With Means For Vapor Or Liquid Contact (e.g., For Gas Separation, Cooling, Conditioning, Etc.) Patents (Class 96/52)
  • Publication number: 20120073442
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of corrosion, temperature and spark resistant electrically conductive components in wet electrostatic precipitator systems (WESPs). In particular, the present invention is directed to using a conductive composite material in the fabrication of wet electrostatic precipitator system components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Robert A. Allan, Paul McGrath
  • Publication number: 20120067213
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bradley Stephen Rogers, James Easel Roberts
  • Patent number: 8092578
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing waste effluent from a system including a boiler and a wet electrostatic precipitator, the waste effluent having blow down water discharged by the boiler during a blow down operation and bleed water discharged by the wet electrostatic precipitator. The method includes collecting the blow down water and providing it to the wet electrostatic precipitator as a makeup water supplement, evaporating a portion of the bleed water and leaving residual bleed water, providing the evaporated bleed water to the wet electrostatic precipitator as a further makeup water supplement, and using the residual bleed water to quench ash produced by combustion of solid fuel by the boiler. The apparatus includes an evaporator that provides direct contact between hot boiler flue gas and the bleed water such that a portion of the flue gas is quenched before being provided to the wet electrostatic precipitator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Eisenmann Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Shulfer, Eberhard Veit
  • Patent number: 8080085
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an ionizer according to various aspects of the present invention include an amplifier disposed within an open ended housing. The air amplifier is used to supply an amplified airflow that may then be passed through an air neutralization system thereby neutralizing the amplified airflow before exiting the housing. A pressurized gas may be injected into an internal portion of the air amplifier where it is mixed with an ambient airflow before exiting the air amplifier as an amplified airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Donald M. Hughes, Inuka D. Renstrom
  • 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: 8048200
    Abstract: Clean corona gas ionization by separating contaminant byproducts from corona generated ions includes establishing a non-ionized gas stream having a pressure and flowing in a downstream direction, establishing a plasma region of ions and contaminant byproducts in which the pressure is sufficiently lower than the pressure of the non-ionized gas stream to prevent at least a substantial portion of the byproducts from migrating into the non-ionized gas stream, and applying an electric field to the plasma region sufficient to induce at least a substantial portion of the ions to migrate into the non-ionized gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventors: Peter Gefter, Aleksey Klochkov, John E. Menear, Lyle Dwight Nelsen
  • Patent number: 8043412
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Duane C. Carlson
  • Publication number: 20110216126
    Abstract: Apparatus for capturing aerosols are disclosed. An example apparatus described herein includes a corona wire, and a nonconductive housing comprising a first cavity to expose a first portion of the corona wire, a second cavity to expose a second portion of the corona wire, and a chamber between the first and second cavities. A third portion of the corona wire is located within the chamber between the first and second portions of the corona wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Michael H. Lee, Napoleon J. Leoni, Henryk Birecki, Omer Gila
  • Patent number: 7998255
    Abstract: An electrostatic phase change generating apparatus is described. The apparatus causes a change of state to occur in an input gas, for example, ambient air. The electrostatic phase change generating apparatus removes moisture from air, and may be used to generate water from air, dehumidify air, cool air, and the like. The ability to generate water from air has global importance as the need for clean water increases each year. The electrostatic phase change generating apparatus uses high voltage but low current allowing for very energy efficient operations. The electrostatic phase change generating apparatus uses a phase change vessel containing a liquid, a bubbler immersed in the liquid for conveying a gas, and a high voltage source to bias the liquid with respect to an upper electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Convergitech, Inc.
