Abstract: A fiber bed element and process for utilizing such element for removing and collecting small particles of liquids or soluble solids from a gas stream, the element formed of one or more layers of pin-punched fiber supported by an appropriate supporting structure, the fiber layers being subjected to pressure to achieve a selected density and the punched holes functioning to create drainage paths through which liquids may drain. The fiber layer density and fiber size is maintained uniform throughout the element so that the pressure drop of the saturated filter bed element will be between 1.1 and 3.0 times the pressure drop of the dry filter bed as originally constructed and before use.

Abstract: A supersonic jet ionizer (10) comprises dielectric structure defining a chamber (30) for receiving pressurized gas and a convergent-divergent nozzle (31) for causing the gas to issue from the chamber (30) in a jet at supersonic velocity. A high-voltage electrode tip (51) and a grounded metallic ring (60) are mounted in a diverging region (41) of the nozzle (31) so that a corona can be maintained in the diverging region (41). Ions formed in the corona are swept out of the nozzle (31) by the supersonic gas jet. The supersonic jet ionizer (10) can be utilized as a particulate charging means in a system (75) for filtering charged particulates from a particulate-laden gas stream.

Abstract: In a system for filtering fibers and particulates from a gas stream, a fiber separator (10) is disposed to remove fibers in gross quantity from the gas stream. A corona charging apparatus (20) is disposed downstream of the fiber separator (10) to impart electric charge to particulates and to fibers that escape removal from the gas stream by the fiber separator (10). An electrostatic filter medium (30), which may advantageously be mounted on the cylindrical wall of a drum filter, is disposed downstream of the corona charging apparatus (20) to remove electrically charged particulates and fibers from the gas stream. The corona charging apparatus (20) comprises at least one fiber-rejecting corona discharge electrode (21 or 25). The fiber-rejecting electrode (21) comprises a shielding portion (22) facing upstream and a corona discharge portion (23) facing downstream in the gas stream.