Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting switching elements, and in particular, thyristor switching elements, which are used to supply pulses to a capacitive load, from damage resulting from sparkover occurring in that load are described. The load voltage pulse is characterized by a period of rising voltage followed by a period of falling voltage, these two periods being separated by a transition period of maximum vulnerability of the switching element to damage from sparkover. Specifically, during this period of maximum vulnerability of the switching elments to damage, a gate trigger pulse is applied to the elements to cause them to resume a conductive state, independent of the occurrence of an abnormal sparkover condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting switching elements, and in particular, thyristor switching elements, which are used to supply pulses to a capacitive load, from damage resulting from false triggering signals, i.e., triggering signals not accompanied by actual sparkover conditions in the load. Since termination of normal pulse cycles in such pulser systems are accomplished by a return to high forward voltage across the switching elements, false triggers generated closely prior to such termination and within the forward recovery time of a thyristor switching element present a danger that the termination of a normal cycle will result in a weak turn-on and consequent damage of the switching element. By insuring that all such potentially false triggers have a duration which extends past termination of the pulse cycle damage to the switching element resulting from such false triggers is inhibited.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing respirable aerosols (typically within the size range of about 0.1 to about 2 microns in diameter) from air comprises a housing and a chamber removably coupled to the housing so as to extend outwardly therefrom. The chamber contains a dielectric granular material forming a packed bed within a charged bed region and an apparatus spaced from the bed region for charging the aerosols in the air so that they may be removed when contacting the dielectric material in the bed region. The granular material is retained between two spaced apart gas permeable electrodes disposed adjacent an outlet end of the chamber and the charging apparatus is disposed adjacent the inlet end and is defined by a gas permeable support member having charging electrodes supported thereon or formed as an integral part thereof.

Abstract: A sensitive yet non-destructive method and apparatus for detecting the presence of voids contained within dielectric materials is disclosed which comprises applying a voltage across the dielectric material to create an electric field therethrough, increasing this voltage to create a partial electrical discharge and monitoring the field current to detect the voltage at which partial discharge occurs. When the partial discharge is detected, the voltage applied across the test material is recorded. Reference can then be made to mathematical charts and formulas readily available to determine the size and shape of the detected void.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating fine liquid metal droplets from a liquid or molten metal comprises a rotatable member situated in a pressurized or evacuated chamber. Means are provided for generating an electric field at the edge of the member having sufficient strength to overcome the surface tension of the metal. A liquid metal delivery means directs liquid metal onto a surface of the member over which the metal flows toward the edge as the member is spun. As the liquid metal leaves the surface at the edge, the force of the electric field causes fine liquid metal droplets which are more uniform and smaller than those produced without an electric field to form. A method for forming fine liquid metal droplets is also disclosed.

Abstract: In order to mitigate the problem of back-corona discharge in electrostatic precipitators, method and apparatus are provided for energizing the precipitator electrodes with repeated bursts of high voltage electrical pulses, superimposed upon a direct current voltage level. Additionally, the voltage of the pulses in a single burst is increased from each pulse to the next pulse during the time period that the pulse burst is applied. The effect of the ramping of the pulse burst voltage is to increase the average electric field and ion density during the pulse burst. The result is substantially higher particle charging which leads to improved particle charging collection efficiency.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing respirable aerosols (typically within the size range of about 0.1 to about 2 microns in diameter) from air comprises a housing and a chamber demountably coupled to the housing, the chamber having a dielectric material forming a packed bed within a charged bed region and apparatus for charging the aerosols in the air so that they may be removed when contacting the dielectric material in the bed region. An indicating device is provided to signify when the dielectric material is contaminated and should be renewed. The chamber may comprise cardboard or plastic coated with a conductive material and can be disposed of along with the contaminated material.A method for removing the respirable aerosols from air is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for applying a coating of atomizable material to the inside surface of a glass tube comprises positioning a rotatable member within the tube, delivering the material to a surface of the member adapted to receive the material, and rotating the member at a predetermined velocity to atomize the material and impact the surface of the tube with at least a portion of the atomized material. A potential difference may be established between the atomized material and the surface of the tube to improve coating efficiency. The surface of the tube may be maintained at an electrical potential, and multiple coatings may be produced.

Abstract: Latent heat is stored in a liquid storage material having a variable phase-dependent density from which material heat is subsequently removed by heat transfer with an immiscible liquid interfaced with the storage material, such that storage material at the interface is solidified resulting in the separation thereof from the interface by buoyancy forces.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a coating of an atomizable material, such as a phosphor slurry, to the inside surface of a glass tube comprises a rotatable member having a surface for receiving material, a device for rotating the member and conduct for delivering material to the surface of the member. The rotating and delivery mechanisms are preferably situated along the same direction as the extension of the axis of rotation through the surface of the member. The apparatus may include a device for electrically charging the material prior to coating. A method for applying the coating of atomizable material to the inside surface of a glass tube comprises positioning a rotatable member within the tube, delivering the material to a surface of the member adapted to receive the material, and rotating the member at a predetermined velocity to atomize the material and inpact the surface of the tube with at least a portion of the atomized material.

Abstract: Semi-insulating granular bed material in a spout inlet region of a spouted bed vessel between a draft tube and a portion of the vessel base section adjacent a fluid inlet is aligned along the force lines of an imposed localized electric field to thereby afford improved control over spout inlet conditions which affect processes carried out in the spouted bed device.

Abstract: Separation of particulates from a gaseous stream in a reverse flow cyclone separator is enhanced through the incorporation of a corona producing electrode in the cyclonic separation zone whereby particulates are first charged by the corona current and are subsequently displaced from the gaseous stream by the electrostatic forces generated by the electrode.

Abstract: Variable control is achieved over processes involving the spouting of magnetizable granular material in a draft tube-equipped spouted bed device through the application of a localized magnetic field in a spout inlet region of the device between an inlet of the draft tube and a portion of the device interior surface adjacent an associated fluid inlet.