Abstract: Apparatus and methods for detecting the presence of an airborne chemical or biological analyte utilise:a substantially gas- and liquid-impermeable container; means for introducing a substantially analyte-free collection liquid into said container; means for rapidly sampling ambient air and transferring said analyte therefrom into said collection liquid, said sampling means comprising an air intake means and and an air venting means; and-means for removing from said container an analyte-enriched collection liquid; wherein said volume of air passes through a substantially horizontal air inlet and upwardly through a substantially vertical collector electrode tube with means for applying an electric field between said tube and a co-axial spiked wire- or rod-shaped discharge electrode.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing particulate matter from a gas stream containing particulate matter, the apparatus including: a mist-producing element that mixes a gas stream entering the apparatus with liquid droplets; and a down flow Wet Electrostatic Precipitator (WESP) pass section having ionizing electrodes that electrically charge the particulate matter and the intermixed liquid droplets, and collecting surfaces in the form of an array of polygonal tubes, wherein the collecting surfaces are under the influence of an electrical field to attract and remove electrically-charged particulate matter and intermixed liquid droplets from the gas stream. An embodiment utilizing two down-flow Wet Electrostatic Precipitator (WESP) sections (i.e.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing particulate matter from a gas stream containing particular matter, the apparatus comprising: a mist-producing element that mixes a gas stream entering the apparatus with liquid droplets; a down-flow Wet Electrostatic Precipitator (WESP) section comprising ionizing electrodes that electrically charge the particulate matter and the intermixed liquid droplets, and collecting surfaces under the influence of an electrical field which attract and remove electrically-charged particulate matter and intermixed liquid droplets from the gas stream; and an up-flow WESP section comprising electrically-charged ionizing and collecting electrodes that remove, from the gas stream, substantially all fine-sized droplets generated in the down-flow WESP section.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing particulate matter from a biomass combustion gas stream, the apparatus having a mist-producing element that mixes a gas stream entering the apparatus with liquid droplets; a Wet Electrostatic Precipitator (WESP) section that includes ionizing electrodes that electrically charge the particulate matter and the intermixed liquid droplets and collecting surfaces under the influence of an electrical field which attract and remove electrically-charged particulate matter and intermixed liquid droplets from the gas stream; and a scrubbing section that provides for additional scrubbing of the gas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the oxidation of NO, SO2, and mercury vapors and their subsequent removal from a waste gas together with solid submicron particles and acid droplets comprising the reagent injection, WESP/plasma reactor, liquid film catalytic reactor and FGD scrubber with WESP/mist eliminator for the final gas cleaning.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing particulate matter and undesirable vapors from a gas stream are provided. In one aspect, an apparatus includes at least one ionizing electrode that negatively charges the particulate matter and condensed droplets of undesirable vapors, at least one scrubbing element including a collecting surface, and at least one liquid applicator operable to apply a liquid film to the collecting surface, wherein a positive charge is applied to the liquid film to attract negatively-charged particulate matter and/or condensed droplets of undesirable vapors to the collecting surface. In another aspect, a method includes the steps of: negatively charging the particulate matter and condensed droplets of undesirable vapors using at least one ionizing electrode; applying a liquid film to a collecting surface proximate the ionizing electrode; and positively charging the liquid film to attract the negatively-charged particulate matter and condensed droplets of undesirable vapors.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing particulate matter from a gas stream containing particular matter, the apparatus comprising: a mist-producing element that mixes a gas stream entering the apparatus with liquid droplets; a down-flow Wet Electrostatic Precipitator (WESP) section comprising ionizing electrodes that electrically charge the particulate matter and the intermixed liquid droplets, and collecting surfaces under the influence of an electrical field which attract and remove electrically-charged particulate matter and intermixed liquid droplets from the gas stream; and an up-flow WESP section comprising electrically-charged ionizing and collecting electrodes that remove, from the gas stream, substantially all fine-sized droplets generated in the down-flow WESP section.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing particulate matter from a gas stream containing particulate matter, the apparatus comprising: a mist-producing element that mixes a gas stream entering the apparatus with liquid droplets; and a down flow Wet Electrostatic Precipitator (WESP) pass section having ionizing electrodes that electrically charge the particulate matter and the intermixed liquid droplets, and collecting surfaces in the form of an array of polygonal tubes, wherein the collecting surfaces are under the influence of an electrical field to attract and remove electrically-charged particulate matter and intermixed liquid droplets from the gas stream. An embodiment utilizing two down-flow Wet Electrostatic Precipitator (WESP) sections (i.e.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing particulate matter from a biomass combustion gas stream, the apparatus having a mist-producing element that mixes a gas stream entering the apparatus with liquid droplets; a Wet Electrostatic Precipitator (WESP) section that includes ionizing electrodes that electrically charge the particulate matter and the intermixed liquid droplets and collecting surfaces under the influence of an electrical field which attract and remove electrically-charged particulate matter and intermixed liquid droplets from the gas stream; and a scrubbing section that provides for additional scrubbing of the gas.