    Inventor: Dieter Wolfgang Blum
  • Publication number: 20110168019
    Abstract: A gas processing facility for the separation of fluids is provided. The facility includes co-current contactors placed in series. Each co-current contactor receives a gas stream that includes a non-absorbing gas such as a hydrocarbon gas or nitrogen. The gas stream also includes an acid gas or other contaminant. Each co-current contactor also receives a liquid solvent stream. The co-current contactors then each release a sweetened gas stream and a gas-treating solution. In one processing direction, the contactors are arranged to deliver progressively sweetened gas streams. In the opposite processing direction, the contactors are arranged to deliver progressively richer gas-treating solutions. In one aspect, the facility includes at least a first co-current contactor, a second co-current contactor and a final co-current contactor. However, any number of at least two co-current separators may be employed. Methods and processes for separating a gas stream are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Paul Scott Northrop, Edward J. Grave, John T. Cullinane
  • Publication number: 20110154988
    Abstract: A device for separating paint overspray from the cabin exhaust air of painting systems which is laden with overspray comprises at least one separating surface, on which the cabin exhaust air can be guided along and which is electrically conducting and connected to a pole of a high voltage source. An electrode device arranged in the air stream is associated with the separating surface and connected to the other pole of the high voltage source. Paint overspray is transported away from the separating surface by an electrically conducting separating fluid, which can be fed to the separating surface and flows over the separating surface so that a large part at least of the solids pass from the cabin exhaust air flowing past into the separating fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: EISENMANN AG
    Inventors: Werner Swoboda, Erwin Hihn
  • Patent number: 7959883
    Abstract: Particulate pollutants such as carbonaceous particles are removed from an engine exhaust stream by passing the exhaust stream through an exhaust gas reactor, the exhaust stream first traversing a charging zone wherein the particles are charged via a corona discharge, and thereafter traversing a downstream collection zone wherein the charged particles are collected and eliminated by a collector/reactor having an oppositely charged reactive collecting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher W Drewnowski, Martin Andrew Sala
  • Patent number: 7959717
    Abstract: An air conditioning system with an electrostatically atomizing function includes an electrostatically atomizing unit and a ventilation duct which flows conditioned air. The electrostatically atomizing unit generates a mist of charged minute water particles. The electrostatically atomizing unit is provided with a discharge port which locates adjacent to an air outlet of the ventilation duct. The mist of the charged minute water particles flows into an airflow which is sent from the ventilation duct. The mist of the charged minute water particles effectively spreads to the space by the air flow without dissipating inside the ventilation duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yano, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, legal representative, Sumio Wada, Akihide Sugawa, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto, Shousuke Akisada
  • Publication number: 20110126712
    Abstract: Clean corona ionization bars separate contaminant byproducts from corona generated ions by establishing a non-ionized gas stream having a pressure and directed toward an attractive non-ionizing electric field of a charge neutralization target, by establishing a plasma region of ions and contaminant byproducts in which the pressure is sufficiently lower than the pressure of the non-ionized gas stream to prevent byproducts from migrating into the non-ionized gas stream. The ionization bar(s) may be located sufficiently close to the charged neutralization target that a non-ionizing electric field of the target induces at least a substantial portion of the ions to migrate into the non-ionized gas stream and to the neutralization target as a clean ionized gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventor: Peter GEFTER
  • Publication number: 20110100212
    Abstract: The invention relates to a panel, comprising: two plates of substantially equal dimensions positioned on each other; which plates are connected medium-tightly to each other along their peripheral zones; which plates enclose a cavity; a feed for feeding a liquid, in particular water, into the cavity; and openings close to and along a peripheral edge of the panel for flow of the liquid out of the cavity during operation such that during operation the openings are situated close to the upper peripheral edge of the panel, wherein the liquid flows downward over at least one outer surface of the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: OMEGA THERMO PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventor: Herman Johan Oonk
  • Publication number: 20110052453
