An electro-kinetic electro-static air conditioner includes a mechanism to clean the wire-like electrodes in the first electrode array. A length of flexible Mylar type sheet material projects from the base of the second electrode array towards and beyond the first electrode array. The distal end of each sheet includes a slit that engages a corresponding wire-like electrode. As a user moves the second electrode array up or down within the conditioner housing, friction between slit edges and the wire-like electrode cleans the electrode surface. The sheet material may be biasedly pivotably attached to the base of the second electrode array, and may be urged away from and parallel to the wire-like electrodes when the conditioner is in use. Another embodiment includes a bead-like member having a through opening or channel, through which the wire-like electrode passes. As the conditioner is turned upside down and rightside up, friction between the opening in the bead-like member and wire-like electrode cleans the electrode surface. The bead-like member may be made of ceramic, glass, or even metal. The through channel may be symmetrically formed in the bead-like member, but preferably will be asymmetrical to create a mechanical moment and increased friction with the surface of the wire-like electrode being cleaned.

Electrode self-cleaning mechanism for electro-kinetic air transporter-conditioner devices

An electro-kinetic electro-static air conditioner includes a self-contained ion generator that provides electro-kinetically moved air with ions and safe amounts of ozone. The ion generator includes a high voltage pulse generator whose output pulses are coupled between first and second electrode arrays. Preferably the first array comprises one or more wire electrodes spaced staggeringly apart from a second array comprising hollow “U”-shaped electrodes. Preferably a ratio between effective area of an electrode in the second array compared to effective area of an electrode in the first array exceeds about 15:1 and preferably is about 20:1. An electric field produced by the high voltage pulses between the arrays produces an electrostatic flow of ionized air containing safe amounts of ozone. A bias electrode, electrically coupled to the second array electrodes, affects net polarity of ions generated. The outflow of ionized air and ozone is thus conditioned.

Electro-kinetic air transporter-conditioner

A brush includes a self-contained ion generator that subjects material being brushed to an outflow of ionized air containing safe amounts of ozone. The ion generator includes a high voltage pulse generator whose output pulses are coupled between first and second electrode arrays. Preferably the first array comprises at least one metal pin spaced coaxially-apart from a metal ring-like structure. Alternatively, the first array may comprise one or more wire electrodes spaced staggeringly apart from a second array comprising hollow “U”-shaped electrodes. Preferably a ratio between effective area of an electrode in the second array compared to effective area of an electrode in the first array exceeds about 15:1 and preferably is about 20:1. An electric field produced by the high voltage pulses between the arrays produces an electrostatic flow of ionized air containing safe amounts of ozone. The outflow of ionized air and ozone is directed between the brush bristles onto the material being brushed.

Ion emitting grooming brush

A system for controlling an electrostatic precipitator (10, 12) adapted to be powered by an alternating power source (60) includes means for regulating (Q2, Q4, 14) at least one precipitator operating parameter in response to at least one control signal, and measurement means (110, 120) coupled to the precipitator for providing measurement signals corresponding to at least precipitator secondary voltage and precipitator secondary current. A processing means (16) coupled to the measurement means (110, 120) and to the means for regulating generates the control signals. The processing means (16) is operable to sample successive discrete values of the measurement signals corresponding to secondary voltage and secondary current during an individual half cycle of the alternating power source (60), to determine present precipitator (10, 12) operating conditions based on at least the sampled values, to predict precipitator (10, 12) operating conditions for the next half cycle of the alternating power source (60) based on at least the present operating conditions, and to selectively vary said at least one control signal by the next half cycle of the alternating power source (60) in response to the predicted operating conditions.

System for controlling an electrostatic precipitator using digital signal processing

An apparatus and method for generating slow rise-time, high voltage electrical pulses to a load, preferably using an existing transformer/rectifier set or power supply to charge an inversion or high voltage switching circuit to produce the pulsed voltage. An energy recovery circuit ( 100, 102 ) is used to return unused energy from the load ( 24 ) back to the means for producing pulsed voltage ( 110, 130 ). A load matching circuit ( 120 ) uses a blocking diode and a capacitor for charging the load. An additional blocking diode ( 32 ) inhibits load voltage discharge back through the slow pulse generating circuit. A transformer ( 20 ) can be used to step-up voltage from the inversion circuit, or high voltage switching circuit, to the load. One or more magnetic switch stages are used to transfer energy from the inversion circuit, or high voltage switching circuit, to the load matching circuit. A fire-on voltage controller ( 66 ) triggers the inversion or high voltage switching circuit.

Electrostatic precipitator slow pulse generating circuit

In an electrostatic precipitator system powered by a primary power source, the power supply has a converter and a high voltage device. The converter can be coupled to the primary power source for producing a converter voltage with a different frequency content. The high voltage device is driven by the converter, producing from its converted voltage a high voltage. This high voltage is influenced by the different frequency content, having at least one frequency component at a predetermined low frequency which is sized to promote efficient precipitation.

Modulated power supply for an electrostatic precipitator

The supply has a converter 10 coupled to a primary power source 12 for producing a converted voltage with a different frequency content to that of the source 12, the output of the converter 10 being connected to a step-up transformer 14 and a rectifier 20A to provide a high voltage fed to the precipitator 28A, 28B. The converter 10 may be an adjustable frequency, adjustable duty-cycle A.C. to A.C. converter supplied from a 60 Hz source and giving an output at a different frequency (Figs. 1, 2). The source 12 may be D.C. in some embodiments. In a further embodiment, the voltage applied to the precipitator is controlled by a micro-computer responsive to various current and voltage sensors, including means for sensing sparking and back corona. The conduction angle of thyristor Q1, Q2 is incremented from half-cycle to half-cycle of a 60 Hz supply 12 until the sensed conditions indicate that the conduction angle should be decremented or that the thyristor Q1, Q2 should be turned off. Every nth half cycle, e.g. every sixth half cycle, the conduction angle is increased to prevail throughout the majority of that half cycle, so that a high peak voltage is produced every nth half-cycle, these pulse peaks constituting the different frequency content (Figs. 6, 7). MOSFETS or a saturable reactor may be used instead of thyristors Q1, Q2.

Gallo Frank

Papers

Modulated power supply for an electrostatic precipitator

Power supply for electrostatic precipitator

Power supply for an electrostatic precipitator