Abstract: There is provided a heavy oil fired boiler exhaust gas treatment apparatus which removes soot and dust and SO3 in the heavy oil fired boiler exhaust gas efficiently at a low cost without using an excessively large apparatus. The treatment apparatus comprises a charging device 3 provided at the inlet of an absorption tower of a wet type exhaust gas desulfurizer 4 and neutralizer pouring means A provided on the upstream side of the charging device 3 to pour a neutralizer into exhaust gas and neutralize SO3 in the exhaust gas.

Abstract: A plating system comprises: a plating unit which plates a water; a plating solution storage tank which stores a plating solution; and a plating solution supply system which supplies the plating solution in the plating solution storage tank to the plating unit. A dissolved oxygen removing unit which removes dissolved oxygen from the plating solution flowing in the plating solution supply system is provided in the middle of the plating solution supply system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pleated filter made of a multi-layer filter medium, including at least one filter paper layer having area weights of 30-100 g/m2, a microfiber nonwoven fabric layer having area weights 5-120 g/m2 and a support nonwoven fabric layer made of synthetic, polymeric fibers having area weights of 10-120 g/m2. The layers of the pleated filter contain fused polymer areas by which the fabric layers are bonded to the paper layer, and by which the fabric layers are made firmer within themselves. When subject to a fractional efficiency test at an initial pressure difference of at most 180 Pa, at a boundary speed of approximately 2.62 m/s and a flow speed through the filter medium of approximately 0.13 m/s, the pleated filter is able to separate at least 90% of particles greater than 0.3 &mgr;m, at least 92% of particles greater than 0.

Abstract: An electret is described that includes a surface modified polymeric article having surface fluorination produced by fluorinating the polymeric article.

Abstract: An dry horizontal flow electrostatic precipitator wherein a portion of the gas flow passing through the precipitator is extracted from the upper portion of the casing, such extraction flow having a lower particle concentration than gas flow at the bottom portion of the casing due to re-entrainment. The extraction gas flow is extracted by a manifold positioned at the top of the casing.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric filter which includes emission and separation systems, which are intended for separating particles from a gaseous, particle-containing medium passing through the electric filter, and a filter chamber (1) which surrounds the emission and separation systems and their peripheral devices, the filter chamber (1) having a top surface (2), a base structure (3), and a wall structure (4) provided with thermal insulation and sheet metal cladding. The base structure (3) is made of concrete or the like and includes at least one trough or hopper bottomed tank (5) for the separated particales, wall structure (4) is made of steel and attached to the base structure (3) with a substantially rigid joint (5). The wall structure (4), except for the rigid joint (6), is provided to allow thermal expansion and contraction.

Abstract: An electret is described that includes a surface modified polymeric article having surface fluorination produced by fluorinating the polymeric article.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a filter media for a high efficiency particulate air (“HEPA”) filter including a multiplicity of adjacent electrostatically charged piles of nonwoven fabric. The invention further includes a method of making a HEPA filter.

Abstract: An electret is described that includes a surface modified polymeric article having surface fluorination produced by fluorinating the polymeric article.

Abstract: A device for thermal treatment of gases and pollutants employs alternate cavity (1) and susceptor (9) geometries for providing more homogeneous interactions of applied electromagnetic energy (6) in the volume of the susceptor (9) regardless of the flow rate and diameter of the exhaust duct (3) width. The heat transfer methods improve the overall heat efficiency of the device. The susceptor (9) structure has reflectivity as principle mode of interaction with applied electromagnetic energy (6) which allows for energy to penetrate the susceptor (9) which is formed of composite susceptive materials. The use of field concentrators (5) to concentrate the energy density of the applied electromagnetic energy (6) provides a simple method of controlling the temperature versus energy in the susceptor (9).

Abstract: Novel electret articles containing a polymer and a performance-enhancing additive can be identified by their thermally stimulated conductivity characteristics or their filtration properties. Electret articles such as nonwoven filter webs and respirators exhibit superior oily mist loading performance, low penetration and a small pressure drop.

