Abstract: Fine coal is cleaned of its mineral matter impurities and dewatered by mixing the aqueous slurry containing both with a hydrophobic liquid, subjecting the mixture to a phase separation. The resulting hydrophobic liquid phase contains coal particles free of surface moisture and droplets of water stabilized by coal particles, while the aqueous phase contains the mineral matter. By separating the entrained water droplets from the coal particles mechanically, a clean coal product of substantially reduced mineral matter and moisture contents is obtained. The spent hydrophobic liquid is separated from the clean coal product and recycled. The process can also be used to separate one type of hydrophilic particles from another by selectively hydrophobizing one.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to the collection of a species from a gas stream are generally provided. The systems and methods described herein may allow for collection of a species such as a fluid (e.g., water) with a relatively high collection efficiency. Such systems and methods may be useful in various applications including, for example, fog collection. In some embodiments, the systems and methods enhance water collection from airborne fog to produce usable water. Advantageously, the methods described herein may, in some cases, incorporate ions into the gas stream such that the species present in the gas stream follows electric field lines and/or are attracted to a grounded (or charged) collector. Advantageously, the systems and methods described herein may suppress the adverse effects of natural conditions such as the velocity and direction of the wind.

Abstract: Collection enhanced materials, flue gas additives, and methods of making the enhanced materials and flue gas additives are provided. In one embodiment, a down stream addition system configured to control material passing through a metering device from a vessel to a gaseous exhaust path extending between a unit and an exhaust flue of the unit is provided. In alternative embodiments, methods are provided for introducing at least one of a flue gas additive and a collection enhanced material to a gaseous exhaust stream exiting a unit; exposing and removing at least a portion of at least one a of flue gas additive and a collection enhanced material from a gaseous exhaust stream exiting a unit prior to entering an exhaust flue; and recycling at least a portion of material removed a from a gaseous exhaust stream exiting a unit back to the gaseous exhaust stream without passing through the unit.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for minimizing a quantity of particulate matter entrained within a gas stream is provided. A coarse filter removes at least a portion of particulate matter having a relatively-large particle size from the gas stream. An agglomerator agglomerates particulate matter having a relatively-small particle size remaining in the gas stream into particulate clusters after the portion of the particulate matter having the relatively-large particle size has been removed by the coarse filter. An injector introduces an agglomerating material into the gas stream before the gas stream enters the agglomerator. The agglomerating material promotes agglomeration of the particulate matter having the relatively-small particle size into the particulate clusters. And a second filter receives the gas stream and removes at least a portion of the particulate clusters entrained within the gas stream exiting the agglomerator.

Abstract: Device for extracting particles from exhaled breath, comprising a cooling system (16) for creating droplets by condensation of the water vapor contained in the exhaled breath; a droplet recovery unit (7) provided with a side wall (2) having a grid form and converging towards an outlet opening (9), allowing the droplets attracted towards said side wall (2) to flow along the latter towards the outlet opening (9); and a discharge electrode (1) mounted inside the droplet recovery unit (7), said side wall (2) of said droplet recovery unit (7) defining a counter electrode to said discharge electrode (1) in order to attract droplet-collecting particles carried by exhaled breath towards said side wall (2).

Abstract: Methods for reducing particulates in the air are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method comprises spraying a composition having an effective amount of a zwitterionic polymer, a compressed gas propellant, and an aqueous carrier in to the air. The composition agglomerates particulates upon contacting particulates in the air thereby reducing particulates in the air.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for minimizing a quantity of particulate matter entrained within a gas stream is provided. A course filter removes at least a portion of particulate matter having a relatively-large particle size from the gas stream. An agglomerator agglomerates particulate matter having a relatively-small particle size remaining in the gas stream into particulate clusters after the portion of the particulate matter having the relatively-large particle size has been removed by the course filter. An injector introduces an agglomerating material into the gas stream before the gas stream enters the agglomerator. The agglomerating material promotes agglomeration of the particulate matter having the relatively-small particle size into the particulate clusters. And a second filter receives the gas stream and removes at least a portion of the particulate clusters entrained within the gas stream exiting the agglomerator.

