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.

Apparatus for reducing the translucence or opacity caused by smoke within a closed environment includes a fibrous substrate comprising non-conductive fibers. The apparatus further includes elongated, substantially parallel electrodes disposed on the substrate arranged as one or more pairs of adjacent electrodes, wherein a discharge gap is defined between each pair. The apparatus additionally includes a component configured for applying a voltage between each pair to generate a non-thermal microplasma in a corresponding discharge gap to collect or bind one or more airborne particulate combustion byproducts.

Apparatus for reducing the translucence or opacity caused by smoke within a closed environment includes a fibrous substrate comprising non-conductive fibers. The apparatus further includes elongated, substantially parallel electrodes disposed on the substrate arranged as one or more pairs of adjacent electrodes, wherein a discharge gap is defined between each pair. The apparatus additionally includes a component configured for applying a voltage between each pair to generate a non-thermal microplasma in a corresponding discharge gap to collect or bind one or more airborne particulate combustion byproducts.

An electret is disclosed including: a carrier, and polytetrafluoroethylene having a melting point of 35 C. or higher and 320 C. or lower deposited on the carrier, wherein the electret imparts an electrostatic charge to at least one of the carrier and the polytetrafluoroethylene, and has two or more melting point peaks in simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis. An electret filter is disclosed which preferably is used for a filter which requires durability to tobacco smoke. An electret filter is also disclosed having a fluorine-containing component deposited on a fiber surface, wherein an initial QF value is 0.5 mmAq.sup.1 or more in collection efficiency of particles having a particle diameter of 0.3 to 0.5 m at a wind speed of 5 cm/s, and a filter deterioration rate by tobacco smoke loading is 8/(g/m.sup.2) or more.

An electret is disclosed including: a carrier, and polytetrafluoroethylene having a melting point of 35 C. or higher and 320 C. or lower deposited on the carrier, wherein the electret imparts an electrostatic charge to at least one of the carrier and the polytetrafluoroethylene, and has two or more melting point peaks in simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis. An electret filter is disclosed which preferably is used for a filter which requires durability to tobacco smoke. An electret filter is also disclosed having a fluorine-containing component deposited on a fiber surface, wherein an initial QF value is 0.5 mmAq.sup.1 or more in collection efficiency of particles having a particle diameter of 0.3 to 0.5 m at a wind speed of 5 cm/s, and a filter deterioration rate by tobacco smoke loading is 8/(g/m.sup.2) or more.

The present invention relates to: a device (1, 101, 151) for separating off liquid and/or particulate contaminants from a gas flow (7, 107), in which a flow path of the gas flow (7, 107) runs between at least one first electrode (9, 31, 109) acting as a counter electrode and at least one second electrode (11, 111, 51, 53, 57, 135, 135, 135, 155) acting as an emitter electrode and having an electrode end (71, 77, 90) oriented in the direction of the first electrode, and a direct-current voltage exceeding the breakdown voltage can be applied between the first electrode (9, 31, 109) and the second electrode (11, 111, 51, 53, 57, 135, 135, 135, 155) in order to form a stable low-energy plasma (41, 125), wherein the second electrode (11) extends substantially along a first axis (X) in a first direction and the first electrode (31) has at least one plateau region (33) which is arranged opposite the second electrode (11) and which extends at least regionally in a first plane running substantially perpendicular to the first direction (X); and a method for operating such a device.

The present invention relates to: a device (1, 101, 151) for separating off liquid and/or particulate contaminants from a gas flow (7, 107), in which a flow path of the gas flow (7, 107) runs between at least one first electrode (9, 31, 109) acting as a counter electrode and at least one second electrode (11, 111, 51, 53, 57, 135, 135, 135, 155) acting as an emitter electrode and having an electrode end (71, 77, 90) oriented in the direction of the first electrode, and a direct-current voltage exceeding the breakdown voltage can be applied between the first electrode (9, 31, 109) and the second electrode (11, 111, 51, 53, 57, 135, 135, 135, 155) in order to form a stable low-energy plasma (41, 125), wherein the second electrode (11) extends substantially along a first axis (X) in a first direction and the first electrode (31) has at least one plateau region (33) which is arranged opposite the second electrode (11) and which extends at least regionally in a first plane running substantially perpendicular to the first direction (X); and a method for operating such a device.

An example of a panel for use in collecting fluid in a gas stream includes a fluid collection member comprising one or more collection electrodes. The panel may include an emitter electrode assembly member comprising an emitter electrode frame and one or more emitter electrodes attached to the emitter electrode frame (e.g., disposed in a one- or two-dimensional array). The one or more emitter electrodes may be physically separated from the one or more collection electrodes. The fluid collection member may be physically connected to the emitter electrode assembly member. The one or more collection electrodes may be electrically insulated from the one or more emitter electrodes.

An example of a panel for use in collecting fluid in a gas stream includes a fluid collection member comprising one or more collection electrodes. The panel may include an emitter electrode assembly member comprising an emitter electrode frame and one or more emitter electrodes attached to the emitter electrode frame (e.g., disposed in a one- or two-dimensional array). The one or more emitter electrodes may be physically separated from the one or more collection electrodes. The fluid collection member may be physically connected to the emitter electrode assembly member. The one or more collection electrodes may be electrically insulated from the one or more emitter electrodes.

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.