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: The thermally stimulated discharge current of an electret article can be used to identify electret articles that exhibit superior filtration properties. Electret filters that exhibit superior properties not achieved in similarly constructed filters contain fibers that are made from a blend of a polymer and a performance-enhancing additive. The electret filters exhibit an initial detectable DOP penetration of less than 5% and an average Min@Chl of greater than 200 mg DOP as measured by DOP Filter Web Loading Test Procedure 1. These new electrets are particularly useful in a respirator.

Abstract: Particle traps for semiconductor wafer vapor processors and methods of filtering particles in a semiconductor wafer processor are described. In accordance with a preferred implementation, a semiconductor wafer processor includes a processing chamber for containing a gas during processing of a semiconductor wafer. A particle trap is positioned within the reaction chamber and is operative for removing particles within the processing chamber. In one version, the particle trap is an electrostatic precipitator charged for removing particles from the gas. In accordance with another implementation, a semiconductor wafer vapor processor includes a processing chamber for containing a gas during processing of a semiconductor wafer. A wafer holder is provided within the processing chamber. A particle trap comprising at least two chargeable elements is positioned within the processing chamber and is spaced from the wafer holder. In one version, the processing chamber is a reaction chamber.

Abstract: A vacuum filter bag is constructed of layers which include a high air permeability multipurpose layer positioned upstream in the direction of air flow of a second filtration layer. The second filtration layer can be a wet-laid filter paper, a dry-laid filter paper or a spunbond nonwoven. The multipurpose layer can be made of high bulk meltblown nonwoven, dry-laid or wet-laid high dust holding capacity paper spunblown modular or microdenier spunbond. The high dust capacity papers are characterized by greater thickness and higher air permeability than is normally used in traditional filter layers of vacuum cleaner bag structures. These characteristics allow the high capacity papers to filter large dirt particles and to capture within their pores large amounts of dust particles. This protects the downstream second filtration layer from shock loading and enables the composite structure to pass air at high rate at low pressure differential for much longer than conventional vacuum cleaner bags.

Abstract: A disposable vacuum cleaner filter bag is constructed of layers which include a filtration grade meltblown fleece layer having a basis weight of about 10-50 g/m2 and air permeability of about 100-1000 L/(m2×s) and a coarse filter layer in which the coarse filter layer is placed upstream of the filtration grade meltblown fleece layer. The coarse filter layer can include either wet-laid high dust capacity paper, dry-laid high dust capacity paper, high bulk meltblown nonwoven, Spunblown (Modular) nonwoven or microdenier spunbond nonwoven. Juxtaposition of the layers causes the coarse filter layer to capture large dirt particles and permits the filtration grade meltblown fleece layer to capture much of the remaining dust particles. The novel bag exhibits high air permeability and low pressure drop at high dust loading. A method of filtering gas through such a filter is also disclosed.

Abstract: An air conditioner equipped with an air cleaner. In the air conditioner, a dust collector is arranged in an air path located behind a heat exchanger. A dust collecting electrode of the dust collector is combined with a heater for self-cleaning. An opening, which communicates the air path located behind the heat exchanger with the outside, is provided above the dust collector. An open-and-close valve, which is closed during the air conditioning operation and opened in the case where the air cleaning operation is carried out while the air conditioning operation is stopped, is provided at the opening. The dust collector does not interrupt the flow of air during the air conditioning operation and also in the case where the air cleaning operation is carried out while the air conditioning operation is stopped.

