Abstract: A gas scrubber employing liquid droplets injected into a flowing gas stream at a higher velocity than the gas velocity, having means to create a gradient of increasing pressure downstream from the droplet injection site, which gradient decelerates the gas and thereby increases the velocity of the droplets relative to the gas, thus increasing the total path length of the droplets through the gas, so as to allow substantial increase of scrubber collection efficiency without use of increased scrubber size or increased liquid droplet flow rate.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for gas cleaning, as in HVAC systems or semiconductor manufacturing clean rooms, for removing 99.999% of particulate and gaseous contaminants, which may be effectively used to remove and neutralize Bio-chem agents introduced by terrorists, having a first stage in which large quantities of positively charged liquid droplets are introduced into the gas to be cleaned so as to remove virtually all negatively charged particulates and at least 90% of neutral particulates and soluble gases; a second stage in which most positively charged droplets from the first stage are removed and remaining particulates are given a positive charge; a third stage in which large quantities of negatively charged liquid droplets are introduced to remove positively charged particulates and more soluble gas contaminants; and a fourth stage in which the negatively charged droplets are removed from the cleaned gas stream.

Abstract: Effluent gas cleaning process and apparatus for effectively removing particulates in the 0.01 micron to 0.1 micron diameter range, and for removing water-soluble gaseous contaminants, by first bringing the effluent to a relatively high temperature and humidity in a first stage, and then exposing the effluent to copious quantities of small cool water droplets in a second stage, for particular combinations of: the first stage relative humidity; the first-to-second stage droplet temperature difference; the stage two water droplet mass flow rate vs. effluent flow rate; the second stage droplet size; the travel time of the effluent during exposure to the cool droplets; and the electrical charge state of the second stage water droplets and opposite charge state of the particulates. The combinations enhance effluent cleaning through the combined operation of up to four distinct physical processes which can be made to occur during the second stage.

Abstract: Insulator terminator device, for attachment to the top or bottom of a high voltage power line insulator having a conventional end fitting, for prevention of high surface leakage currents and corona discharges, and the corrosive and erosion effects produced thereby, so as to lengthen effective life of the insulator. The device, which attaches around the region of the juncture of the insulator and its end fitting, has a disk shaped semiconductor element with rounded edges, and a rounded-edged surface conduction and strength layer element fitting the bottom, sides, and outer portion of the top of the semiconductor disk element. Surface currents and corona discharges are prevented by shunting of current as volume current though the semiconductor disk and its surface conduction layer, directly to the end fitting of the insulator. The rounded geometry of the device also avoids any high field points which might otherwise produce corona discharges on the surface of the device.

Abstract: Gas scrubbing apparatus and method, employing highly charged liquid droplets for removal of both particulates and pollutant gases from the gas to be cleaned, allowing scrubbing of uncharged particulates by means of monopole--dipole attractive forces between the charged liquid droplets and the electric dipoles induced in the uncharged particulates by the charged droplets; employing electrode geometry at the site of droplet production and charging, having spreading liquid sheet electrodes emitting the droplets from the edges of the liquid sheets, interspersed with electrically conductive induction electrodes, with electrostatic potential of no more than about 20 kv existing between the induction electrode array and the array of liquid sheets, and with spacing such that adequately high electric field strength can be maintained at the edges of the liquid sheets to allow adequate charging of the droplets emitted from the liquid sheets, without the occurrence of corona discharges which could deplete droplet charges

Abstract: Apparatus for generating large quantities of highly charged droplets, which may be used in gas cleaning machines, as in air pollution control systems. Two opposing, colliding streams of liquid, emitted from opposingly oriented nozzles connected to a pressurized liquid source, generate a spreading disk shaped sheet of liquid, which sheet connected to ground by grounding of the nozzle assembly, and which sheet is emitted between equidistant induction electrodes, maintained at an equal voltage, which induce electric charges in liquid droplets as they leave the edge of the spreading liquid disk, which charges are conveyed to the droplets from the grounded liquid disk and nozzle assembly, through the ground connection of the nozzle assembly.