Abstract: A process of treating a gas stream containing mercury is disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for inducing swirl in particles are provided. In one embodiment, a system for inducing swirl in particles may include a supply including a plurality of electrically charged particles, and at least one swirling chamber for creating at least one electrical field therein, which may include an entry path in communication with the supply and an exit path. According to this example embodiment, the plurality of electrically charged particles may flow through the swirling chamber or chambers, causing at least one of the plurality of electrically charged particles to rotate about a radial axis of the swirling chamber as a result of the electrical field.

Abstract: A dynamic electrostatic apparatus for purifying air is provided. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes at least one emitter through which a fluid is sprayed into a plurality of electrically charged droplets that intermix with particulates in incoming air and form a plurality of charged agglomerates. A minor portion of such charged agglomerates are collected on a conductive surface and removed from the input air, while a major portion of such charged agglomerates are deflected by a deflecting element onto a collective surface. Thus, the apparatus reduces particulates in output air. In some embodiments, the emitter includes an array of hydrophilic spray fibers.

Abstract: An apparatus for purifying air is provided. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes at least one spray fiber through which an aqueous fluid is sprayed into a plurality of electrically charged nanodroplets that intermix with particulates in incoming air and form a plurality of charged agglomerates. Such charged agglomerates are collected on a conductive surface or a collection pad and removed from said input air, resulting in reduced particulates in said output air. In some embodiments, the aqueous fluid includes an air purifying agent.

Abstract: A system for removing mercury from combustion gas. The system includes a combustion device, a stack, and a duct system that couples the combustion device to the stack. The system further comprises an injection system that is coupled to the duct system. The injection system injects sorbents including alkali-based sorbents and carbon-based sorbents into the duct system.

Abstract: A portable high air volume electrostatic collection precipitator for analyzing air is provided which is a relatively small, self-contained device. The device has a collection electrode adapted to carry a variety of collecting media. An air intake is provided such that air to be analyzed flows through an ionization section with a transversely positioned ionization wire to ionize analytes in the air, and then flows over the collection electrode where ionized analytes are collected. Air flow is maintained at but below turbulent flow, Ionizable constituents in the air are ionized, attracted to the collection electrode, and precipitated in the selected medium which can be removed for analysis.

Abstract: A gas purifying apparatus includes an adsorption member (e.g., a honeycomb structural body) that adsorbs particulate matter contained in the gas by the action of an electric field. The apparatus also includes a supply device (e.g., an ozone generator including a discharger, a pulsed power supply, a pump, and a discharge port) that supplies a pro-oxidant to the adsorption member.

Abstract: In one embodiment, apparatuses and methods for collecting particulates use an aperture air flow control system and an inline series of alternating discharge and grid type electrodes each with a separate electrical circuit centrally located between either parallel grid electrodes or plate electrodes. In another embodiment, an external enclosed pre-discharger design and physical arrangement improves agglomeration of sub-micron particles. In yet another embodiment, an external opposing dual channel discharger design also improves agglomeration of particles. In another embodiment, two or more separate electrode arrangements are used within a collecting chamber to improve the operation and collection efficiency of the apparatus. The present invention also preferably increases the frequency of recharging the particles, to increase collection efficiency.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method for selecting particles, such as based on their morphology, is disclosed. In a particular example, the particles are charged and acquire different amounts of charge, or have different charge distributions, based on their morphology. The particles are then sorted based on their flow properties. In a specific example, the particles are sorted using a differential mobility analyzer, which sorts particles, at least in part, based on their electrical mobility. Given a population of particles with similar electrical mobilities, the disclosed process can be used to sort particles based on the net charge carried by the particle, and thus, given the relationship between charge and morphology, separate the particles based on their morphology.

Abstract: A method for removing mercury and mercury-containing compounds from a combustion gas in an exhaust gas system has the steps of providing a mercury sorbent; injecting the mercury sorbent into a stream of the mercury-containing combustion gas for a sufficient time to allow at least an effective amount of the mercury and mercury-containing compounds in the combustion gas to adsorb onto the mercury sorbent, and collecting and removing the mercury sorbent from the combustion gas stream. The mercury sorbent is prepared by treating a carbonaceous substrate with an effective amount of a bromine-containing gas, especially one containing elemental bromine or hydrogen bromide, for a time sufficient to increase the ability of the carbonaceous substrate to adsorb mercury and mercury-containing compounds. The points of injecting and collecting and removing the mercury sorbent may be varied, depending upon the exact configuration of the exhaust gas system.