Abstract: An electro-kinetic electro-static air conditioner includes a self-contained ion generator that provides electro-kinetically moved air with ions and safe amounts of ozone. The conditioner may be sized to condition air in a closet, or may include an illumination source and be sized to be attached to an AC wall outlet to provide a night light function as well as a conditioning function. The ion generator includes a high voltage pulse generator whose output pulses are coupled between first and second electrode arrays. Preferably the first array comprises one or more pin-like electrodes and the second array comprises one or more washer-like electrodes. Preferably a ratio between effective area of an electrode in the second array compared to effective area of an electrode in the first array exceeds about 15:1 and preferably is about 20:1. An electric field produced by the high voltage pulses between the arrays produces an electrostatic flow of ionized air containing safe amounts of ozone.

Abstract: A process for producing meltblown polyolefin fibres having an effective diameter of less than 5 microns, comprising providing a polyolefin having a melt flow index of at least 1000, mixing a fluorochemical with the polyolefin in order to increase the melt flow index of the polyolefin to at least 2000, and meltblowing the polyolefin with the fluorochemical in order to produce the meltblown polyolefin fibres, and the polyolefin being such that during the meltblowing the fluorochemical is able to migrate to the surface of the formed polyolefin fibres without the need for a separate annealing step.

Abstract: An air conditioner includes an electric dust collector arranged between an evaporator and a heat shield plate. This electric dust collector includes a discharge electrode and a dust collecting electrode. The discharge electrode is applied with a positive polarity of high direct current voltage from a high voltage power source, while the dust collecting electrode is supplied with a negative polarity of high direct current voltage. Accordingly, the dust charged through plus electric discharge by the discharge electrode is attracted onto the dust collecting electrode or a casing thereof.

Abstract: An electrochemical autothermal reformer (EATR) provides hydrogen. The EATR includes an autothermal reformer region, a reformer anode supply region, and a composite membrane layer separating the reformer anode from the autothermal reformer region. The composite membrane layer includes a mechanically stable porous ceramic support member with a thin gas permeable ceramic substrate layer overlaying the support member. Overlaying the substrate layer is a first thin metallic catalyst layer which promotes the dissociation of H.sub.2 to 2H.sup.+ +2e.sup.-. Overlaying the first catalyst layer is a metallic oxide layer capable of conducting 2H.sup.+ +2e.sup.- at elevated temperatures. Overlaying the metallic oxide layer is a second thin metallic catalyst layer which promotes the recombination of 2H.sup.+ +2e.sup.- to H.sub.2.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved filter formed from a non-dielectric material which has been coated with a dielectric material and electret treated by, for example, DC corona discharge treatment. Also disclosed is a method for the formation of the filter.

Abstract: A collection device for collecting, under electrical control, particles (10) in an exhaust from a diesel engine is disclosed. The device has a needle electrode (8) having a needle tip (8a) for charging up the particles (10) by creating a corona discharge around the needle tip (8a) collecting electrode (11) for collecting the charged particles (10a) by electrostatic force and a high voltage power source (13) for applying prescribed high voltage between the needle electrode (8) and the collecting electrode (11), the high voltage power source (13) electrically being connected with the needle electrode (8) and the collecting electrode (11).

Abstract: A chamber for exerting an ultrasound beam on a sample solution containing particles to be concentrated, separated or arranged is provided with a view toward arbitrarily controlling the shape of a spatial distribution of potential energy created by the ultrasound beam and concentrating, separating or periodically arranging the particles. In contrast to the chamber, irradiation ultrasound sources for generating ultrasound beams are provided to create an ultrasonic intensity distribution for producing a position potential energy distribution used to exert a force forwarded in a predetermined direction or a force staying at a predetermined region to each particle. Thus, a specific spatial distribution of potential energy can be realized by ultrasound beams each having a specific intensity, a specific frequency and a specific phase or an ultrasound beam formed by superimposing these on one another.

Abstract: A system for capturing HAPs/VOCs from an existing or planned air stream and destroying the contaminants in the air stream by microbial degradation is disclosed. In general, the system is composed of a housing that contains a rotating drum. The drum contains a capture or filtration media through which contaminated air or vapors must pass. HAPs/VOCs in the air or vapors are filtered out and absorbed by the capture media. The rotating drum sits in a water bath that is inoculated with microorganisms that are selected to degrade the hazardous materials or pollutants removed by the capture media.

