Method and apparatus for energizing an electrostatic precipitator

An electrostatic precipitator circuit comprising:

• a pair of spaced electrical conductors having a power input portion adapted to be connected to a direct current supply;
• said conductors being connected to the discharge and collecting electrodes, respectively, of an electrostatic precipitator;
• a capacitor electrically connected across said conductors in parallel with said electrodes;
• means electrically connected with respect to one of said conductors, for discharging said capacitor at selected spaced time intervals to produce sequential voltage pulses between said electrodes with each pulse producing a maximum voltage between said electrodes which is higher than the voltage existing across said capacitor at the initiation of the respective discharge thereof, for determining the duration of each of said pulses, and for effectively electrically isolating said capacitor from said input portion throughout the duration of each of said pulses;
• said means being electrically effective to discharge said capacitor only throughout that portion of each of said pulses during which the voltage between said electrodes is increasing;
• additional means electrically connected with respect to said one conductor and said capacitor for sequentially recharging said capacitor by the charge existing between said electrodes after each of said pulses has achieved said maximum voltage;
• and said additional means including an electrical impedance to maintain the voltage between said electrodes at the conclusion of each of said pulses at a higher voltage than the voltage existing between said electrodes at the initiation of the respective ones of said pulses until said higher voltage is of a selected value.

A method of establishing a selected voltage gradient between the electrodes of a direct current electrostatic precipitator comprising:

• charging a capacitor selectively connectable in parallel to the electrodes of an electrostatic precipitator from a direct current source until a selected voltage exists across said capacitor and with said capacitor being electrically isolated from said electrodes;
• discharging said capacitor over a controlled period of time to produce a higher voltage between said electrodes than existed across said capacitor at the initiation of said discharge while effectively electrically isolating said capacitor from said source;
• recharging said capacitor at a controlled rate immediately subsequent to said discharging by the charge existing between said electrodes while maintaining said effective isolation with the resultant voltage between said electrodes being higher than the voltage therebetween prior to said discharging;
• selectively additionally recharging said capacitor from said source after said first mentioned recharging with said capacitor being electrically isolated from said electrodes;
• and repeating said discharging, said recharging, and said additional recharging until the voltage between said electrodes is at a preselected magnitude.