Electrostatic charging apparatus and method

An apparatus for providing an electrically charged non-aerosol gaseous fluid for mixing with a second fluid to form an electrically charged third fluid, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one charger comprising:
• a first housing having a first end and a second end;
• a charger grid member connected with said first housing, said charger grid member comprising a plurality of charger grid electrodes, adjacent charger grid electrodes of said plurality of charger grid electrodes being uniformly mutually separated a predetermined distance, said plurality of charger grid electrodes forming a charger grid within said first housing between said first end and said second end thereof;
• kilovoltage means electrically connected with said charger grid member for selectively electrifying said plurality of charger electrodes so as to produce an electric field therebetween, said electric field exclusively establishing a corona in a surrounding gaseous fluid, spacing and voltage difference between each adjacent charger grid electrode of said plurality of charger grid electrodes cooperating with a predetermined geometry of said plurality of charger grid electrodes to provide a substantially uniform electric field having an electric field strength between adjacent charger grid electrodes that is below that electric field strength which would result in spark-over between said adjacent charger grid electrodes;
• non-aerosol gaseous fluid mover means for moving the non-aerosol gaseous fluid through said first housing between said first end and said second end thereof;
• wherein said charger grid creates a substantially uniform corona across a cross-section of said first housing and imparts a charge onto the non-aerosol gaseous fluid as the non-aerosol gaseous fluid moves from said first end of said first housing to said second end of said first housing;
• a second housing having a first end and a second end, said second end of said first housing interconnecting with said second housing of each charger of said at least one charger between said first end and said second end of said second housing;
• port means at said first end of said second housing for admitting a moving second fluid;
• at least one first inlet means on said second housing adjacent said port means for admitting at least one auxiliary fluid into said second housing for mixing with said second fluid to form a moving mixed fluid, said moving non-aerosol gaseous fluid from said first housing of each said charger mixing with said moving mixed fluid in said second housing to form an electrically charged moving third fluid.

A method for electrostatically treating a primary fluid with respect to at least one of bacteria and viruses, comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of electrodes, adjacent electrodes of said plurality of electrodes being uniformly mutually separated a predetermined distance;
• selectively electrifying said plurality of electrodes so as to produce a substantially uniform electric field therebetween;
• moving a gaseous fluid past said plurality of electrodes, said electric field creating a substantially uniform corona in the gaseous fluid so as to provide an electrically charged gaseous fluid;
• and
• mixing said electrically charged gaseous fluid with the primary fluid so as to provide electrical charge to the primary fluid so as to effect at least one of antibacteriological and antiviral action thereto.

A method for providing electrostatic treatment of a substance with respect to at least one of bacteria and viruses, comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of electrodes, adjacent electrodes of said plurality of electrodes being uniformly mutually separated a predetermined distance;
• selectively electrifying said plurality of electrodes so as to produce a substantially uniform electric field therebetween;
• moving a gaseous fluid past said plurality of electrodes, said electric field creating a substantially uniform corona in the gaseous fluid so as to provide an electrically charged gaseous fluid;
• and
• passing said said electrically charged gaseous fluid over the substance to provide electrical charge to the substance so as to effect at least one of antibacteriological and antiviral action thereto.

A method for providing an electrically charged liquid fluid, comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of electrodes, adjacent electrodes of said plurality of electrodes being uniformly mutually separated a predetermined distance;
• selectively electrifying said plurality of electrodes so as to produce a substantially uniform electric field therebetween;
• moving a gaseous fluid past said plurality of electrodes, said electric field creating a substantially uniform corona in the gaseous fluid so as to provide an electrically charged gaseous fluid;
• mixing said electrically charged gaseous fluid with a liquid fluid so as to provide the electrically charged liquid fluid;
• and
• repeating said step of mixing at least once so as to re-mix the electrically charged liquid fluid with said electrically charged gaseous fluid.

A method for providing an electrically charged fluid, comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of electrodes, adjacent electrodes of said plurality of electrodes being uniformly mutually separated a predetermined distance;
• selectively electrifying said plurality of electrodes so as to produce a substantially uniform electric field therebetween;
• moving a gaseous non-aerosol fluid past said plurality of electrodes, said electric field creating a substantially uniform corona in the gaseous non-aerosol fluid so as to provide an electrically charged non-aerosol fluid;
• mixing said electrically charged non-aerosol gaseous fluid with a second fluid so as to provide the electrically charged fluid;
• and
• repeating said step of mixing at least once so as to re-mix the electrically charged fluid with said electrically charged non-aerosol gaseous fluid.

A method for charging a receptor, comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of electrodes, adjacent electrodes of said plurality of electrodes being uniformly mutually separated a predetermined distance;
• selectively electrifying said plurality of electrodes so as to produce a substantially uniform electric field therebetween;
• moving a gaseous fluid past said plurality of electrodes, said electric field creating a substantially uniform corona in the gaseous fluid so as to provide an electrically charged gaseous fluid;
• passing said electrically charged gaseous fluid over the receptor to provide electrical charge to the receptor;
• and
• repeating said step of passing at least one additional time in order to further charge the receptor.

A method for providing an electrically charged combustible fluid, comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of electrodes, adjacent electrodes of said plurality of electrodes being uniformly mutually separated a predetermined distance;
• selectively electrifying said plurality of electrodes so as to produce a substantially uniform electric field therebetween;
• moving a gaseous non-aerosol fluid past said plurality of electrodes, said electric field creating a substantially uniform corona in the gaseous non-aerosol fluid so as to provide an electrically charged non-aerosol fluid;
• and
• mixing said electrically charged non-aerosol gaseous fluid with a combustible fluid so as to provide the electrically charged combustible fluid.

A method for providing an electrically charged biological fluid, comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of electrodes, adjacent electrodes of said plurality of electrodes being uniformly mutually separated a predetermined distance;
• selectively electrifying said plurality of electrodes so as to produce a substantially uniform electric field therebetween;
• moving a gaseous non-aerosol fluid past said plurality of electrodes, said electric field creating a substantially uniform corona in the gaseous non-aerosol fluid so as to provide an electrically charged non-aerosol fluid;
• and
• mixing said electrically charged non-aerosol gaseous fluid with a biological fluid so as to provide the electrically charged biological fluid.

A method for providing an electrically charged molten polymer fluid, comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of electrodes, adjacent electrodes of said plurality of electrodes being uniformly mutually separated a predetermined distance;
• selectively electrifying said plurality of electrodes so as to produce a substantially uniform electric field therebetween;
• moving a gaseous non-aerosol fluid past said plurality of electrodes, said electric field creating a substantially uniform corona in the gaseous non-aerosol fluid so as to provide an electrically charged non-aerosol fluid;
• and
• mixing said electrically charged non-aerosol gaseous fluid with a molten polymer fluid so as to provide the electrically charged molten polymer fluid.