Apparatus Purging Or Flushing Means Using Gas Or Liquid Patents (Class 96/50)
  • Patent number: 9333513
    Abstract: The invention relates to a retainer for an electrostatic high-voltage electrode, containing a high-voltage insulator, on the electrode side of the insulator at least one arm having a retaining means for retaining a high-voltage electrode hanging on the retaining means preferably vertically, and on the installation side of the insulator at least one installation means for installing the retainer at an installation point outside an exhaust gas channel of a chimney. Said retainer is characterized in that the retainer is equipped with at least one restoring element, which forms an articulated connection between the at least one installation means and the retaining means and which allows the retaining means and optionally a high-voltage electrode attached thereto to move out of the way from the operating position during cleaning in the exhaust gas channel with a cleaning device and allows an automatic return to the operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Inventors: Beat Muller, Daniel Jud
  • Patent number: 8852325
    Abstract: A device for collecting particles that have a high electron affinity, particularly explosive particles, from a gas, includes a flow channel (12a) in which at least one electrically positive collector electrode (20a) and at least one ionising electrode (18a) are arranged, between which an electrical field is present so that the particles having high electron affinity can be indirectly charged by corona discharge on the ionising electrode (18a) and can be displaced towards the collector electrode (20a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Beer, Gerhard Müller, Jan Spannhake, Wolfgang Legner
  • Patent number: 8679225
    Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator and a method of removal of particulates from gaseous flows. A plurality of screens, secured in sets within a central chamber in a housing, include at least one set of electrically chargeable first screens and at least one set of electrically grounded second screens. For each set of chargeable screens, all the screens of the set are provided with an identical electrical charge, either positive or negative, and the set is provided with a plurality of spikes directed at the oncoming gaseous flow. At least one screen cleaning unit selectively acts on the screens of each set. The precipitator can include a plurality of central chambers in a single housing or separate housings, and the chambers can be selectively activated or deactivated. The precipitator provides improved particulate removal from gaseous flows, including hot flows having temperatures up to at least 1200° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Natural Resources
    Inventors: Kourosh Zanganeh, Zahirul Hasan Khan, Carlos Salvador, Jack Jensen
  • Patent number: 8663373
    Abstract: A free radical injection ionizer for flue gas treatment with corona discharge includes an injection device for releasing free radical source substances and an electrode device for producing corona, wherein the injection device and the electrode device are arranged separately, wherein the electrode device includes a conductive pole, and discharge tips arranged on the upper and lower sides of the conductive pole at equal intervals, and the injection device includes nozzles symmetrically arranged on two sides of the electrode device, and two lines of holes axially arranged on the walls of the nozzles nearby the electrode device, the axial lines of the holes directing the discharge tips nearest the holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventors: Xiang Gao, Zhongyang Luo, Kefa Cen, Mingjiang Ni, Zuliang Wu, Yi Zhong, Yongxin Zhang, Dian Xu, Weihong Wu, Zhenglun Shi, Jinsong Zhou, Mengxiang Fang, Chunjiang Yu, Shurong Wang, Leming Cheng, Qinhui Wang
  • Publication number: 20140000455
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing mercury from an incoming gas stream contaminated with mercury so as to deliver an outgoing gas stream free of the removed mercury introduces ozone into the gas stream to deposit mercury carried by the gas stream on separator elements so as to remove the deposited mercury from the gas stream. The deposited mercury is washed off of the separator elements, and the removed mercury is collected for further processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Isaac Ray, Boris Altshuler
  • Patent number: 8523983
    Abstract: A device in connection with a circular precipitator (1) for a two-stage electrostatic filter, wherein the precipitator (1) is formed of at least two strip-like electrode elements wound around a centrally arranged bobbin and the electrode elements are arranged at a distance “d” from one another so that gaps are formed between the electrode elements, wherein the device includes elements for rotating the precipitator (1) about its center axis and wherein a vacuum cleaner nozzle (27) is arranged on one side of the precipitator (1), the vacuum cleaner nozzle (27) being situated in the immediate vicinity of the precipitator (1). It is significant for the device that the vacuum cleaner nozzle (27) is provided with at least two elements (35/36) designed to penetrate into the gaps between adjacent electrode elements of the precipitator (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Eurus Airtech AB
    Inventor: Andrzej Loreth
  • Patent number: 8506687
    Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator for removing a particulate material includes a housing having an internally formed air path communicating between an inlet for drawing polluted air containing particulate material and an air outlet for emitting clean air purified by removing the particulate material, an air stream generator that generates an air stream, a discharging mechanism that charges the particulate material, and a collection device provided in the air stream to collect the particulate material which has been charged by the discharging mechanism. The collection device includes a collection belt including a flat wire belt defining a three-dimensional collection surface. The precipitator further includes a brush and vacuum assembly for removing the particulate material and reducing the risk of reentrainment in the air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Cambridge International, Inc.
