Abstract: An electrostatic fluid accelerator includes an electrode array including an array of corona discharge electrodes and an array of accelerating electrodes. A detector is configured to sense a constituent component of the fluid as present in an output from the electrode array. A control circuit supplies power to the electrode array, the control circuit being responsive to an output from the detector for operating the electrode array responsive a level of the constituent component.

Abstract: A method of operating an electrostatic fluid accelerating device includes applying a voltage to a plurality of corona electrodes and a plurality of complementary electrodes so as to generate a corona discharge to thereby propel an intervening fluid in a desired fluid flow direction. A direction of the fluid in a region adjacent a protuberant portion of each of said complementary electrodes is altered to create a turbulent fluid flow in the regions adjacent said protuberant portion. The fluid flow is propelled away from repelling electrodes and toward the complementary electrodes, each of the repelling electrodes having a substantially planar portion and at least one protuberant portion extending outwardly in a lateral direction substantially perpendicular to the desired fluid-flow direction.

Abstract: A method for handling a fluid may be incorporated into the operation of, for example, a corona discharge device and an electric power supply. Such a corona discharge device typically includes at least one corona discharge electrode and at least one collector electrode positioned proximate each other so as to provide a total inter-electrode capacitance within a predetermined range. The electric power supply is connected to supply an electric power signal to said corona discharge and collector electrodes so as to cause a corona current to flow between the corona discharge and collector electrodes. A relationship between alternating and direct (or constant, non-time varying) components of the voltage may be expressed as (Vac/Vdc)<(Iac/Idc).

Abstract: An electrostatic fluid acceleration and method of operation thereof includes at least two synchronously powered stages. A single power supply or synchronized and phase controlled power supplies provide high voltage power to each of the stages such that both the phase and amplitude of the electric power applied to the corresponding electrodes are aligned in time. The frequency and phase control allows neighboring stages to be closely spaced at a distance of from 1 to 2 times an inter-electrode distance within a stage, and, in any case, minimizing or avoiding production of a back corona current from a corona discharge electrode of one stage to an electrode of a neighboring stage. Corona discharge electrodes of neighboring stages may be horizontally aligned, complementary collector electrodes of all stages being similarly horizontally aligned between and horizontally offset from the corona discharge electrodes.

Abstract: An electrostatic fluid accelerator includes a first number of corona electrodes and a second number of accelerating electrodes spaced apart from and parallel to adjacent ones of the corona electrodes. An electrical power source is connected to supply the corona and accelerating electrodes with an operating voltage to produce a high intensity electric field in an inter-electrode space between the corona electrodes and the accelerating electrodes. The accelerating electrodes may be made of a high electrical resistivity material, each of the electrodes having mutually perpendicular length and height dimension oriented transverse to a desired fluid flow direction and a width dimension oriented parallel to the desired fluid flow direction.

Abstract: An electrostatic fluid acceleration and method of operation thereof includes at least two synchronously powered stages with final or rear-most electrodes of one stage maintained at substantially the same instantaneous voltage as the immediately adjacent initial or forward-most electrodes of a next stage in an airflow direction. A single power supply or synchronized and phase controlled power supplies provide high voltage power to each of the stages such that both the phase and amplitude of the electric power applied to the corresponding electrodes are aligned in time. The frequency and phase control allows neighboring stages to be closely spaced at a distance of from 1 to 2 times an inter-electrode distance within a stage, and, in any case, minimizing or avoiding production of a back corona current from a corona discharge electrode of one stage to an electrode of a neighboring stage.

Abstract: A method of operating a corona discharge device includes producing a high-intensity electric field in an immediate vicinity of at least one corona electrode and continuously or periodically heating the corona electrode to a temperature sufficient to mitigate an undesirable effect of an impurity, such as an oxide layer, formed on the corona electrode.

Abstract: An electrostatic air cleaning device includes an array of electrodes. The electrodes include corona electrodes connected to a suitable source of high voltage so as to generate a corona discharge. Laterally displaced collecting electrodes include one or more bulges that have aerodynamic frontal “upwind” surfaces and airflow disrupting tailing edges downwind that create quite zones for the collection of particulates removed from the air. The bulges may be formed as rounded leading edges on the collecting electrodes and/or as ramped surfaces located, for example, along a midsection of the electrodes. Repelling electrodes positioned between pairs of the collecting electrodes may include similar bulges such as cylindrical or semi-cylindrical leading and/or trailing edges.

Abstract: A device for handling a fluid includes a corona discharge device and an electric power supply. The corona discharge device includes at least one corona discharge electrode and at least one collector electrode positioned proximate each other so as to provide a total inter-electrode capacitance within a predetermined range. The electric power supply is connected to supply an electric power signal to said corona discharge and collector electrodes so as to cause a corona current to flow between the corona discharge and collector electrodes. An amplitude of an alternating component of the voltage of the electric power signal generated is no greater than one-tenth that of an amplitude of a constant component of the voltage of the electric power signal.

Abstract: A device for handling a fluid includes a corona discharge device and an electric power supply. The corona discharge device includes at least one corona discharge electrode and at least one collector electrode positioned proximate each other so as to provide a total inter-electrode capacitance within a predetermined range. The electric power supply is connected to supply an electric power signal to said corona discharge and collector electrodes so as to cause a corona current to flow between the corona discharge and collector electrodes. An amplitude of an alternating component of the voltage of the electric power signal generated is no greater than one-tenth that of an amplitude of a constant component of the voltage of the electric power signal.