Abstract: Activated carbon injection is provided for mercury removal in a flue gas treatment system having an electrostatic precipitator and a wet flue gas desulfurization tower by injecting fresh activated carbon into the flue along with recycled carbon from the exhaust of the precipitator to minimize fresh carbon make up along with an activated carbon bed in the desulfurization tower to maximize mercury and other toxin removal from the flue exhaust.

Abstract: There is provided a vacuum cleaner filter medium which is a nonwoven spunbond web of conjugate spunbond fibers. The web has a Frazier permeability of at least 250 CFM, an NaCI efficiency of at least 65 percent, a Gurley Stiffness of at least 20 mg, and a pressure drop of 0.5 or less mm H.sub.2 O. The conjugate fibers are made from polymers, more particularly polyolefins, still more particularly polypropylene and polyethylene in a side-by-side configuration. The filter medium is treated by a hot-air knife and through-air bonded during the production process. The medium is also electret treated. The medium has sufficient stiffness to be converted into a filter by conventional techniques. While this invention is directed mainly to air purification and filtration, other gasses may be filtered as well.

Abstract: A corona source suitable for use in vehicle ignition systems uses a conductive coil that receives an RF input at one end and has a corona discharge site at the other end, with a reference electrode capacitively coupled to the coil. The pitch and the length of the coil are selected to produce a corona discharge in response to an RF input signal at a predetermined frequency and voltage, through quarter wavelength resonation. Either the new resonant coil or other corona discharge devices can be used to remediate fluid-borne wastes by initiating and sustaining RF corona discharges within the fluid. The pulses used to initiate the corona discharge preferably have alternating positive and negative components, with high initial voltages on the positive components to initiate the discharge, followed by lower positive voltage levels to sustain the discharge. Unipolar pulses, preferably with progressively decreasing voltage levels, can also be used.

Abstract: An electret filter media includes an additive or mixtures thereof that enhance the charge stability of the media. The filter media achieves acceptable alpha values for a range of filtration challenges without significant decay in alpha values over time. Preferred charge additives include fatty acid amides, oleophobic fluorochemical surfactants, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A pollution arrestor removes various pollutants, such as soot, NO.sub.x, CO and hydrocarbons, from a gas stream. The pollution arrestor is composed in layers starting with a particulate filter to remove soot followed by various catalytic sections enhanced by radiofrequency microwave energy. The leaving gas is substantially reduced in pollution.

Abstract: An oily mist resistant electret filter media is provided. The filter media includes polypropylene electret fibers and a melt processable fluorochemical additive, the additive having a melting point of at least 25.degree. C. and a molecular weight of about 500 to 2500.

Abstract: A composite filter media is formed of a plurality of layers. A central layer of electrostatically charged material formed of a carded mixture of polyolefin fibers such as polypropylene and electro-negative substituted organic resin fibers such as modacrylic acrylonitrile-vinyl, chloridevinylidene chloride copolymer efficiently filter more than 99% of 0.1 to 0.5 micron particles. A flame retardant prefilter layer of polyester removes large particles and a backing of flame retardant linear polyester provides tear resistance. An optional layer of electrostatically charged, melt blown, polyolefin such as polypropylene prevents the central layer from loading up by effectively filtering intermediate sized particles.

Abstract: An oily mist resistant electret filter media is provided. The filter media includes polypropylene electret fibers and a melt processable fluorochemical additive. The additive has a melt temperature of at least 25.degree. C. and a molecular weight of about 500 to 2500. Also provided is a method for filtering particulate material from air containing oily aerosol particles.

Abstract: A apparatus for simultaneously preheating cullet and removing pollutants from glass furnace gases is disclosed. Raw moist cullet having fine glass dust material and other impurities adhered to its surface is heated by furnace gases which remove the moisture and the impurities by entrainment. The dry, clean cullet is then electrically charged and used to filter the exhaust gases which have been electrostatically charged.

