Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb nitrogen purification device is provided including a source gas, a set of gaseous nitrogen passages, a set of oxygen disposal passages, an electroded oxygen conducting ceramic membrane, an electrical power source, an oxygen sensor, and nitrogen purification control circuitry. The source gas includes gaseous nitrogen. The set of gaseous nitrogen passages defines respective source nitrogen input openings and purified nitrogen output openings. The set of oxygen disposal passages defines disposed oxygen output openings, wherein a plurality of the gaseous nitrogen passages are exclusively dedicated to individual ones of the oxygen disposal passages.

Abstract: Apparatus for the purification of air, flue gases in which apparatus the air, flue gases or equivalent are directed into a duct, in which apparatus the air, flue gases are ionized, and in which apparatus charged impurity particles (7) present in the air, flue gases or equivalent are attracted by one or more collector surfaces (2) by virtue of a difference in the states of charge, causing the particles to settle on the surface. The air, flue gases are ionized by virtue of one or more ionizing electrodes (5) directed at a collector surface. The distance between the ionizing electrode or equivalent and the collector surface and the difference between the state of electric charge of the collector surface and the charged impurity particles are so adjusted that the impurity particles will move essentially directly towards the collector surface and settle on it.

Abstract: An electrostatic air cleaner for installation in an air-circulating system, including a flow sensor for sensing the flow of air across the electrostatic air cleaner, and a switch, responsive to the flow sensor, for operating the electrostatic air cleaner only when the flow of air exceeds a predetermined threshold. More particularly, the electrostatic air cleaner includes an electrostatic air cleaner cover unit adapted to be secured over the opening in a frame in the air circulating system which frame contains at least one removable electrostatic air cleaning cell. The cover unit has a baffle for substantially blocking the air flow between the electrostatic air cleaning cell and the cover unit. The baffle has an opening therein, and a bypass tube is aligned with the opening in the baffle. An air flow sensor is disposed in the tube for sensing the air flow through the tube. The air flow sensor preferably includes a self-heating thermistor for sensing the flow in the bypass tube.

Abstract: A device (10) for purifying a gas stream (30) made up of a plurality of DBD cells (12a, 12b, 12c) in series and, for each of the DBD cells (12a, 12b, 12c), a power supply (24a, 24b, 24e) for providing alternating current to each DBD cell (12a, 12b, 12e).

Abstract: A method for the in-situ predetermination of the effects of NOx reduction systems on selected components. This determination can yield quick, inexpensive and accurate results for a number of characteristics, for example: catalyst longevity; efficiency with differing fuels, in differing locations, and at different temperatures; potential of catalyst poisoning in specific circumstances; ammonia slip considerations; SCR and SNCR interplay, as well as staged NOx reduction design criteria; pressure and blockage considerations; downstream effect on air preheater elements; and more. These determinations can be made in real, or accelerated time. Furthermore, the determinations can be made before any system modifications are made, or to assist in increasing the efficiency of existing systems, or even to assist in predictions of preventive maintenance and associated down time.

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 oxygen generating system includes an oxygen generator having an oxygen ion conducting honeycomb structure and a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the oxygen generator. The system also includes a heater thermally coupled to the oxygen generator and a control module coupled to the oxygen generator and the heater. The control module monitors one or more of the system parameters and dynamically controls the oxygen generating system in response to the one or more system parameters such as, for example, varying the speed of a draft fan in the outlet waste air stream. A method of operating an oxygen generating system includes initializing the oxygen generating system in response to an operation status request and generating oxygen in an oxygen ion conducting honeycomb structure in response to a desired oxygen flow rate input.

Abstract: Collection of particles from a gas stream and the separation of dissimilar particles from a gas stream by a field effect auxiliary gas cyclone (FEAGC) is enhanced by providing an inductive field that attracts or repels particles and an auxiliary gas system that complements the field effect by providing an additional independent internal control for particle velocity, particle concentration, and system delta p. The FEAGC has three adjustable operating variables: (1) an auxiliary high pressure air input orifice located in the cyclone input which is used to increase the product velocity while reducing the solids to gas ratio; (2) an electric field between the cone and the vortex that subjects charged particles to either an attractive or repelling field; and (3) an auxiliary air venturi located in the inlet of the vortex to control the delta p and to control the operating temperature of the vortex and insulating materials.

Abstract: A method of controlling an oxygen generation device of the kind including a ceramic membrane through which an electrical current is passed whilst ambient air is supplied to one side of the membrane, the membrane allowing oxygen in the supplied air to diffuse therethrough by ionic transport when the membrane is at or above an operating temperature, at a rate dependant upon the electrical current, there being a plenum or the like to recover the oxygen at a second side of the membrane, the method comprising regulating the electrical current passing through the membrane by switching the electrical current on and off and varying the proportion of current-on time in a given time interval (t) in dependence upon a feedback signal.

