Apparatus and method for collecting particulates by electrostatic precipitation
AssigneeMobil Oil Corporation
InventorsMichael F. Raterman, Michael D. Thiel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrostatic precipitator apparatus and method which minimizes reentrainment of collected particles during their removal from the collecting electrode by use of a collecting system including concentric semi-tubes which are configurable from a position exposed to gas flow to one protected therefrom.
Claims20
An apparatus for collecting particulates from a flowing gaseous stream containing particulates by electrostatic precipitation which comprises:
- i) a gas inlet;
- ii) a gas outlet;
- iii) a discharge electrode for electrically charging said particulates;
- iv) a particulate collecting means which comprises outer and inner concentric, nestable, semi-tubes, each of which is rotatable relative to the other from an open, nested configuration, to a substantially enclosed tube configuration having a lower end which communicates with a particulate collection receptacle, said inner semi-tube having a concave surface acting as a collecting electrode which is oppositely charged from said discharge electrode, to attract and hold said charged particulates;
- v) a means for removing said particulates from said collecting electrode by subjecting said concave surface to conditions which detach said particulates therefrom;
- vi) a means for forcing said gaseous stream from said gas inlet past said discharge electrode and said collecting means to said gas outlet;
- and
- vii) a voltage source means to apply a voltage to said discharge and collecting electrodes.
A method for reducing catalyst particulate contamination in a flowing gas stream containing particulates wherein said gas is passed through an electrostatic precipitator which method comprises:
- i) passing said gas by a discharge electrode thereby electrically charging said particulates;
- ii) capturing said charged particulates on a particulate collecting means, proximal to said discharge electrode, which comprises outer and inner concentric, nestable, relatively rotatable, semi-tubes, arrayed in an open, nested configuration, said inner semi-tube having a concave surface exposed to the flow of said gas, acting as a collecting electrode which is oppositely charged from said discharge electrode until a desired amount of particulates have been collected;
- iii) rotating said semi-tubes to a substantially enclosed tube configuration having an interior which is not substantially exposed to the flow of said gas, said configuration having a lower end which communicates with a particulate collection receptacle;
- iv) subjecting said collecting electrode to forces which detach said particulates from said collecting electrode, said particulates dropping into a particulate collection receptacle from which they can be removed;
- and
- v) rotating said semi-tubes from said enclosed tube configuration to said open, nested configuration;
- and
- vi) withdrawing a gas stream of reduced particulate contamination.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.