Abstract: Slug flow is substantially prevented in cylindrical pipes and other conduits by placing a generally flat plate partition extending within the pipe and dividing the pipe into a gas flow space and a liquid flow space. The position of the partition and the cross-sectional flow areas of the gas flow space and the liquid flow space are determined by predetermining that the pressure losses of gas flow and liquid flow should be substantially equal.

Abstract: A flexible offset printing plate is formed from a directly imaged electrophotographic member comprising an inorganic coating of a photoconductive material on a polyester substrate. The photoconductive material is an oriented crystalline deposit about 3000 Angstroms thick which has been directly sputtered with radiofrequency energy in a process using a Langmuir sheath to produce a light sensitive, readily imaged abrasion-resistant, transparent coating. It is deposited on a sheet of dimensionally stable, transparent polyester film having a thickness of about 0.005 inch with an intervening sandwiched layer of ohmic material such as indium-tin oxide about 300 Angstroms thick. The transparency of the ohmic layer and the photoconductive coating on a transparent substrate result in a transparent plate.The electrophotographic member is imaged by charging, exposure and toning with a suitable toner.

Abstract: A non-silver, charge-sensitive recording composite element having an ohmic resistivity of at least about 1.times.10.sup.10 ohm-cm comprising (a) a first electrically conducting layer in association with (b) a photoconductor layer, (c) a non-silver, electrically activated recording layer comprising an image-forming combination of (i) a certain tellurium (II) coordination complex with (ii) a reducing agent, and a binder and (d) a second electrical conducting layer can provide a non-silver image having a density equal to silver images. Silica, especially colloidal silica, is also very useful in the recording layer. The recording element can be room light handleable and can provide a developed image by dry development processes.

Abstract: An improved electrostatographic process wherein the imaging surface of the imaging member is treated with a lubricating effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of ortho-, meta-, para-phthalic acid, their corresponding metal or ammonium salts, and mixtures thereof. Controlled treatment of the imaging surfaces of the imaging member with the above compound(s) facilitates transfer of the developed image from the imaging member to a receiving sheet and removal of toner residues from the imaging surface upon cleaning. The imaging member element of the apparatus used in carrying out this process is covered with a thin film of lubricant over substantially all of its imaging surface thereby greatly improving toner transfer and removal.

Abstract: A photosensitive material of the binder type for electrophotography having a photosensitive layer of the material comprising a silicon oil having a viscosity of at least 6000 cs when measured at 25.degree. C.

Abstract: A photosensitive material is provided in which at least one surface portion of a substrate contains di-iodopropyl cellulose uniformly distributed therethrough. A photosensitive sheet material can be formed totally of di-iodopropyl cellulose or in part by di-iodopropyl cellulose, provided that the surface thereof contains di-iodopropyl cellulose. Upon exposure to electromagnetic radiation, including wave lengths not greater than 0.315 microns, radical iodine is liberated which forms molecular iodine spots to form an image corresponding to the intensity of the irradiation with the electromagnetic radiation. A provision is further made for bringing the surface of the material into contact with a substance which forms a colored compound upon reaction with the iodine.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image carrier is made by depositing an intermediate layer on an electrically conductive substrate and then vapor-depositing, on the intermediate layer, an inorganic photoconductive layer while maintaining the temperature of the substrate during the deposition of the photoconductive layer at a value which is above the melting point of the intermediate layer, but below the damaging temperature of the photoconductive layer.

Abstract: Cleaning imaging material from a xerographic imaging surface with a cleaning blade with reduced friction between the blade and the surface is provided without image degredation by an appropriately roughened surface, which roughness is formed on the photoconductive surface by substrate pre-etching to provide a final or post coated roughness pattern of 3 to 5 microns and less than 20 microns.

