US 5,630,926 AGranted

Electrostatic filter

AssigneeContamco Corporation

InventorDonald E. Thompson

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Abstract

An electrostatic filter utilizes two separate filter cartridges in a parallel flow configuration with respect to incoming dielectric fluid containing particulates. Each cartridge is connected to opposite sides of a high voltage power supply, resulting in the electrodes contained in one of the cartridges having an opposite polarity than the electrodes contained in the other cartridge. This, in turn, results in having the fluid borne particulates exiting one cartridge being charged oppositely to those exiting the other. The fluid streams exiting the two cartridges are joined together, allowing the particulates to flocculate. These larger groupings of particulates may then be mechanically filtered in a third cartridge. The parallel flow configuration results in an electrostatic filter that is relatively insensitive to water contained in the dielectric fluid.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A filter for removing particles from fluids that are flowable through the filter comprising:

a first chamber for receiving fluid;
a plurality of spaced electrode surfaces in said first chamber for charging particles contained in the fluid, said spaced electrode surfaces electrically connectable to a voltage source of one polarity only, whereby the fluid is flowable between said spaced electrode surfaces and in contact with said electrode surfaces such that the particles within the fluid move into close proximity with said electrode surfaces to pick up the charge of the electrode surfaces;
first means for electrically connecting said spaced electrode surfaces in said first chamber to a voltage source of one and the same polarity only;
a second chamber;
a plurality of spaced electrode surfaces in said second chamber for charging particles contained in the fluid, said spaced electrode surfaces electrically connectable to a voltage source of one polarity only and opposite to the polarity of the first chamber electrode surfaces, whereby the fluid is flowable between said spaced electrode surfaces and in contact with said electrode surfaces such that the particles within the fluid move into close proximity with said electrode surfaces to pick up the charge of the electrode surfaces;
second means for electrically connecting said spaced electrode surfaces in said second chamber to a voltage source of one and the same polarity only and opposite to the polarity of said first chamber electrode surfaces;
porous filter media being interposed between said spaced electrode surfaces in said first and second chambers;
a third chamber in fluid communication with said first and second chambers, said third chamber adapted to receive the fluid bearing the charged particles from said first and second chambers;
and
porous filter media in said third chamber for capturing particles contained in the fluid.

7 more elements

A filter for removing particles from fluids that are flowable through the filter comprising:

a first housing defining an enclosure, said first housing having an inlet for receiving fluid to be cleaned and an outlet for permitting fluid to exit said housing;
a first cartridge positioned within said first housing, said cartridge having an inlet and outlet in fluid communication with said inlet and outlet of said first housing;
a plurality of spaced electrode surfaces in said first cartridge for charging particles contained in the fluid, said spaced electrode surfaces electrically connectable to a voltage source of one polarity only, whereby the fluid is flowable between said spaced electrode surfaces and in contact with said electrode surfaces such that the particles within the fluid move into close proximity with said electrode surfaces to pick up the charge of the electrode surfaces;
first means for electrically connecting said spaced electrode surfaces in said first cartridge to a voltage source of one and the same polarity only;
a second housing defining an enclosure, said second housing having an inlet for receiving fluid to be cleaned and an outlet for permitting fluid to exit said housing;
a second cartridge positioned within said second housing, said cartridge having an inlet and outlet in fluid communication with said inlet and outlet of said second housing;
a plurality of spaced electrode surfaces in said second cartridge for charging particles contained in the fluid, said spaced electrode surfaces electrically connectable to a voltage source of opposite polarity only, whereby the fluid is flowable between said spaced electrode surfaces and in contact with said electrode surfaces such that the particles within the fluid move into close proximity with said electrode surfaces to pick up the charge of the electrode surfaces;
second means for electrically connecting said spaced electrode surfaces in said second cartridge to a voltage source of one and the same polarity only and opposite to the polarity of said first cartridge electrode surfaces;
porous filter media being interposed between said spaced electrode surfaces in said first and second cartridge;
a third housing defining an enclosure with an inlet in fluid communication with said outlets of said first and second housings for receiving the charged fluid from said first and second housings and an outlet for permitting fluid to exit said housing;
a third cartridge positioned within said third housing, said cartridge having an inlet and outlet in fluid communication with said inlet and outlet of said third housing whereby the charged particles of opposite polarity flocculate within said third cartridge;
and
porous filter media in said third cartridge for capturing the flocculated particles contained in the fluid.