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing carbon dioxide and other pollutants from a gas stream having components that work synergistically. The invention includes an ammonia based scrubbing solution for SO2 scrubbing; an SO2 absorption section (250) to create contact between the flue gas and the ammonia based scrubbing solution to remove SO2 from the flue gas; a wet electrostatic precipitator to remove aerosols and fine particulate matter from the flue gas; a regenerable carbonate scrubbing solution for CO2 scrubbing, a CO2 absorption section (252) for removal of CO2 adapted to create contact between the flue gas and the scrubbing solution and which operates at a temperature between 32 and 66 degrees C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher McLarnon, Joanna Duncan, Francis Alix, Aytac Sezgi, Wade Amos, Roberto Bosco, Brian Grandjean, Michelle Livingston
  • Publication number: 20110017066
    Abstract: To provide a small active oxygen generating device capable of efficiently continuously generating active oxygen while supplying oxygen in the air. In the active oxygen generating device in which water is made to exist between an anode and a cathode composed of a base material containing a conductive polymer and by turning on electricity between the anode and the cathode, the conductive polymer deoxidizes the oxygen dissolved in the water to generate active oxygen, the cathode is rotatably installed about a conductive horizontal axis with part of the surface being projected over the surface of the water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Takeuchi, Akira Shiga, Takuya Furuhashi
  • Publication number: 20100313761
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dust collector (30) that is disposed in an air passageway (15) to which water droplets (21a) are supplied, and that includes a dust collecting electrode portion (31b) which electrically attracts dust charged in the air. The dust collecting electrode portion (31b) is made of a plate-like member having a mesh-like structure with a plurality of pores, thereby reducing an interfacial tension between the water droplets (21a) adhering on the surface of the dust collecting electrode portion (31b) and the dust collecting electrode portion (31b). Thus, water droplets are prevented from increasing in size on the surface of a dust collecting electrode, and a decrease in the dust collection capability due to adhesion of dust or the like is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Toshio Tanaka, Tsunahiro Ohdou, Kanji Motegi
  • Patent number: 7837877
    Abstract: Provided is a process and apparatus for separating a multi-component feed stream wherein a porous separator is used to effectively create, via permeation and phase change, at least three fractions of differing compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Cao, Vladimir Yliy Gershtein
  • Patent number: 7828883
    Abstract: A novel method and system of separating carbon dioxide from flue gas is introduced. Instead of relying on large temperature or pressure changes to remove carbon dioxide from a solvent used to absorb it from flue gas, the ion pump method, as disclosed herein, dramatically increases the concentration of dissolved carbonate ion in solution. This increases the overlying vapor pressure of carbon dioxide gas, permitting carbon dioxide to be removed from the downstream side of the ion pump as a pure gas. The ion pumping may be obtained from reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, thermal desalination methods, or an ion pump system having an oscillating flow in synchronization with an induced electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Roger D. Aines, William L. Bourcier
  • Publication number: 20100236406
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a processing chamber for accommodating therein a processing target substrate; a gas exhaust path through which a gas inside the processing chamber is exhausted; one or more exhaust pumps provided in the gas exhaust path; and a scrubber for collecting harmful components from an exhaust gas. The apparatus further includes an ionized gas supply unit for supplying to the gas exhaust path an ionized gas for neutralizing charged particles included in the exhaust gas flowing therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Jun Yamawaku, Junji Oikawa, Hiroyuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7740686
    Abstract: A modular ductwork assembly decontaminates an air stream circulating within an heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The assembly includes (a) an ionizing module for removing particulates from the air stream, (b) a sterilization module for neutralizing airborne pathogens present in the air stream, (c) an ozone treatment module for neutralizing odoriferous constituents or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the air stream, optionally (d) baffles for slowing and disrupting the flow rate and promoting turbulence in the air stream traveling through the modules and optionally (e) a fan module for directing a treated air stream. Each of the modules is arranged substantially adjacent to at least one of the other modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Inventor: Karen Metteer
  • Publication number: 20100132550