Abstract: Photoconductive layers particularly useful with integrated circuits are directly made from compositions selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide (ZnS), cadmium sulfide (CdS), cadmium selenide (CdSe), cadmium telluride (CdTe), zinc sulfide selenide (ZnS.sub.x Se.sub.1-x), and cadmium sulfide selenide (CdS.sub.x Se.sub.1-x), and cadmium sulfide telluride (CdS.sub.x Te.sub.1-x). Powders of component materials for the photoconductive layer are mixed with a copper halide powder such that the copper halide is between about 0.1 and 5.0% and preferably between about 0.1 and 2.0% by weight of the total mixture. The mixed powder then is formed into at least one pellet and the pellet used as an evaporant source for vacuum deposition of a photoconductive layer onto a prepared substrate at a rate greater than 10 nanometers/minute and preferably greater than 500 nanometers per minute. The photoconductive layer and substrate are then baked in an oxygen-rich atmosphere at a temperature between 300.degree. and 550.

Abstract: Process for preparation of 2-anthryl and substituted 2-anthryl functional monomers and polymers. In the process for preparation of these monomers, an anthracenic reactant of the formula: ##STR1## wherein X and Y are independently selected from hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or phenylIs acylated in nitrobenzene under conditions which favor reaction at the two position. The resulting acylated product can then be (a) reacted with an alkylidenephosphorane (Wittig synthesis) or (b) reduced to the corresponding alcohol. Subsequent to such reduction, this alcohol can undergo further modification at the hydroxyl function to form a polymerizable addition monomer.

Abstract: A photosensitive polymeric material having photoelectric properties based on poly-N-vinylanines, which actually comprise poly-N-vinyldiphenylamine, its derivatives, and also copolymers of N-vinyldiphenylamine with N-vinylamines, poly-N-vinylphenothiazine and poly-N-vinylphenoxazine. The polymers are applied onto electroconductive substrate to give an electrophotographic material. Said polymers are prepared by a method consisting in the interaction between secondary aromatic and heterocyclic amines or their mixtures with simple vinyl ethers in the presence of strong acids or with vinylacetate in the presence of salts of mercury (II) or lead (IV), strong acid and water.

Abstract: Disclosed is electroconductive paper adapted particularly for use in the manufacture of paper used in the electrophotographic reproduction of images.

Abstract: A method of optically printing conductive characters using charge transfer compounds is provided. The method is characterized by depositing an organic .pi. electron donor compound dissolved in a halogenated hydrocarbon (halocarbon) on a suitable substrate and selectively exposing the so coated substrate to actinic radiation to obtain a permanent, highly conductive, image.

Abstract: Homopolymers or copolymers of 9-(p-vinylphenyl)-acridine show excellent photoconductivity.

Abstract: Photoconductive compositions comprising an organic photoconductive material, an activator capable of forming a charge transfer complex with the photoconductive material, and a protonic acid. Imaging members provided with an imaging layer prepared from the above composition are highly light sensitive, requiring only brief exposure times, and exhibit a photoinduced state of elevated conductivity which persists long after exposure to light is terminated. These compositions can be returned to their relatively insulative state by merely subjecting the imaging layer to heat in the dark, thereby erasing this photoinduced image pattern of elevated conductivity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the preparation of a seamless belt useful as the photosensitive element in an electrostatographic copying device. The method comprises:A. applying a film or soluble material over a mandrel;B. applying a photosensitive layer over the soluble film and heat treating the photosensitive layer;C. applying a layer of conductive material over the photosensitive layer;D. applying a seamless, heat shrinkable film of a thermoplastic resin over the layer of conductive material and heat shrinking the film to form a layered, endless belt;E. removing the layered belt from the mandrel;F. contacting the belt with a solvent for the soluble film to thereby dissolve the film; andG. turning the belt inside out to provide a belt having layers from the inside out of the seamless polymeric film, the conductive material and the photosensitive layer.