Process and system for separating finely aerosolized elemental mercury from gaseous streams
OwnerHal Alperinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for practicing the method are provided for separating droplets of finely aerosolized elemental mercury from a gaseous stream in which the droplets are dispersed. In the method a gold plated metallic capillary surface is contacted with the gaseous stream, causing the aerosolized droplets to deposit on the capillary surface and by capillary action to coalesce with other of such droplets to form increasingly large drops of mercury. The surface is oriented to allow the mercury to flow by gravitational forces and capillary action to the lowermost portions of the surface, at which it accumulates, and is then collected at a suitable vessel.
Claims31
A method for separating droplets of finely aerosolized elemental mercury from a gaseous stream in which the droplets are dispersed;
- comprising:
- contacting a metallic capillary surface with said gaseous stream, causing said droplets to deposit on said surface and by capillary action to coalesce with other of said droplets to form increasingly large drops of mercury;
- and wherein the said surface is oriented to allow the mercury drops to flow by gravitational forces and capillary action to the lowermost portion of said surface where it accumulates;
- and
- collecting the accumulating mercury thereby separated from the said gas stream.
A filtration system for separating droplets of finely aerosolized elemental mercury from a gaseous stream in which the droplets are dispersed;
- comprising:
- a metallic capillary surface
- means for contacting said metallic capillary surface with said gaseous stream, causing said mercury droplets to deposit on said surface and by capillary action to coalesce with other of said droplets to form increasingly large drops of mercury;
- and wherein the said capillary surface is oriented to allow the mercury drops to flow by gravitational forces and capillary action to the lowermost portion of said surface where it accumulates;
- and
- means for collecting the accumulating mercury thereby separated from the said gas stream.
A filtration system for separating droplets of finely aerosolized elemental mercury from a gaseous stream in which the droplets are dispersed;
- comprising:
- a generally enclosed mercury filtration tank having an inlet for receiving said gaseous stream and an outlet for discharging the gaseous stream after the said mercury has been removed;
- a filter being positioned in said mercury filtration tank comprising a perforated wall tube wound with a metallic substrate having a gold plated capillary surface;
- means for flowing the gas stream entered into said tank through the said perforated wall of said tube and the wound substrate to effect contact of said gold plated metallic capillary surface of said substrate with said gaseous stream, causing said droplets to deposit on said surface and by capillary action to coalesce with other of said droplets to form increasingly large drops of mercury;
- means for passing the gas stream having contacted said capillary surface to the said gas discharge outlet;
- the said tube and capillary surface being oriented to allow the mercury drops to flow by gravitational forces and capillary action to the gravitationally lowermost portion of said surface where it accumulates;
- and
- means for collecting the accumulating mercury thereby separated from the said gas stream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.