    Abstract: An air filtration system is described for removing oil and grease entrained in air extracted from the region above a cooker. The system comprises a first mesh screen filter leading to a first chamber, in which two nozzles 10 create two separate continuous water curtains 15a, 15b which overlap when viewed in the direction of the air flow to form a combined curtain extending across the region through which the air passes. The extracted air then passes via a second mesh screen filter 11 into a second chamber 12, identical to the first chamber 9, in which two further nozzles 13 are provided which create two further water curtains 15c, 15d. The water curtains 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d cool and condense vaporized oil and grease within the air, which condensed oil and grease droplets fall with the water into a container. The main bore of each nozzle is of circular cross-section, but a profiled plate causes the resulting water curtain to have a width which is narrow relative to the diameter of the nozzle bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: SIDELAND ENGINEERING LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil Antony Verner, Philip John Prosser
  • Patent number: 7708814
    Abstract: Carbon dioxide contained within exhaust gas is combined with bivalent metal ions such as calcium ions or the like in concentrated salt water to form precipitated calcium carbonate and then can be expelled out. Such an environmental friendly design is realized by a bottle upside down device with a bottle neck exit on a bottom. A piston inside the device can be elevated to a top portion to produce a near vacuum air pressure inside the device. All the brine, exhaust gas, and oxygen, ozone drawn together into the device can be accelerated to form, at least, precipitated calcium carbonate to reduce carbon dioxide contained within the exhaust gas. Chemical reaction is accelerated by a high voltage discharger below the piston and by flashing a portion of water to atomize the brine. A heater can heat up the near vacuum device to accelerate chemical reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Inventor: Chia-Chang Liu
  • Publication number: 20100074828
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatuses for removing carbon dioxide from a gas stream. In particular, the invention provides methods and apparatuses for absorbing carbon dioxide from a coal-fired boiler flue gas stream using an absorbing solution and for regeneration of an alkaline component used in the absorbing solution. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for removing carbon dioxide from a gas stream by contacting a gas stream containing carbon dioxide with an alkaline liquid stream; absorbing at least a portion of the carbon dioxide into the alkaline liquid stream to produce absorbed carbon dioxide; and catalyzing a reaction of the absorbed carbon dioxide to a form of carbonate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: FLUEGEN, INC.
    Inventor: Uday Singh
  • Publication number: 20100074817
    Abstract: The following devices are successively disposed in the following order from an upstream side to a downstream side in an exhaust gas duct of a combustion apparatus: an air preheater, preheating combustion air for use in an exhaust gas treating apparatus; a heat recovery unit, recovering exhaust gas heat at an exit of the air preheater; a precipitator, collecting soot/dust contained in an exhaust gas at an exit of the heat recovery unit; a wet flue gas desulfurizer, removing sulfur oxides contained in the exhaust gas at the exit of the precipitator; and a reheater, heating the exhaust gas at the exit of the wet flue gas desulfurizer. Each of the heat recovery unit and the reheater has a heat exchanger tube, and a circulation line is disposed to connect the heat exchanger tubes. A sulfur trioxide (SO3) removing agent is supplied to the upstream side of the heat recovery unit, and the temperature of the exhaust gas at the exit of the heat recovery unit is adjusted to not more than a dew point of sulfur trioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2007
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: BABCOCK-HITACHI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuki Kobayashi, Hirofumi Kikkawa, Hiroshi Ishizaka, Goki Sasaki, Hiroyuki Nosaka
  • Publication number: 20100043634
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing significantly or to zero the waste effluent from a system including a boiler and a wet electrostatic precipitator, the waste effluent comprising blow down water discharged by the boiler during a blow down operation and bleed water discharged by the wet electrostatic precipitator. The method comprises collecting the blow down water, providing the collected blow down water to the wet electrostatic precipitator as a makeup water supplement, evaporating a portion the bleed water and leaving residual bleed water, providing the evaporated bleed water to the wet electrostatic precipitator as a further makeup water supplement, and using the residual bleed water to quench ash produced by combustion of solid fuel by the boiler. The apparatus includes an evaporator that provides direct contact between hot boiler flue gas and the bleed water such that a portion of the flue gas is quenched before being provided to the wet electrostatic precipitator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: EISENMANN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph Shulfer, Eberhard Veit
  • Patent number: 7641876
