fourth electrodes to an electric potential to generate an electric field therebetween, and a plurality of honeycomb panels disposed in the electric field and sandwiched between the third and fourth electrodes, the panels having honeycomb cells which face the gas flow so that the gas can flow through the cells and cell walls constructed of a material having a relatively low dielectric constant, the cells of adjoining honeycomb panels being arranged so as to intercept gas flow issuing from the cells of the adjoining, upstream honeycomb panel by imparting to the gas flow a flow direction which is angularly inclined relative to the gas flow direction through the adjoining panel to facilitate the impingement of the gas flow on cell walls of the panels;
• whereby the electric field generated by the third and fourth electrodes causes relative to the cell walls a lateral deflection of the electrically charged particles suspended in the gas flow through the cells and, in combination with the interception of the gas flow by the honeycomb cell walls further facilitates the impinging of such particles on the cell walls so as to adhere them thereto and remove them from the gas flow.