    Inventor: Chetwyn Jones
  • Patent number: 8414687
    Abstract: A method for removing particulate matter from a particulate-bearing gas stream includes flowing a particulate-bearing gas stream at a first volumetric flow rate to a plurality of ESP units; producing electrically charged particulate matter; collecting electrically charged particulate matter on collection electrode plates; reducing the flow through at least one of the ESP units; sequentially increasing the flow through one or more remaining ESP units in an amount so as to maintain the sum of flow through all of the ESP units at the first volumetric flow rate; subjecting the collection electrode plates in the at least one ESP unit with reduced flow to forces which dislodge the particulate matter from the collection electrode plates; collecting the dislodged particulate matter in a particulate collection receptacle; and withdrawing a gas stream of reduced particulate matter contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Dong X. Li
  • Patent number: 8323386
    Abstract: A compact electrostatic particulate collector for sampling contaminants has a collection chamber defined by a titanium inner surface of a wall. A potential inducer is disposed within the chamber to create a field potential between itself and the wall of the chamber. A blower is disposed to propel air to be sampled through the chamber. At least one rinse channel is disposed to wet the inner surface of the wall of the chamber substantially 100%. The rinse channel is angled to direct a rinse liquid in a spiral direction around the inner surface of the wall. Contaminants in the air being sampled are electro statically biased into the rinse liquid on the wall and rinsed out of the chamber for collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Midwest Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Matthew Langle, Buddy Justin Winheim, Noah Boydston, Steven D. Graham, Nancy Zamora Olivares, Mark Edward Reynolds, Thomas John Breier
  • Patent number: 8241396
    Abstract: This inventions provides a method for the removal of smut, fine dust and exhaust gas particles from polluted air including providing a particle catch arrangement with a charged surface, the particle catch arrangement being arranged to generate a static electric field, wherein the electric field is at least 0.2 kV/m. The invention further provides a particle catch arrangement including a surface that can be charged, further including a generator arranged to generate charge to the surface that can be charged and to generate a static electric field of at least 0.2 kV/m, wherein the particle catch arrangement is part of or integrated with an object including street furniture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Technische Universiteit Delft
    Inventors: Willibrordus Nicolaas Johannes Ursem, Johannes Cornelis Maria Marijnissen, Rein Andre Roos
  • Patent number: 8211217
    Abstract: A wet electrostatic precipitator (ESP) is disclosed to have a housing, several discharge wires, two roughened collection electrodes coated with TiO2 or SiO2 nanoparticles, two porous metallic plates, and two roughened glass plates coated with TiO2 or SiO2 nanoparticles. The porous metallic plates and the glass plates coated with TiO2 or SiO2 nanoparticles located above the collection electrodes are used to enhance the uniformity of the water film. When particles are introduced into the ESP, they are charged by gas ions generated by corona discharge, and then migrate to collection electrodes due to electrostatic force. Finally, particles are removed by uniform water film flowing downward along the collection electrodes. Furthermore, pulse jet passing through the small holes on the collection plates is used to clean discharge wires, maintaining electric corona strength and prolonging the operation life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Chuen-Jinn Tsai, Guan-Yu Lin
  • Patent number: 8088198