Abstract: A method for reducing the sulfur content in combustion gases from burning coal includes the steps of applying opposite electrostic charges to fuel particles and to reaction particles, and mixing the oppositely charged particles prior to combustion to facilitate the formation of sulfur compounds from sulfur in the fuel upon combustion of the fuel, to thereby reduce the sulfur content in the combustion gases. The reaction particles are preferably a carbonate such as CaCO.sub.3 and MgCO.sub.3. The apparatus for implementing the method includes a first pneumatic line for conveying fuel particles, and a first electrostatic charging device for applying an electrostatic charge to the fuel particles conveyed in the line; and a second pneumatic line for conveying carbonate particles, and a second electrostatic charging device for applying an electrostatic charge to the carbonate particles conveyed in the line that is opposite in polarity to the charge applied to the fuel particles.

Abstract: The electrostatic air cleaning system is mounted in a duct of a residential or commercial heating and cooling system to remove particles from the circulating air. The electrostatic air cleaning system includes an air flow sensor which turns the air cleaner off in response to the lack of air flow through the air duct. An air flow sensor circuit connected to the electrostatic air cleaner includes a thermistor which detects the lack of air flow in the duct and provides a signal in response to lack of airflow. The signal from the sensor causes the power supply to the electrostatic air cleaner to be disconnected when there is insufficient air flow through the air duct. The air flow sensor circuit is configured so that power will continue to be supplied to the electrostatic air cleaner from the power supply when the sensor is disabled for a variety of reasons.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved system for treating boiler flue gas to improve the removal of particulate matter contained therein by electrostatic precipitation.

Abstract: A flue gas conditioning system generates sulfur trioxide which is injected into boiler flue gas to condition it by reducing the resistance of the particulate matter entrained in the flue gas. The conditioned flue gas is passed through an electrostatic precipitator which collects the particulate matter by electrostatic precipitation. The sulfur trioxide concentration in the flue gas is measured with a mass spectrometer downstream of where the sulfur trioxide was injected into the flue gas and upstream of the electrostatic precipitator. The concentration of the sulfur trioxide in the flue gas is measured with a mass spectrometer at a point where the injected sulfur trioxide has uniformly mixed with the flue gas. The measured sulfur trioxide concentration is used to control the flue gas conditioning system, such as by comparing the measured concentration to a desired concentration range and adjusting the amount of sulfur trioxide being injected into the flue gas accordingly.

Abstract: A personal dust sampler hangs from a ribbon (10) attached to the user's clothing and requires no pump or power source. Dust in the air is captured by a charged PVC sheet (2) exposed at (2a) but framed by a metal foil (25) and surmounted by a metal conductor plate (6) parallel to the charged PVC sheet (2). The plate (6) is supported by conductive gridwork (3) removably attached by a flange (3) to a metal base (21). The dust captured is determined in a method by weighing or by measuring the charge loss of the PVC sheet (2).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for solid phase extraction chromatography is disclosed in which the flow rate of a fluid, such as the motive pressurized gas is monitored, adjusted and compared with a standardized pressure curve which is correlative of a sample being processed. By monitoring and adjusting changes in flow rate, which can correspond to process initialization, beginning, ending and key fractionating points, and correlating to a standard, the cycle time for assaying the sample in question can be maximized and multiple samples can pass through analysis automatically and quickly.

Abstract: A locating table apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a housing, a base member fixed in the housing, a table mounted so as to freely move in a longitudinal direction, driving members located on the base member for supporting and driving the table, and a plurality of electrostatic dust absorbing members arranged at predetermined positions in the housing via respective electrical insulative members, wherein the electrostatic dust absorbing members provide a parallel plate-shaped condenser. Further, the locating table apparatus may provide a dust counter for monitoring the dust density at predetermined positions outside the housing, a device for operating the electrostatic dust absorbing members when the monitored dust density exceeds a warning level, and a device for forcing the motor to stop in response to a level of a signal detected by the dust counter.

Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator (ESP) intermittent energization controller is included with a CPU that adaptively controls the DC power used to energize the ESP. An opacimeter is mounted to the ESP for detecting the opacity of dust particles flowing through the same. The CPU searches through a table consisting of a predetermined number of charge-pause parameter sets until one charge-pause parameter set is found to cause the difference between the detected opacity level and the preset opacity level to be within a predetermined tolerable range.

Abstract: SO.sub.3 flue gas-condition systems (10) provide a controlled flow of flue gas-conditioning agent such as SO.sub.3 into a boiler flue gas and its entrained particulate material ahead of an electrostatic precipitator (14). The systems (10) monitor the opacity of the stack effluent and precipitator power and operate to maintain a flow of SO.sub.3 -conditioning agent into the boiler flue gas to provide minimal opacity of the stack effluent. The systems operate at SO.sub.3 -conditioning agent flow rate corresponding to minimal opacity of the stack effluent and to eliminate corrections that may be due to transient operating conditions such as boiler upsets, precipitator rapping and the like. The systems include features providing improved conversion of SO.sub.2 into SO.sub.3, integrated assemblies to provide a flow of SO.sub.2 and sulfur dioxide conversion units adapted to convert SO.sub.2 into SO.sub.3 at a plurality of remote SO.sub.3 injection sites.