Abstract: A method for efficiently removing vapor-phase contaminants from gas streams is described. A powdered adsorbent such as activated carbon is ground into a fine powder by wet grinding to form a slurry. Chemicals are added to the slurry to impregnate the sorbent to enhance sorbent effectiveness. The slurry chemical mixture is sprayed into the gas stream in the form of small droplets which evaporate to produce an aerosol of fine adsorbent particles. Vapor-phase contaminants in the gas stream adsorb onto the fine adsorbent particle surfaces and the adsorbent particles are removed from the gas stream by a conventional particle collection method.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for removing undesired particles from a gas stream including the steps of contacting an additive containing nitrate and/or nitrite anions with the gas stream; collecting the undesired particles and additive on a collection surface to form an aggregate on the collection surface comprising the additive and undesired particles; and removing the agglomerate from the collection zone. The anions can be compounded with one or more of potassium, sodium, calcium, and aluminum. In a preferred composition, the anion(s) is/are compounded with potassium. The process may be applied to electrostatic precipitators to improve undesired particle collection efficiency.

Abstract: A size preferential electrostatic agglomerator is provided for agglomerating small particles with larger “carrier” particles. The agglomerator comprises an inlet for receiving a gas flow, a separator for separating the gas flow into flow streams based on the size of the particles therein, an ionization region for imparting an opposite electrical charge to each of the flow streams, an agglomeration region receiving the flow streams to facilitate the agglomeration of the oppositely charged particles, and an outlet for exhausting the gas flow containing agglomerated particles to facilitate collection, processing or other activity on the agglomerated particles. The present invention provides an efficient system for gathering large amounts of small particles in a gas flow.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and a device for agglomerating particles in a gaseous flow through an acoustical agglomeration chamber (3). According to the invention a portion of the flow at the outlet of the chamber is selectively extracted by preferring larger particles, and is re-injected into the inlet of the chamber.

Abstract: An electrostatic gun for electrostatically charging and injecting sorbent particles into a flue gas stream to contact, and electrostatically charge, pollution particles in that flue gas stream. The electrostatic gun is for inclusion as a component of an apparatus for the remediation of pollution particles from a flue gas stream whereafter the clean gas flow is vented to atmosphere. The electrostatic gun receives laminar flow of a selected sorbent material and charges, either positively or negatively, the surface of each sorbent particle in that flow. To provide electrostatic charging to the individual particles, the flow is directed through a straight barrel of a housing of the electrostatic gun to pass alongside a charging wand that is centered axially in the straight barrel. The charging wand is connected to receive a voltage from a high voltage power supply to produce a corona discharge wherethrough the sorbent materials pass to electrostatically charge each sorbent particle.

Abstract: A contaminated air purifying apparatus capable of decreasing particles such as dust floating in air, soot produced by a combustion engine and the like and air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) contained in exhaust gas. Particulates such as dust, soot and the like are electrostatically negatively charged and collected in a purifying filter section by coulombic force. NOx is converted into N.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 by an action of carbon fiber or carbon particles, resulting in decreased in concentration. The carbon fiber and carbon particles are preferably modified into an increased surface area of 200 to 2000 m.sup.2 /g.

Abstract: The steps of the method of the invention are preferably practice on apparatus consisting of components arranged in a closed system for removing particulate matter and gases from a polluted gas stream that includes a sorbent particulate charging and injection gun for electrostatically charging sorbent particles and injecting them into a polluted gas stream to charge and agglomerize pollution particulates therein, the stream flowing into a collection system housing that contains a series of moving and static bed filters and provides for operations at pressures less than atmospheric, and at temperatures up to two thousand (2000) degrees F. The filter beds are maintained across the housing and spaced apart from front to back therein, each filter containing a media material selected for removing the charged agglomerized pollution and sorbent reacted particulates and reacting with gases in the polluted gas stream, providing for removal thereof to clean that gas stream that is then vented to atmosphere.