Removal of particulate material from a gas

Apparatus for removing combustible particles from a first gas comprising:

• a housing having an inlet for the first gas and an outlet;
• a plurality of filter elements for trapping the combustible particles in the first gas, said elements being mounted within said housing for flow of the first gas simultaneously therethrough, each said filter element being generally cylindrical and having an annular wall through which in use the first gas will flow substantially radially from the exterior thereof to the interior thereof, means closing one end of each element, the other end being open to permit the first gas to flow therethrough to the outlet of said housing, each said element being made of electrically-conductive material;
• means for connecting each said element to an electrical power supply for heating the said element to a temperature at which the particles trapped thereby will combust for regeneration of said element;
• means for supplying an auxiliary combustion-supporting gas to the interior of each said element when the respective said element is connected to said electrical power supply, each said auxiliary gas supply means being arranged relative to the respective element so that supply of the auxiliary gas to a respective said element will substantially prevent the first gas flowing therethrough;
• and
• control means for sequentially connecting one of said elements of said elements to the electrical power supply and for supplying the auxiliary gas thereto for sequentially regenerating said elements.

Apparatus for removing combustible particles from a first gas comprising:

• a housing having an inlet for the first gas and an outlet;
• a plurality of filter elements for trapping combustible particles in the first gas, said elements being mounted in said housing for flow of the first gas simultaneously therethrough, each said filter element being made of electrically-conductive material;
• and
• means for connecting each said element to an electrical power supply for heating each said element to a temperature at which the particles trapped thereby will combust for regeneration of said element and comprising means for connecting said elements in parallel in groups thereof and switch means for connecting each group of elements sequentially to an electrical power supply.

Apparatus for removing combustible particles from a first gas comprising:

• a housing having an inlet for the first gas and an outlet;
• a plurality of filter elements for trapping combustible particles in the first gas, said elements being mounted in said housing for flow of the first gas simultaneously therethrough, each said element being made of electrically-conductive material;
• and
• means for connecting each said element to an electrical power supply for heating said element to a temperature at which the particles trapped thereby will combust for regeneration of said element and comprising means for connecting said elements in parallel and switch means for connecting said elements simultaneously to a power supply.

Apparatus for removing combustible particles from a first gas comprising:

• a housing having an inlet for the first gas and an outlet;
• a plurality of filter elements for trapping combustible particles in the first gas, said elements being mounted in said housing for flow of the first gas simultaneously therethrough, each said element being made of electrically-conductive material;
• and
• means for connecting each said element to an electrical power supply for heating said element to a temperature at which the particles trapped thereby will combust for regeneration of said element and comprising switch means for connecting said elements sequentially to a power supply.