10 more elements

A filter for removing particles from fluids comprising:

a first chamber having an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for permitting fluid to exit, and a longitudinal axis defining a flow path between said inlet and outlet;
a first elongated, electrically conductive rod;
a plurality of electrodes spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis of said first chamber to form a first stacked array comprising a first end electrode, an opposite end electrode and at least one interior electrode positioned between the first end electrode and opposite end electrode, each of said spaced electrodes having perforations for allowing the fluid to pass therethrough and a hole sized to allow said first rod to pass therethrough, said rod extending from the hole in said first end electrode through the hole in each of said at least one interior electrodes to the hole in said opposite end electrode and making electrical contact with each of said electrodes;
means for connecting an end electrode of said first stacked array to a voltage source of a first polarity, whereby particles contained in the fluid acquire a charge of said first polarity;
a second chamber having an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for permitting fluid to exit, and a longitudinal axis defining a flow path between said inlet and outlet;
a second elongated, electrically conductive rod;
a plurality of electrodes spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis of said second chamber to form a second stacked array comprising a first end electrode, an opposite end electrode and at least one interior electrode positioned between the first end electrode and opposite end electrode, each of said spaced electrodes having perforations for allowing the fluid to pass therethrough and a hole sized to allow said second rod to pass therethrough, said second rod extending from the hole in said first end electrode through the hole in each of said at least one interior electrodes to the hole in said opposite end electrode and making electrical contact with each of said electrodes;
means for connecting an end electrode of said second stacked array to a voltage source of opposite polarity, whereby particles contained in the fluid acquire a charge of said opposite polarity;
porous filter media being interposed between said spaced electrodes in said first and second chambers;
a third chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being in fluid communication with said outlets of said first and second chambers, said third chamber adapted to receive the fluid containing charged particles from said first and second chambers;
and
porous filter media in said third chamber for capturing particles contained in the fluid.

9 more elements

A filter for removing particles from fluids comprising:

a first housing defining an enclosure, said first housing having an inlet for receiving fluid to be cleaned and an outlet for permitting fluid to exit said housing;
a first cartridge positioned within said first housing, said cartridge having an inlet and outlet in fluid communication with said inlet and outlet of said first housing and a longitudinal axis defining a flow path between said inlet and outlet;
a first elongated, electrically conductive rod;
a plurality of electrodes spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis of said first cartridge to form a first stacked array comprising a first end electrode, an opposite end electrode and at least one interior electrode positioned between the first end electrode and opposite end electrode, each of said spaced electrodes having perforations for allowing the fluid to pass therethrough and a hole sized to allow said first rod to pass therethrough, said rod extending from the hole in said first end electrode through the hole in each of said at least one interior electrodes to the hole in said opposite end electrode and making electrical contact with each of said electrodes;
means for connecting an end electrode of said first stacked array to a voltage source of a first polarity, whereby particles contained in the fluid acquire a charge of said first polarity;
a second housing defining an enclosure, said second housing having an inlet for receiving fluid to be cleaned and an outlet for permitting fluid to exit said housing;
a second cartridge positioned within said second housing, said cartridge having an inlet and outlet in fluid communication with said inlet and outlet of said second housing and a longitudinal axis defining a flow path between said inlet and outlet;
a second elongated, electrically conductive rod;
a plurality of electrodes spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis of said second cartridge to form a second stacked array comprising a first end electrode, an opposite end electrode and at least one interior electrode positioned between the first end electrode and opposite end electrode, said spaced electrodes having perforations for allowing the fluid to pass therethrough and a hole sized to allow said second rod to pass therethrough, said second rod extending from the hole in said first end electrode through the hole in each of said at least one interior electrodes to the hole in said opposite end electrode and making electrical contact with each of said electrodes;
means for connecting an end electrode of said second stacked array to a voltage source of opposite polarity, whereby particles contained in the fluid acquire a charge of said opposite polarity;
porous filter media being interposed between said spaced electrodes in said first and second cartridges;
a third housing defining an enclosure with an inlet in fluid communication with said outlets of said first and second housings for receiving the fluid containing charged particles from said first and second housings and an outlet for permitting fluid to exit said housing;
a third cartridge positioned within said third housing, said cartridge having an inlet and outlet in fluid communication with said inlet and outlet of said third housing;
and
porous filter media in said third cartridge for capturing particles contained in the fluid.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.