Apparatus and method for dust control by condensation enlargement
AssigneeColorado School of Mines
InventorsJames T. Brown, Jr., Frank D. Schowengerdt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method of controlling dust by enlarging and collecting dust particles through vapor nucleation and condensation. The dust particles are enlarged from sizes less than one micron to as large as ten microns. The apparatus and method can greatly improve dust control in mines and other industrial environments.
Claims10
A method for controlling and enhancing the control of dust-laden air by condensation enlargement, the steps comprising:
- heating at least one first plate mounted in a housing;
- cooling at least one second plate mounted in a housing and disposed in a spaced relationship to the first plate;
- introducing a liquid on the first plate and vaporizing the liquid therefrom;
- introducing the dust-laden air into the housing and between the first and second plates;
- nucleating droplets and condensing the liquid vapor on dust particles as the vapor diffuses from the first plate to the second plate;
- and
- collecting a slurry of the condensed liquid and dust particles in the bottom of the housing and discharging the slurry therefrom.
An apparatus for controlling and enhancing the control of dust particles by condensation enlargement when dust-laden air is introduced therethrough, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of first plates received in a housing, the first plates vertically mounted in the housing and disposed in a spaced relationship to each other;
- a plurality of second plates mounted in the housing and indexed between each first plate and parallel thereto, the dust-laden air received between the first plates and second plates;
- a liquid reservoir mounted on top of the housing and having at least one heater therein, the heater connected to a heat sink, the heat sink connected to one edge of the first plates;
- a plurality of liquid inlets received in the liquid reservoir and connected to the top of the first plates, the hot liquid flowing downwardly by gravity across the opposite sides of the first plates, the first plates heated sufficiently to cause the liquid to vaporize;
- a plurality of cooling coils connected to a cold sink, the cold sink connected to the bottom of the second plates, the cooling coils cooling the second plates sufficiently so a temperature differential between the plates provides for droplet nucleation and subsequent condensation of liquid vapor on the dust particles;
- a plurality of liquid sprays mounted at one end of the housing;
- and
- the bottom of the housing disposed between the first and second plates providing means for collecting and discharging the condensed liquid with dust particles from the apparatus.
An apparatus for controlling and enhancing the control of dust particles by condensation enlargement when dust-laden air is introduced therethrough, the apparatus comprising:
- a first plate mounted in a housing having an inlet for receiving the dust-laden air and an outlet for discharging the cleaned air, the first plate receiving a liquid thereon, the first plate heated sufficiently to cause the liquid to vaporize;
- a second plate mounted in the housing, the second plate disposed adjacent and in a spaced relationship to the first plate, the dust-laden air received therebetween, the second plate cooled sufficiently so a temperature differential between the plates provides for droplet nucleation and subsequent condensation of liquid vapor on the dust particles;
- and
- means for collecting and discharging the condensed liquid with dust particles in the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.