System for removing fine particulates from a gas stream

A particulate agglomerator coupled between a source of particulates and a particulate removal system for improving the sub-micron particulate removal effectiveness thereof, comprising:

• a high voltage power supply having a pair of output terminals;
• a longitudinally extended ductwork having an inlet for receiving a particulate laden gas and a longitudinally displaced gas outlet coupled in fluid communication with the particulate removal system, said ductwork being dimensioned to establish a predetermined velocity of said particulate laden gas;
• first screen means disposed transversely within said ductwork and having a predetermined grid spacing for electrostatically charging particulates passing through said spacing, said first screen means being electrically coupled to a first of said pair of power supply output terminals;
• second screen means disposed transversely within said ductwork and in longitudinally spaces relation with said first screen means for electrostatically attracting said charged particulates and forming agglomerates thereof, said second screen means being electrically coupled to a second of said pair of power supply output terminals and having a predetermined grid spacing to reentrain the agglomerates into gas flowing to said ductwork outlet for subsequent removal by the particulate removal system, said first and second screen means defining a predetermined number of screen electrodes occupying a predetermined longitudinal distance within said ductwork, said predetermined velocity of said particulate laden gas and said predetermined longitudinal distance establishing a gas residence time within the approximating range of 0.5 to 1.0 seconds for said predetermined number of screen electrodes;
• and,
• a plurality of pointed electrode elements electrically coupled to said first screen means and disposed in spaced relation one to an other, each of said plurality of pointed electrode element extending in a direction of a flow the gas.