    Abstract: A wet electrostatic precipitator (1) includes an inlet (2) for receiving a gas (4) containing a pollutant, and an outlet (6) for discharging therefrom the gas (8) from which said pollutant has been at least partially removed. Nozzles (24) are operative for purposes of spraying liquid onto at least one first vertical collecting surface (30) of at least one collecting electrode (18). A liquid distributor (42) is provided for purposes of pouring liquid onto at least one second vertical collecting surface (44), said at least one second vertical collecting surface (44) being located on a further collecting electrode (36), with said further collecting electrode (36) being located downstream of said at least one collecting electrode (18). The nozzles (24) are located upstream of the liquid distributor (42), as viewed with reference to the direction of flow of the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Sune Bengtsson, Rikard Hakansson
  • Publication number: 20110265653
    Abstract: A device for collecting particles that have a high electron affinity, particularly explosive particles, from a gas, includes a flow channel (12a) in which at least one electrically positive collector electrode (20a) and at least one ionising electrode (18a) are arranged, between which an electrical field is present so that the particles having high electron affinity can be indirectly charged by corona discharge on the ionising electrode (18a) and can be displaced towards the collector electrode (20a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: EADS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Sebastian Beer, Gerhard Müller, Jan Spannhake, Wolfgang Legner
  • Patent number: 8043413
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a system for removing foreign objects from the airstream entering an inlet system of a turbomachine. The system may include an electrostatic system that may be configured to charge conductive, or partially conductive foreign objects that are in the airstream flowing through the system. This system may create an electric field to draw the charged foreign objects, allowing for a collecting section to remove the charged foreign objects from the airstream. An embodiment of the present invention may provide an automatic accumulation system for collecting the foreign objects removed from the airstream. An embodiment of the present invention may provide an automatic cleaning system for cleaning components of the collecting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rahul J. Chillar, Stephen D. Hiner, Aaron M. Smith
  • Patent number: 7958652
    Abstract: A portable cleaning apparatus comprises a base module for movement along a surface and a plenum. The base module comprises a base housing enclosing a fan for moving air through the housing from the interior of the housing to the exterior of the housing through an exhaust outlet in the housing. The plenum fluidly communicates at one end with the exhaust outlet and at another end with at least one plenum outlet opening adjacent the surface to direct air exhausted from the housing interior along the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Huffman, Kenneth M. Lenkiewicz
  • Patent number: 7875104
    Abstract: The disclosed electrostatic precipitator cartridge for a tower air cleaner in accord with the present invention is low-cost, because it is constructed of injected molded plastics material and stamped and extruded metal components. It is easy to clean, not only because it's constitutive metal parts and plastic components are machine washable but also because the cartridge as a whole is machine washable, the pieces and components are designed and arranged to prevent intracartridge fluid buildup or retention after washing, thereby eliminating any electrical shorting or arcing or other undesirable phenomena resulting therefrom that could interfere with the operation of the electrostatic filter cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Headwaters R & D Inc.