Abstract: A remote contamination sensing device for contamination on insulation of electric power lines and substations includes a data logger and a supporting structure to which a sensing capacitor with at least two conductors is attached such that the conductors are spaced apart and insulated from each other. A capacitance measuring device, for measuring capacitance data between the conductors, is connected to the data logger. A hygrometer, for measuring the relative humidity of the ambient air, is also connected to the data logger. A first temperature sensor, for measuring the ambient temperature, and a second temperature sensor, for measuring the surface temperature of the capacitance sensor, are connected to the data logger. The measured capacitance data, relative humidity data, ambient temperature data, and surface temperature data are stored in the data logger.

Abstract: Electrode apparatus for increasing the charge state of aerosol particulates entrained in a flowing gas, such as smoke particles in effluent emitted from a power plant, so as to improve the collection efficiency of conventional electrostatic precipitation apparatus. A corona-generating high voltage electrode is located immediately downstream in the gas flow from a region of mechanically constricted high velocity gas flow, and generates molecular gas ions, some of which attach to and charge aerosol particulates near the corona-generating electrode, and the remainder of which are swept up by the gas as they attempt to move upstream from the electrode into a region of rapidly decreasing field strength and increasing gas flow velocity. Moving downstream from the corona-generating electrode, the molecular ions contribute to further charging of the aerosol particulates through space charge effects, including field effect and diffusion charging.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for removing airborne particulates from an aerosol stream by first humidifying said aerosol with steam, and then cooling said aerosol with water to saturation temperature. Thereafter, the saturated aerosol is adiabatically cooled to a supersaturated state and maintained at supersaturation for a time sufficient to permit the growth and removal thereof of said particulates. Further disclosed is an apparatus adapted for practicing the method of the present invention and employing charged droplet scrubbing techniques to remove said particulates.

Abstract: An improved linear or rod insulator for electrically insulating a first electrical potential from a second electrical potential. The improved linear insulator comprising a nonconductive cylindrical linear core member having a conductive first mounting means secured to a first end of the core member and a conductive second mounting means secured to the second end of the core member. The first and second mounting means being attached to a first and a second electrical potential, respectively. The improved linear insulator further comprising a plurality of nonconducting disc shaped toroidal sheds coaxially secured to said core member, and a plurality of conducting bowl shaped toroidal shields coaxially secured to said core member and positioned alternatingly with said sheds so that each of said sheds is located intermediate two of said shields.

Abstract: Small highly charged droplets are produced without concurrent production of corona by conducting a liquid to a nozzle having a tip from which droplets of the liquid can exit, and forming a substantially uniform electric field over the surface of the liquid on the tip, the field being large enough to pull off droplets from the tip but not so large as to create corona discharge. Selected gas, solid particulates and liquid mists from gaseous effluents such as are produced by smelters, coal or oil-burning steam generators, chemical refineries and the like are removed by means of a unique electrostatic collector using the highly charged droplets. These droplets are caused to drift, by means of an electric field, through the gaseous effluent to a collecting electrode absorbing selected gases and aerosol particles and carrying them to a collecting electrode.

Abstract: The invention is a means and method of injecting fuel into the cylinders of an internal combustion engine wherein the fuel is introduced under pressure to each cylinder through a metallic fuel tube having an integral and preferably multiplyorificed nozzle thereon, the tube and nozzle being charged to a high electrical potential, causing injected fuel to assume a charge and be repelled from the nozzle in small droplets which in turn disperse into smaller droplets due to internal repulsion created by the charge, the result being the rapid and thorough atomization of fuel so that quick and more complete combustion will occur. The applied charge may be reversed at the end of the injection cycle to cause current flow between the droplets and the oppositely charged nozzles to ignite, or further speed combustion of, the mixture.

Abstract: An improved insulator of the type having a dielectric body with a mounting pin below and a mounting cap above, where the mounting cap is capable of receiving and holding the mounting pin, and wherein the improvement comprises an upper metallic bowl-shaped member to dissipate high electric field concentrations and to protect the insulator from contamination, and a lower metallic member to dissipate high electric field concentrations. The insulator is adapted to be linked together with like insulators to form a chain of insulators.