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a method for removing contaminants from a flue gas stream (22). The method includes: removing fly ash from a flue gas stream (22) utilizing a particle collector (24); contacting the flue gas stream with an alkaline reagent in a wet scrubber (26); discharging a purge liquid (30) from the wet scrubber (26); and, combining at least a portion of the purge liquid with at least a portion of fly ash circulating within a dry circulating fluid bed scrubber (48) to form moistened fly ash (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Kelly L. Barger, Gregg R. Doule, Michael G. Varner
  • Publication number: 20090301298
    Abstract: Apparatus for treating a gas stream comprises a plasma abatement device (10). A wet electrostatic precipitator (20,22) is provided upstream from the abatement device (10) to remove particulates from the gas stream to inhibit clogging on the inlet of the abatement device. An additional wet electrostatic precipitator (24) may be provided downstream from the abatement device (10) for removing from the gas stream particulates generated within the abatement device (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Andrew James Seeley
  • Patent number: 7597750
    Abstract: A hybrid wet electrostatic precipitator for collecting sub-micron and nano-particulate material. The collector can be made up of three concentric tubes or pipes with an internally formed gas path communicating between an inlet and an outlet. A first collector and discharging zone can be provided in the gas path to create a corona discharge to charge particles and to collect particulate. A second collector can be formed by a porous wall which can act as a filtration device. A third collector can be formed by two or more of the concentric circular tubes, one porous and one solid, with a zone of uniform electric field between them. The porous tube can be either the inner tube or the middle tube. A liquid pool can be placed between the first and third collectors to provide chemical treatment of the gas flow or simply filtration as the gas passes through. A high-tension voltage supply can be used to supply a discharge voltage capable of generating a corona discharge into the flow in the first zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Inventor: Henry Krigmont
  • Patent number: 7559976
    Abstract: A multi-stage collector for multi-pollutant control that contains alternating narrow and wide sections with glow discharge electrodes in some narrow sections, a uniform electric field in wide sections for collecting particles charged by the glow discharge and streamer discharge electrodes in wide or narrow sections that convert and destroy harmful gaseous pollutants such as SO2, NOx and volatile organic compounds as well as convert heavy metals such as mercury into a particulate form. Steady state streamer discharge is supported by non-pulsed power supply. The streaming discharge can convert the polluting gases into nitric and sulfuric acid which can be removed by combining it with ammonia to form solid salts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Inventors: Henry Krigmont, Yuri Akishev
  • Publication number: 20090162269
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a method for removing contaminants from a flue gas stream (22). The method includes: removing fly ash from a flue gas stream (22) utilizing a particle collector (24); contacting the flue gas stream with an alkaline reagent in a wet scrubber (26); discharging a purge liquid (30) from the wet scrubber (26); and, combining at least a portion of the purge liquid with at least a portion of fly ash circulating within a dry circulating fluid bed scrubber (48) to form moistened fly ash (60).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Kelly L. Barger, Gregg R. Doule, Michael G. Varner
  • Patent number: 7540900
    Abstract: The air clarifying apparatus includes a negative ion generator and an indoor air circulator. It further includes an ozone generator having a capability of maintaining the average concentration value of ozone in an indoor atmosphere at 0.02 to 0.05 ppm, while the average concentration value of negative ions in the vicinity of the blowout port of the negative ion generator is maintained at 200,000 to 1,000,000 pieces/cc. With this configuration, the negative ions coexist with ozone having a low concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Aiba Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideshige Aiba
  • Publication number: 20090123352
    Abstract: Problems associated with deposition of contaminants from air streams in transport ducts in the wood products industry and other sources of such contaminants are at least minimized by close coupling a cyclone separator/scrubber to the source of the air stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Edward F. Spink, Robert A. Allan
  • Patent number: 7521026
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a field enhanced electrode package for use in a non-thermal plasma processor. The field enhanced electrode package includes a high voltage electrode and a field-enhancing electrode with a dielectric material layer disposed in-between the high voltage electrode and the field-enhancing electrode. The field-enhancing electrode features at least one raised section that includes at least one injection hole that allows plasma discharge streamers to occur primarily within an injected additive gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Louis A. Rosocha, Vincent Ferreri, Yongho Kim