    Inventors: Ross L. Cowie, Rudy A. Vandenbelt
  • Patent number: 7833324
    Abstract: A wet electrostatic precipitator is disclosed to include a condensation-growth chamber, a precipitation chamber connecting with the condensation-growth chamber, three dual-sleeve members mounted in the precipitation chamber, three discharge electrodes connecting with the dual-sleeve members, two insulating members covering on the inner surface of the precipitation chamber, and two ground electrodes mounted on the outside of the precipitation chamber. Thus, a uniform water film is formed on the surface of the insulating members to wash away the particles from waste gas. The condensation-growth chamber is provided for the particles to grow therein and thereby enhances the collection efficiency. The insulating member acts as a shield between the discharge electrodes and the ground electrodes and thereby avoids a short circuit or sparks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Tzu-Mimg Chen, Shou-Nan Li, Chuen-Jinn Tsai, Sheng-Jen Yu, Guan-Yu Lin
  • Patent number: 7824475
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention a device for purification of air is provided, including a metal plate electrical connections connected to the metal plate in order to impress a voltage on the metal plate, a heating element for heating the metal plate, and a nozzle connected to a water supply in order to spray the metal plate with water. In further embodiments the device includes a metallic cylinder, a fan disposed at one end of the cylinder and a restriction disposed at the other end of the cylinder, together with live coils for providing an electric field, where the centre of the electric field around the coils coincides with the location of the device's other units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Inventors: Hans-Jacob Fromreide, Tomm Slater
  • Patent number: 7819956
    Abstract: Porous polymeric membranes formed from a hydrophobic polymer, such as halar having membrane pores of a size sufficient to permit gas and/or vapor permeation 0.05 ?m to 5 ?m without permitting the flow of a hydrophilic fluid across the membrane. Pore distribution is uniform and porosity is high, in some cases up to 80%. Membranes may be in the form of a flay sheet or hollow fibre for example and can be used in a variety of applications such as stripping HF gas, degassing of caustic solution, chlorine gas/alkaline filtration, degassing tap water to remove dissolved chlorine. Processes used to make such membranes can be carried out using relatively non toxic solvents such as citric acid ethyl ester or glycerol triacetate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Heinz-Joachim Muller
  • Patent number: 7763101
    Abstract: The present invention provides a water-flowing mechanism in a wet type electrostatic precipitator that can stably and quickly form a water film on a dust-collecting plate even at the beginning of the operation and that has an excellent adjusting function of a supplying flow-rate of washing liquid. The present invention includes a dust-collecting plate, a washing liquid supplying source to wet the dust-collecting plate, and a cylindrical member that is opened according to the shape of the upper end face of the dust-collecting plate and into which the washing liquid supplying source is inserted, wherein the horizontal cross-section of the dust-collecting plate is formed in a corrugated shape, and the lower opening of the cylindrical member is formed in a corrugated shape according to the dust-collecting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sachio Maekawa, Mitsuaki Yanagida, Shinichi Kawabata, Keigo Orita, Yoshihiko Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 7662219
    Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator that can prevent the corrosion of a discharge electrode even if a gas to be treated containing a corrosive mist is treated. In an electrostatic precipitator having a discharge electrode arranged along a flow path of the gas to be treated, a spray nozzle that can spray a water to the upstream side of the discharge electrode is mounted. A wet film is formed on the surface of the discharge electrode with the water sprayed from the spray nozzle. The sprayed water is desirably a water vapor or a water droplet having a particle diameter of less than 10 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sachio Maekawa, Mitsuaki Yanagida, Shinichi Kawabata, Keigo Orita, Yoshihiko Mochizuki
  • Publication number: 20100024639
    Abstract: A method of operating a filtration system that filters flue gas, which includes particulate matter and a gaseous pollutant. The filtration system may include a fabric filter, which is cleaned with periodic pulse cleanings, a discharge electrode upstream of the fabric filter, which imparts an electric charge to at least some of the particulate matter before the particulate matter collects on the fabric filter, a sorbent, which is injected into the flue gas upstream of the fabric filter and absorbs at least some of the gaseous pollutant, and a fan, which draws the flue gas through the fabric filter. The filtration system may have a pulse cleaning interval setting that may be manipulated by an operator of the filtration system. The pulse cleaning interval setting may be the time between the pulse cleanings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventor: Robert W. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7632341
