Loading patent…
AssigneeOffice National d'Etudes et de Recherches Aerospatiales (O.N.E.R.A.)
InventorsJoseph Taillet, Serge Larigaldie
Estimating the term…
A gas carrying solid particles is purified by electrically charging the sd particles and precipitating them by electrostatic means. The particles carrying gas flows in an enclosure wherein a space charge is formed by ion generators. Each ion generator comprises an injector tube which defines a chamber communicating with the enclosure via a small opening. Moist air is fed under pressure in the chamber and is accelerated in a tuyere in this opening. A corona discharge is formed at the neck of the tuyere by applying a high voltage between the tuyere and a coaxially arranged needle like electrode. Microparticles of ice are formed in the corona discharge zone by reason of the supersonic gas discharge in the tuyere. Ions trapped by these microparticles are driven out of the ion generators chamber into the enclosure wherein the gas stream to purify flows. These ions are freed by evaporation of the ice microparticles to form the space charge. The method is particularly suitable for purifying explosive atmospheres or hot gases.
An electrostatic separator including an enclosure for receiving a gas stream containing particles to be separated therefrom, a chamber distinct from said enclosure, a conductive supersonic tuyere having an inlet communicating with said chamber, an outlet at least partially defining an opening communication with said enclosure, and a neck intermediate said inlet and outlet means for introducing a moist gas into said chamber under pressure so as to cause its supersonic expansion in the tuyere, a tapered electrode with an apex located in said chamber and extending into the tuyere with said apex situated close to the neck thereof, means for establishing a continuous high voltage between said tuyere and said electrode to produce a corona discharge in the gas flowing through said tuyere, the arrangement being such that, in use, the resulting ions become entrapped in microscopic ice crystals formed in said tuyere, are discharged therewith through said opening and into said enclosure in the path of said gas stream and are then released by change of state of the ice crystals, and means located in the path of said gas stream downstream of said opening for electrostatically precipitation said particles following charging thereof by said ions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.