  • Patent number: 7517394
    Abstract: A wet electrostatic ionization stage in an electrostatic separation device for purifying a flowing aerosal including finely dispersed particles entrained in a gas. The wet electrostatic ionization stage includes a plate disposed across a cross section of a flow channel and connected to a ground potential or reference counterpotential. The plate includes substantially identical openings through which the gas flows. The wet electrostatic ionization stage also includes a high-voltage grid disposed across the cross section of the flow channel either upstream or downstream from the plate and electrically isolated from a wall of the flow channel. The high voltage grid is coupled to a high voltage potential via a bushing disposed in the wall of the flow channel. For each opening in the plate, a rod-shaped high-voltage electrode coupled at one end to the high-voltage grid has a free end projecting centrically into the one opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Andrei Bologa, Thomas Waescher, Hanns-Rudolf Paur, Ralf Arheidt
  • Patent number: 7510600
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaya Ibe, Hirohito Hirata, Masaru Kakinohana
  • Publication number: 20080307963
    Abstract: An electrostatic phase change generating apparatus is described. The apparatus causes a change of state to occur in an input gas, for example, ambient air. The electrostatic phase change generating apparatus removes moisture from air, and may be used to generate water from air, dehumidify air, cool air, and the like. The ability to generate water from air has global importance as the need for clean water increases each year. The electrostatic phase change generating apparatus uses high voltage but low current allowing for very energy efficient operations. The electrostatic phase change generating apparatus uses a phase change vessel containing a liquid, a bubbler immersed in the liquid for conveying a gas, and a high voltage source to bias the liquid with respect to an upper electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: Albonia Innovative Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Dieter Wolfgang Blum
  • Publication number: 20080307964
    Abstract: Contaminant laden gas streams from wood product dryer operations, and other sources, are purified. The gas stream first is saturated with moisture by contacting the gas stream with fine liquid droplets which entrain particulates. The gas stream then is subjected to a plurality of separate particulate and liquid droplet removal steps before a droplet-free gas stream having substantially reduced particulate contaminant levels is passed to a burner for removal of volatile organic compounds from the gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: TURBOSONIC INC.
    Inventors: Edward F. Spink, Robert A. Allan
  • Patent number: 7465339
    Abstract: In an air purifier including a streamer discharge part (40) generating plasma by streamer discharge, a catalytic part (34) promoting the treatment of air using active species contained in the plasma and a dust collecting part (33) collecting dust in the air, the streamer discharge part (40), the dust collecting part (33) and the catalytic part (34) are arranged in sequence from the upstream side of the air flow to allow the entire face of the catalytic part (34) to effectively work and also permit the elimination of fungi and the inactivation of allergens in a dust collecting part (33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Tanaka, Kanji Motegi, Kenkichi Kagawa
  • Patent number: 7461835
    Abstract: An air humidifier has an electric fan unit arranged in a housing for delivering a through-flow of air between feed-air and discharge-air openings in the housing; at least one filter device for the through-flow of air; and a device for releasing liquid to the through-flow of air. A first housing component accommodates the fan unit with filter strips and feed-air and discharge-air openings. A second housing component is a vessel for storing liquid. The two housing components form autonomous structural units which can be fixed to and detached from one another. It is possible for the first housing component to be utilized as a separate unit independently of the second housing component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Petz Industries GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gunter Petz, Rolf Petz
  • Patent number: 7449053
    Abstract: The present invention provides an air filtration cartridge suitable for use in the treatment of air in a forced airflow air supply system. The cartridge comprises an inner casing having an upstream stage defining a chamber having an inlet for receiving a forced airflow. The chamber has an outlet which leads into a downstream stage comprising a filter holder and mounting a high airflow electrostatic filter. Inside the chamber is a low power coronal discharge ozone generator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Inventor: David Richard Hallam
  • Patent number: 7431752