    Abstract: A hybrid, wet electrostatic precipitator has multiple precipitation zones for removing particulate and contaminants from a flue gas stream. A first precipitation zone has at least one discharge electrode and at least one collection plate made of a metal or a fiber glass reinforced plastic. A second precipitation zone has at least one discharge electrode and at least one collecting electrode which is a porous membrane sheet. The precipitation zones are in series with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Triscori, Albert L. Moretti, Robert E. Snyder, Donald P. Tonn
  • Patent number: 7625435
    Abstract: An air/oil separator for use in a gas turbine engine includes a labyrinth path having an air/oil inlet, air outlet and oil outlet, a device for creating an electrical field within the labyrinth path and a device for creating a suction action at the oil outlet to draw liquid oil from the labyrinth path and for delivering the liquid oil under pressure to a pressurized source of oil in the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Kevin Allan Dooley
  • Patent number: 7621984
    Abstract: The disclosed electrostatic precipitator cartridge for a tower air cleaner in accord with the present invention is low-cost, because it is constructed of injected molded plastics material and stamped and extruded metal components. It is easy to clean, not only because it's constitutive metal parts and plastic components are machine washable but also because the cartridge as a whole is machine washable, the pieces and components are designed and arranged to prevent intracartridge fluid buildup or retention after washing, thereby eliminating any electrical shorting or arcing or other undesirable phenomena resulting therefrom that could interfere with the operation of the electrostatic filter cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Head waters R&D, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross L. Cowie, Rudy A. Vandenbelt
  • Publication number: 20090266231
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the separation of particles from a flow of gas, where both large, heavy and small, light particles can be separated off from the gas by means of the combined effect of an electrostatic attraction force and a centrifugal force in a centrifugal separator (10) of the type that comprises a rotor (14) that has a plurality of adjacent surface elements (16) with intermediate gas flow gaps (48) and that is mounted in such a way that it can rotate in a surrounding casing (12), which casing has an inlet (18) for unclean gas and an outlet (22) for clean gas and an outlet (24) for separated-of f particles. A charging unit (44) ionizes the particles upstream of the rotor (14). An electrical field is generated between adjacent surface elements (16) of the rotor in order to attract the ionized light particles towards a face of the surface elements by means of the electrostatic force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Peter Franzen, Claes Inge, Torgny Lagerstedt
  • Publication number: 20090241775
    Abstract: The present invention is broadly directed to non-thermal plasma-based systems for reducing the amount of particulate matter in a gas stream, as well as to methods for using such systems. The present invention is particularly directed to such non-thermal plasma-based particulate matter reduction systems with self-cleaning surfaces. Particularly contemplated are self-cleaning surfaces that reduce particulate matter buildup such as is likely to cause the reduction of non-thermal plasma production in the system, and therefore the ability of such systems to reduce the amount of particulate matter in the gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Environmental Energy Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Ogut, Richard Backus
  • Patent number: 7497898
    Abstract: Positive and negative electrode needles, an air-blowing outlet, and a protection cover for covering these electrode needles and the air-blowing outlet are attached to an electrode cartridge which is attached to a housing, and an air-blowing hole positioned in front of the air-blowing outlet in a concentric manner therewith, for blowing out air from the air-blowing outlet toward the outside, and two air-flowing-out holes positioned in a concentric manner with the respective positive and negative electrode needles, and respectively surrounding outer peripheries of respective tip end portions of respective electrode needles via respective gaps for flowing out the air are formed in the protection cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Sato, Satoshi Suzuki, Takashi Yasuoka
  • Patent number: 7479175
    Abstract: An air purifier includes a collector electrode assembly removable from an opening on the top surface of the unit and a safety lid detached from the collector electrode assembly for covering the opening on the top surface of the unit. The safety lid is configured to cover the opening whether the collector electrode assembly is at rest within the housing or has been removed from the housing for cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Sylmark Holdings Limited
    Inventor: Peter Spiegel
  • Publication number: 20080302241