Abstract: An electrostatic fluid accelerator includes an electrode array including an array of corona discharge electrodes and an array of accelerating electrodes. A detector is configured to sense a constituent component of the fluid as present in an output from the electrode array. A control circuit supplies power to the electrode array, the control circuit being responsive to an output from the detector for operating the electrode array responsive a level of the constituent component.

Abstract: An electrostatic fluid acceleration and method of operation thereof includes at least two synchronously powered stages with final or rear-most electrodes of one stage maintained at substantially the same instantaneous voltage as the immediately adjacent initial or forward-most electrodes of a next stage in an airflow direction. A single power supply or synchronized and phase controlled power supplies provide high voltage power to each of the stages such that both the phase and amplitude of the electric power applied to the corresponding electrodes are aligned in time. The frequency and phase control allows neighboring stages to be closely spaced at a distance of from 1 to 2 times an inter-electrode distance within a stage, and, in any case, minimizing or avoiding production of a back corona current from a corona discharge electrode of one stage to an electrode of a neighboring stage.

Abstract: A spark management device includes a high voltage power source and a detector configured to monitor a parameter of an electric current provided to a load device. In response to the parameter, a pre-spark condition is identified. A switching circuit is responsive to identification of the pre-spark condition for controlling the electric current provided to the load device so as to manage sparking including, but not limited to, reducing, eliminating, regulating, timing, and/or controlling any intensity of arcs generated.

Abstract: A device for handling a fluid includes a corona discharge device and an electric power supply. The corona discharge device includes at least one corona discharge electrode and at least one collector electrode positioned proximate each other so as to provide a total inter-electrode capacitance within a predetermined range. The electric power supply is connected to supply an electric power signal to said corona discharge and collector electrodes so as to cause a corona current to flow between the corona discharge and collector electrodes. An amplitude of an alternating component of the voltage of the electric power signal generated is no greater than one-tenth that of an amplitude of a constant component of the voltage of the electric power signal.

Abstract: An electrostatic fluid accelerator having a multiplicity of closely spaced corona electrodes. The close spacing of such corona electrodes is obtainable because such corona electrodes are isolated from one another with exciting electrodes. Either the exciting electrode must be placed asymmetrically between adjacent corona electrodes or an accelerating electrode must be employed. The accelerating electrode can be either an attracting or a repelling electrode. Preferably, the voltage between the corona electrodes and the exciting electrodes is maintained between the corona onset voltage and the breakdown voltage with a flexible top high-voltage power supply. Optionally, however, the voltage between the corona electrodes and the exciting electrodes can be varied, even outside the range between the corona onset voltage and the breakdown voltage, in to vary the flow of fluid.

Abstract: A spark management device includes a high voltage power source and a detector configured to monitor a parameter of an electric current provided to a load device. In response to the parameter, a pre-spark condition is identified. A switching circuit is responsive to identification of the pre-spark condition for controlling the electric current provided to the load device so as to manage sparking including, but not limited to, reducing, eliminating, regulating, timing, and/or controlling any intensity of arcs generated.

Abstract: An electrostatic fluid accelerator includes a first number of corona electrodes and a second number of accelerating electrodes spaced apart from and parallel to adjacent ones of the corona electrodes. An electrical power source is connected to supply the corona and accelerating electrodes with an operating voltage to produce a high intensity electric field in an inter-electrode space between the corona electrodes and the accelerating electrodes. The accelerating electrodes may be made of a high electrical resistivity material, each of the electrodes having mutually perpendicular length and height dimension oriented transverse to a desired fluid flow direction and a width dimension oriented parallel to the desired fluid flow direction.

Abstract: An electrostatic fluid accelerator includes a first number of corona electrodes and a second number of accelerating electrodes spaced apart from and parallel to adjacent ones of the corona electrodes. An electrical power source is connected to supply the corona and accelerating electrodes with an operating voltage to produce a high intensity electric field in an inter-electrode space between the corona electrodes and the accelerating electrodes. The accelerating electrodes may be made of a high electrical resistivity material, each of the electrodes having mutually perpendicular length and height dimension oriented transverse to a desired fluid flow direction and a width dimension oriented parallel to the desired fluid flow direction.

Abstract: An electrostatic air cleaning device includes an array of electrodes. The electrodes include corona electrodes connected to a suitable source of high voltage so as to generate a corona discharge. Laterally displaced collecting electrodes include one or more bulges that have aerodynamic frontal “upwind” surfaces and airflow disrupting tailing edges downwind that create quite zones for the collection of particulates removed from the air. The bulges may be formed as rounded leading edges on the collecting electrodes and/or as ramped surfaces located, for example, along a midsection of the electrodes. Repelling electrodes positioned between pairs of the collecting electrodes may include similar bulges such as cylindrical or semicylindrical leading and/or trailing edges.

Abstract: A method of operating a corona discharge device includes producing a high-intensity electric field in an immediate vicinity of at least one corona electrode and continuously or periodically heating the corona electrode to a temperature sufficient to mitigate an undesirable effect of an impurity, such as an oxide layer, formed on the corona electrode.