Abstract: An improvement in an electrostatic precipitator and method for removing particulate contaminants entrained in a gas stream passed through an electrode arrangement in which particulates are charged in a first electrostatic field and subjected to a second electrostatic field to be removed and collected for further disposition. The electrode arrangement includes a charging section having a charging electrode and a field electrode, and a collecting section having a repelling electrode and a collecting electrode. The field electrode and the collecting electrode are integrated, providing a relatively compact construction, and the charging electrode and the repelling electrode are electrically separated by high voltage diodes in a single power supply arrangement such that the charging section and the collecting section each are provided with a corresponding electrostatic field operated at an optimum voltage and current for respectively charging and collecting particulate contaminants entrained in the gas stream.

Abstract: Certain contaminants are removed from a stream of contaminant-laden commercial and industrial exhaust gases conducted through an electrostatic precipitator by passing a reagent fluid through corona discharge active zones to activate the reagent fluid as the reagent fluid is injected into the stream such that the activated reagent fluid reacts with the contaminant to be removed. A combination discharge electrode and injector carries a plurality of electrode elements which establish the corona discharge active zones and include injector passages juxtaposed with the corona discharge active zones. The reagent fluid is injected into the stream by delivering the reagent fluid through the injector passages such that the reagent fluid passes through the corona discharge active zones and is activated as the reagent fluid is injected into the stream.

Abstract: A condensing wet electrostatic precipitator for cleaning hot gases is constructed of collection electrode modules which establish longitudinally extending collection electrodes and a cooling jacket, each collection electrode module having a configuration including at least one part-tubular section and a cooling fluid chamber integral with the part-tubular section for containing cooling medium for cooling the part-tubular section. In some arrangements, the collection electrode modules are spaced apart laterally to enable the passage of the hot gases through the collection electrodes in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction in which the collecting electrodes extend.

Abstract: A condensing wet electrostatic precipitator is constructed of collection electrode modules which establishing collection electrodes and a cooling jacket, each collection electrode module having a configuration including at least one part-tubular section and a cooling fluid chamber integral with the part-tubular section for containing cooling medium for cooling the part-tubular section, the configuration of each collection electrode module being such that upon assembly of the collection electrode modules into an assembly of juxtaposed collection electrode modules the part-tubular sections are juxtaposed to establish at least one corresponding generally tubular collection electrode comprised of the juxtaposed part-tubular sections and the discrete cooling fluid chambers are juxtaposed to establish a corresponding cooling jacket comprised of the juxtaposed discrete cooling fluid chambers.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing particulates and corrosive gases from a gas stream includes the serial use of a condensing wet electrostatic precipitator section for removing smaller particulates, in the submicron range, in conjunction with a vertically aligned preliminary scrubber section which removes larger particulates, in the micron range, and corrosive gases, in an integrated unit in which the temperature and moisture conditions in the gas stream are controlled for assuring effective and efficient operation of the condensing wet electrostatic precipitator section. Discharge electrodes of the electrostatic precipitator are supported by insulators which are protected against deleterious deposits of particulates by discharge electrode elements and collector electrode elements placed between the gas stream and the insulators.

Abstract: An improved precise orientating tooth drilling device of a type having drill orientation apparatus attaching to a dental drill with a drill bit by a drill clamp and generating a drill angular position signal having a drill signal X-component and a drill signal Y-component and representing an angular position of the drill orientation apparatus, tooth orientation apparatus for removably attaching to a tooth and generating a tooth angular position signal having a tooth signal X-component and a tooth signal Y-component and representing an angular position of the tooth, comparing apparatus for, comparing the drill angular position signal and the tooth angular position signal to each other and determining if a difference therebetween is within a predetermined value, and an alarm alerting when the difference between the drill angular position signal and the tooth angular position signal is not within the predetermined value so that repositioning of the drill can be initiated.

Abstract: A device for alerting a dentist when the angular position of the drill and the angular position of the tooth being drilled do not correspond so that during drilling the angular position of the hole being drilled does not change. The device includes a drill transducer, a tooth transducer, a central control unit, and an alarm. The drill transducer is attachable to a dental drill and generates a drill angular position signal representing an angular position of the dental drill. The tooth transducer is removably attachable to a tooth and generates a tooth angular position signal representing an angular position of the tooth. The central control unit compares the drill angular position signal and the tooth angular position signal to each other to determine if the difference is within the value of a predetermined difference angular position.

Abstract: An entrance dust arrester is provided which vacuums the area directly under a door as the door is opened and closed, thereby preventing the tracking of debris into a clean area. A housing with downward facing vacuum apertures may be attached to the outside of the door or may be built into the door itself. A system of air directing vanes distributes the vacuum evenly. The vacuum source itself may be integral to the housing or may be external and connected by a moveable coupling. The vacuum source is turned on and off by either or magnetic reed switch or a pressure operated switch.