    Abstract: In an exhaust gas cleaning system, a built-in cleaning section is embodied as an upright U, in which a first leg includes an ionizing zone to ionize particles or aerosols carried in the gas. The gas flows from above into the first leg and downward in a direction of gravity through the ionizing zone. A second leg includes a collector to separate the particles or aerosols from the gas flow, which flows into and through the collector in a direction from below and upward, counter to the direction of gravity. A spraying device is mounted above the collector to rinse the collector. A transition from the first to the second leg includes a connecting zone including a container to collect the particles or aerosols separated of the gas, which container includes a discharge pipe disposed at a lowest point of the container to discharge the liquid enriched with the particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Andrei Bologa, Thomas Wascher, Hanns-Rudolf Paur, Klaus Woletz
  • Patent number: 7459009
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing particulate matter from a gas stream containing particulate matter, the apparatus including: a mist-producing element that mixes a gas stream entering the apparatus with liquid droplets; and a down flow Wet Electrostatic Precipitator (WESP) pass section having ionizing electrodes that electrically charge the particulate matter and the intermixed liquid droplets, and collecting surfaces in the form of an array of polygonal tubes, wherein the collecting surfaces are under the influence of an electrical field to attract and remove electrically-charged particulate matter and intermixed liquid droplets from the gas stream. An embodiment utilizing two down-flow Wet Electrostatic Precipitator (WESP) sections (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Eisenmann Corporation
    Inventors: Isaac Ray, Mark A. West, Boris Altshuler
  • Publication number: 20080178735
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling the amount of purging that occurs within a membrane separation device. The membrane separation device includes a membrane separation component and sweep controlling component. Within the membrane separation component, a major portion of the non-permeate gas is sent out of the membrane separation device to work, while a minor portion is diverted for use as a sweep gas. The sweep gas is controlled by a valve that cycles with a device, such as a compressor. Thus, the membrane separation device is on when the compressor is on and is off when the compressor is off. As such, the membrane separation device is not required to sweep at all times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Darrin Barnette, Timothy Fox, Mark Honath, Craig Cuta, Carl Geisz, John Burban
  • Patent number: 7318857
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing particulate matter from a gas stream containing particular matter, the apparatus comprising: a mist-producing element that mixes a gas stream entering the apparatus with liquid droplets; a down-flow Wet Electrostatic Precipitator (WESP) section comprising ionizing electrodes that electrically charge the particulate matter and the intermixed liquid droplets, and collecting surfaces under the influence of an electrical field which attract and remove electrically-charged particulate matter and intermixed liquid droplets from the gas stream; and an up-flow WESP section comprising electrically-charged ionizing and collecting electrodes that remove, from the gas stream, substantially all fine-sized droplets generated in the down-flow WESP section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Eisenmann Corporation
    Inventors: Isaac Ray, Mark A. West, Boris Altshuler
  • Patent number: 7297185
    Abstract: An electrostatic dust precipitator (1) is constructed mainly to include a housing (11) in which an air path (10) communicating between an inlet (8) and an outlet (9), an airstream generating unit (14) that causes generation of an airstream in the air path (10), a discharging unit (2) and a discharge guide unit (3) that charge fine particulate (103) with a corona discharge (100), a charging unit (4) that causes the fine particulate (103) charged with the corona discharge (100) to repel in accordance with a coulomb force, an attracting unit (5) that allows the fine particulate (103) to be attracted in accordance with the coulomb force and that thereby collects the fine particulate (103), a voltage supply unit (15) that supplies a discharge voltage for generation of the corona discharge (100) and for repelling by the charging unit (4) in accordance with the coulomb force, and a drive controller unit (20) that causes rotational driving of discharge plates and attracting plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignees: Zesu Giko Co., Ltd., Hidec Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Furuta, Shigenobu Ohkura
  • Patent number: 7294169
    Abstract: A method for operating a filter assembly having a filter medium includes applying a constant or nearly constant static DC potential to dust entering the filter assembly and the filter medium, passing dust-laden gas through the filter medium in a first direction through the filter assembly while the filter medium is statically charged with the DC potential, measuring pressure drop through the filter assembly, and, in response to the pressure drop meeting a preset limit, reversing the polarity of the DC potential to thereby allow dust particles on the filter medium to drop off the filter medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert W. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7273516