    Abstract: An air purifier includes an outer case having an air purifying cavity, an ionizer module, and an ozone reduction module. The ionizer module includes a power unit and an ionizing electrode. The ozone reduction module is electrically connected to the power unit for generating heat within the air purifying cavity, wherein when a temperature within the air purifying cavity reaches a preset temperature, a level of ozone generated by the ionizing electrode unit is substantially minimized and controlled for preventing excess generation of ozone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Inventor: ZhuHuan Liang
  • Publication number: 20080105127
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for purifying a gas stream containing condensable vapours. The device comprises a shell (b 7) defining a sealed volume, a cooler for quenching the gas stream, a rotating assembly (42) including a rotor (44) and a cylindrical separating and filtering ferrule (54) consisting of two circular slotted bands (56) mounted on the rotor and rotating therewith; a supporting tube (48) mounted on the rotor (44) and bearing a swirling-scraper device (50), a cylindrical electrode (94) surrounding the separating and filtering ferrule (54) and a central counter-electrode (94) for creating an electrostatic field in the shell (7), an outlet duct for the purified gas, an outlet duct for the condensates (40). Impact and separation plates (64) are fixed on the bands of the collet. Device for purification of a gas flow containing condensable vapours.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Meryl Brothier, Jean-Pierre Turchet, Pierre Estubier
  • Patent number: 7368003
    Abstract: Systems for and methods of providing air purification and cleaning in combination with odor elimination in a single unit, such as a tabletop unit for home or office use, are disclosed. The air cleaning device includes a housing, an air intake port, an air movement mechanism, a pre-ionizer, a filter, a post-ionizer, an air exhaust port, and a flow chamber for holding a compound such as an odor elimination supply. An air movement mechanism, ozone removal mechanism, and/or filter/odor elimination assembly may also be present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Crapser, Milan L. Zdrubecky, René Maurice Béland
  • Patent number: 7361212
    Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator is detailed. The precipitator includes a conduit for the passage of particles in an air flow and a generator of an electrostatic field substantially orthogonal to the air flow, and an ion supply, capable of charging the particles, in which the generator includes a point electrode and a two dimensional surface electrode. The plane surface electrode includes an ion source and the point electrode includes a counter electrode and the counter electrode is earthed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence
    Inventors: James McDonald Clark, Timothy Graham Foat, Maurice Daverell Walker, Stephen Ray Preston
  • Publication number: 20080047281
    Abstract: An in-ceiling embedded type air conditioner including an indoor unit having an air blower and an indoor heat exchanger accommodated in a housing a substantially box-shape, and a filtering unit including a gas-liquid contact member that is disposed at the downstream side of the indoor heat exchanger on an air blowing passage through which air sucked by the air blower flows in the indoor unit and in filtrated with electrolytic water generated by electrolyzing water, the air and the electrolytic water being brought into contact with each other in the gas-liquid contact member, whereby the air cooled or heated in the indoor heat exchanger is filtered, that is, virus, etc. contained in the air is inactivated, sterilized or the like and then blown out to a room to be air-conditioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Fukushima, Toru Arakawa, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Takuro Nishihara, Hiroaki Usui, Yoichi Uchida
  • Publication number: 20080028936
    Abstract: An air filtering apparatus including an electrolytic bath for electrolyzing water to generate electrolytic water, a gas-liquid contact member in which the electrolytic water generated in the electrolytic bath infiltrates and an air blowing fan for blowing air to the gas-liquid contact member is equipped with a water circulation passage through which the electrolytic water is supplied/circulated to the gas-liquid contact member, the electrolytic water passing through the gas-liquid contact member is received and stocked by a water receiving tray and the stocked electrolytic water is pumped up and supplied to the gas-liquid contact member, a drain pipe branched from the water circulation passage, a water stop valve for opening/closing the drain pipe, and a drain receiver for receiving and stocking the electrolytic water discharged from the drain pipe when the water stop valve is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Takahashi, Yoichi Uchida, Hiroaki Usui, Toshio Fukushima, Toru Arakawa, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Tsuyoshi Rakuma, Tetsuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7300496
    Abstract: A method for filtering particle-laden gas includes electrostatically precipitating particles from the particle-laden gas to produce a gas having residual particulates, agglomerating the residual particulates, and using a fabric filter to filter the agglomerated residual particulates from the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert W. Taylor
  • 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