A particle control method configured prevent an extremely small quantity of particles descending on a stream of a laminar flow in a clean zone through which the laminar flow flows (as in a RABS or isolator device) from descending to a specific position or to guide the particles so as to have them descend to a specific position by controlling movement of the particles.

[Solution]

A particle descent position is separated away from a board surface of the oscillation board by using an acoustic radiation pressure generated by prompting ultrasonic vibration of the oscillation board disposed with a board surface substantially in parallel with a flow direction of the laminar flow. Moreover, by using a node of a standing wave field generated by prompting the ultrasonic vibration of two oscillation boards disposed with the board surfaces faced with each other, the particle is guided to a direction of a node of a standing wave field. Moreover, by using a focal point of the ultrasonic wave generated by prompting the ultrasonic wave of four oscillation boards, that is, two pairs disposed with the board surfaces faced with each other, the particle is guided to the focal point of the ultrasonic wave.

A particle control method configured prevent an extremely small quantity of particles descending on a stream of a laminar flow in a clean zone through which the laminar flow flows (as in a RABS or isolator device) from descending to a specific position or to guide the particles so as to have them descend to a specific position by controlling movement of the particles.

[Solution]

A particle descent position is separated away from a board surface of the oscillation board by using an acoustic radiation pressure generated by prompting ultrasonic vibration of the oscillation board disposed with a board surface substantially in parallel with a flow direction of the laminar flow. Moreover, by using a node of a standing wave field generated by prompting the ultrasonic vibration of two oscillation boards disposed with the board surfaces faced with each other, the particle is guided to a direction of a node of a standing wave field. Moreover, by using a focal point of the ultrasonic wave generated by prompting the ultrasonic wave of four oscillation boards, that is, two pairs disposed with the board surfaces faced with each other, the particle is guided to the focal point of the ultrasonic wave.

The invention relates to a method for the selective purification of aerosols. The invention consists in electrostatically collecting all of the particles present in an aerosol, but with separation of the mechanisms on one hand for charging particles by unipolar ion diffusion in order to charge and then collect the finest particles, and on the other hand for charging particles by means of Corona discharge in order to charge and then collect the largest particles on a substrate different from the substrate for collecting the finest particles.

A particle control method is provided which can prevent an extremely small quantity of particles descending on a stream of a laminar flow in a clean zone through which the laminar flow flows as in a RABS or isolator device from descending to a specific position or can guide it so as to descend to the specific position by controlling movement of the particles. A particle descent position is separated away from a board surface of the oscillation board by using an acoustic radiation pressure generated by prompting ultrasonic vibration of the oscillation board disposed with a board surface substantially in parallel with a flow direction of the laminar flow.

A particle control method is provided which can prevent an extremely small quantity of particles descending on a stream of a laminar flow in a clean zone through which the laminar flow flows as in a RABS or isolator device from descending to a specific position or can guide it so as to descend to the specific position by controlling movement of the particles. A particle descent position is separated away from a board surface of the oscillation board by using an acoustic radiation pressure generated by prompting ultrasonic vibration of the oscillation board disposed with a board surface substantially in parallel with a flow direction of the laminar flow.

A gas purifying apparatus, including: at least one cylindrical ground electrode configured to receive gas flowing therethrough; a discharge electrode disposed centrally within each of the at least one cylindrical ground electrode; and a power supply electrically connected to the discharge electrode and the at least one cylindrical ground electrode so as to produce an electric field and a corona discharge from the discharge electrode to a corresponding cylindrical ground electrode to generate ions and free electrons into the gas to ionise substances in the gas for gas purification, wherein the discharge electrode and the corresponding cylindrical ground electrode form at least one plasma chamber when power from the power supply is applied, and wherein the discharge electrode includes: at least one annular plate having an outer edge extending towards the corresponding cylindrical ground electrode.

The following is an apparatus and a method that enables the automated collection and identification of airborne particulate matter comprising dust, pollen grains, mold spores, bacterial cells, and soot from a gaseous medium comprising the ambient air. Once ambient air is inducted into the apparatus, aerosol particulates are acquired and imaged under a novel lighting environment that is used to highlight diagnostic features of the acquired airborne particulate matter. Identity determinations of acquired airborne particulate matter are made based on captured images. Abundance quantifications can be made using identity classifications. Raw and summary information are communicated across a data network for review or further analysis by a user. Other than routine maintenance or subsequent analyses, the basic operations of the apparatus may use, but do not require the active participation of a human operator.

The following is an apparatus and a method that enables the automated collection and identification of airborne particulate matter comprising dust, pollen grains, mold spores, bacterial cells, and soot from a gaseous medium comprising the ambient air. Once ambient air is inducted into the apparatus, aerosol particulates are acquired and imaged under a novel lighting environment that is used to highlight diagnostic features of the acquired airborne particulate matter. Identity determinations of acquired airborne particulate matter are made based on captured images. Abundance quantifications can be made using identity classifications. Raw and summary information are communicated across a data network for review or further analysis by a user. Other than routine maintenance or subsequent analyses, the basic operations of the apparatus may use, but do not require the active participation of a human operator.

An electrostatic air cleaner may be operated according to a manner designed to achieve acceptable air quality while balancing power usage and corona electrode degradation levels. The voltage applied to the corona electrode(s) may be controlled as well as the voltage applied to repelling electrodes and air flow velocity. The air cleaner may also be operated to achieve desired particle separation.

An electrostatic air cleaner may be operated according to a manner designed to achieve acceptable air quality while balancing power usage and corona electrode degradation levels. The voltage applied to the corona electrode(s) may be controlled as well as the voltage applied to repelling electrodes and air flow velocity. The air cleaner may also be operated to achieve desired particle separation.