    Abstract: A plate heat exchanger for exchanging heat between a first air stream and a second air stream includes a plurality of plates limiting first and second exchange chambers which are serially arranged in a transversal direction with respect to the plates. A first air stream of outside air passes through the first exchange chambers, a second air stream originating from ventilated rooms passes through the second exchange chambers. The heat exchanger further includes an ionization device for ionizing particles entrained in the first air stream so that the particles deposit at conductive plates of the first exchange spaces, a water distribution system for periodically discharging water into the first exchange spaces for cleaning the plates of the heat exchanger from deposited particles, and a water collection device for discharging collected water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Mentus Holding AG
    Inventor: Urs A. Weidmann
  • Patent number: 7270697
    Abstract: Electrostatic precipitators, including wet electrostatic precipitators, having a bank of conductive tubes which receive a gas stream having entrained particulates and an electrode connected to an electric current, wherein the tubes each include an internal restriction creating a hydrostatic pressure more evenly distributing the gas flow between the tubes eliminating the requirement for flow distribution devices, such as air straighteners and perforated plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Durr Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald I. McAnespie
  • Patent number: 7160348
    Abstract: A mist elimination device in the form of a hood for the removal of moisture from a gas stream treated by a WESP includes a series of gutters on the outer surface of the hood to trap liquid droplets and direct the moisture to channels to drain to the lower region of a housing. Gutters are also provided on the interior surface of the hood to catch liquid droplets carried by the gas stream into the interior of the hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Turbosonic Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Allan
  • Patent number: 7156899
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power generation facility that is adapted to clean large air masses. Air from the environment, which normally contains the most pollutants, is directed into an air flow path through which large quantities of air are directed by a plurality of large diameter fans. The large air flow is directed through electrically insulated cooling fins which cool heated gas from power generators. The electrically insulated cooling fans have a voltage applied thereto and act as electrodes used to produce an electric field that attracts particles such as pollutants. In a preferred embodiment, a charging section is utilized within the air flow prior to the electrically insulated cooling fins to charge the particles with a charge opposite to the voltage applied to the cooling fins to thereby attract the particles to the cooling fins. A cooling fin washing system with pressurized jets is provided in one embodiment to wash the pollutants from the surface of the cooling fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Canatxx Energy, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Ross K. Hill, Paul J. Grimes, Charles E. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 7132009
    Abstract: An air filter device for an air exhauster includes at least one static electricity dust-collecting module, at least one water-cleaning module and a casing. The static electricity dust-collecting module is operated to generate static electricity for electrically attracting greasy dirt and dust filled in exhaust air. The water-cleaning module mechanically connects to at least one side of the static electricity dust-collecting module, and includes a plurality of guiding members each forming a longitudinal groove for guiding water in wetting and washing greasy dirt and dust filled in exhaust air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Fancy Food Service Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ting-Fang Chiang
  • Patent number: 7115153
    Abstract: Electric oil separator that separates oil from an airflow of a ventilator. The separator includes an emission electrode and a collecting electrode. Moreover, the separator includes an injection device structured and arranged to inject oil as a cleaning fluid onto at least one of the emission electrode and the collecting electrode, so as to inject oil obliquely to a longitudinal axis of the collecting electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Hengst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Ahlborn, Dieter Baumann, Bernhard Batram
  • Patent number: 6858064
    Abstract: In an apparatus for the purification of a gas which apparatus includes a three section conduit with an ionization and cleaning section in which particles contained in water-saturated air are ionized and then conducted through a chamber with grounded walls so that part of the particles are deposited on these walls, an additional cleaning section which includes grounded tubes past which the gas is conducted to remove additional charged particles and a filter section in which dry remaining fine particles are removed from the gas stream, the deposited particles are flushed from all three sections and the flushing water including the particles is cleaned and recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Andrei Bologa, Thomas Wäscher, Hans-Rudolf Paur, Werner Baumann
  • Patent number: 6793717
    Abstract: The present invention includes a filtered mask enclosure having an exterior portion and interior regions within the exterior portion such that the interior regions have a filtering region and a purging region connected to the filtering region. The present invention further includes a method of removing a first contaminant in a gas phase, a second contaminant in a solid phase, and a third contaminant having an electrical charge from a purge gas and flowing the purge gas through a vicinity of a mask while exposing a wafer with light through the mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Han-Ming Wu, Giang Dao
  • Patent number: 6773488
    Abstract: A filter system with a housing defining a passage between an inlet and an outlet and one or more structures located in the passage in the housing. Each of the structures comprises two or more layers of insulating materials with an imbedded fixed charge located at at least one of the interfaces between the two or more layers. At least one of the structures has an imbedded fixed charge at a charge level of at least 1×1012 charges per cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Rochester Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Michael D. Potter
  • Patent number: 6761752
    Abstract: A gas particle partitioner (GPP) removes particles from an aerosol with high efficiency and with no or minimum changes to the thermodynamic conditions and chemical composition of the gas phase of the aerosol. A permeable grid electrode surrounds a corona wire and separates an interior corona discharge area from an exterior aerosol charging zone. A particle free fluid washes the corona discharge area to minimize any transport of gas components produced by corona discharge to the aerosol. The charged particles in the aerosol are deflected by an electric field in a fractionator to selectively produce a particle free sample stream, which is then separated by a flow splitter from the aerosol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Rupprecht & Patashnick Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Heinrich Fissan, Frank Jordan, Thomas Kuhlbusch
  • Patent number: 6758884
    Abstract: A filtration system for filtering particulates from air. A plurality of point ionization sources are positioned in the proximity of the periphery of an air flow channel and being oriented to generate ions in the proximity of the air flow channel in a direction generally upstream from each respective one of the plurality of point ionization sources. A particulate collection surface is positioned within the air flow channel in a downstream direction from the plurality of point ionization sources. The particulate collection surface is electrostatically charged in an opposite direction with respect to ground than the electrical charge of the ions. An ion trap is positioned within the air flow channel between the plurality of ionization sources and the particulate collection surface. The ion trap is relatively electrically neutral as compared with the particulate collection surface and the ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Zhiqun Zhang, Robert M. Swinehart
  • Patent number: 6736878
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Inventor: Arthur G. Hein
  • Patent number: 6558456
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling the behavior of particulate matter such as mist and dust occurring in the manufacture of paper and board. A web (1) is passed to web treatment equipment (22, 23) wherein at least one treatment step is applied to the web (1) causing the emission of said particulate matter (24). In the vicinity of the emission point (21) of said particulate matter are placed at least two electrodes (25, 26) and at least one electrode, called a counter-electrode (26), is at a low potential. Further, at least one electrode (25) is at a potential higher than that of said counter-electrode (26), and the potential difference between said electrodes (25, 26) is made so high as to generate a corona discharge between said electrodes that causes an ion-blast wind toward the electrode (26) of the lower potential, said ion-blast wind being capable of transferring particular matter, which enters the gap between said electrodes, toward said electrode of lower potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventor: Vilho Nissinen
  • Patent number: 6551382
    Abstract: Effluent gas cleaning process and apparatus for effectively removing particulates in the 0.01 micron to 0.1 micron diameter range, and for removing water-soluble gaseous contaminants, by first bringing the effluent to a relatively high temperature and humidity in a first stage, and then exposing the effluent to copious quantities of small cool water droplets in a second stage, for particular combinations of: the first stage relative humidity; the first-to-second stage droplet temperature difference; the stage two water droplet mass flow rate vs. effluent flow rate; the second stage droplet size; the travel time of the effluent during exposure to the cool droplets; and the electrical charge state of the second stage water droplets and opposite charge state of the particulates. The combinations enhance effluent cleaning through the combined operation of up to four distinct physical processes which can be made to occur during the second stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Clyde N. Richards
  • Patent number: 6533841
    Abstract: Filter plates in an electro-filter are cleaned using nozzles which, during spraying, are displaced longitudinally with the side edges of the filter plates while at the same time being rotated. The nozzles are mounted in a plane slightly different from the plane of the filter plates to enable the spray jets to reach the furthermost areas of the plates when the nozzles are at the greatest angle of incidence during washing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Toftejorg A/S
    Inventor: Erik Lund Jepsen