Device and method for separating materials

Abstract

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for separating materials in the form of particles and/or drops from a gas flow, especially particles and/or drops the diameter of which varies from one nanometer to a few dozen nanometers, the device comprising an inlet for incoming air to be purified, a collection chamber, an outlet for the purified air, a voltage source with actuators, an fastening column to which ion yield tips have been coupled, the device is configured to direct high tension to the ion yield tips providing ion beams from the ion yield tips to the collection surface, the collection surface conducting electricity is electrically insulated from the outer wall of the collection chamber by an electrical insulation, and the device is configured to direct voltage of opposite sign to the ion yield tips than the voltage directed to the collection surface, wherein ion yield tips are arranged directly on a surface of the fastening column having a length, wherein the ion yield tips protrude from the surface of the fastening column into a cavity of the collection chamber.

Claims

1. A device for separating materials from a gas flow, the device comprising: in inlet for incoming air to be purified, a collection chamber, an outlet for the purified air, a voltage source, and a fastening column to which ion yield tips have been coupled, wherein the ion yield tips are arranged directly on a surface of the fastening column, and wherein the ion yield tips protrude from the surface of the fastening column into a cavity of the collection chamber, wherein the device is configured to direct high tension to the ion yield tips providing ion beams from the ion yield tips to the collection surface, wherein the collection surface conducting electricity is electrically insulated from the outer wall of the collection chamber by an electrical insulation, wherein the device is configured to direct voltage of opposite sign to the ion yield tips than the voltage directed to the collection surface, and wherein a diameter of the fastening column is in a range between 40-150 mm, a diameter of the collection chamber is in a range between 200-1600 mm, the voltage is in a range between 10-100 kV, and a current is in a range between 50-5000 A.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein a diameter (D.sub.col) of the fastening column is in a range between 80-120 mm, for example 100 mm.

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein a voltage is in a range between 10-60 kV.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein a current is in a range between 400-2300 A, for example 1500 A.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the length of an ion yield tip is in a range between 1-40 mm, preferably between 5-20 mm.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein a volumetric flow rate of the air is in a range of 20-800 m.sup.3/h, for example 200 m.sup.3/h.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein a velocity of an air flow through the cavity is in a range between 0.5-2.5 m/s, for example more than 1.0 m/s.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the ion yield tips are arranged spirally wound around the surface of the fastening column.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of ion yield tips of a set of ion yield tips is arranged at an even distance to each other.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the ion yield tips is orientated at an angle in the range between 40-50, preferably of 45, to the surface of the fastening column in a direction downstream, at an angle in the range between 40-50, preferably of 45, to the surface of the fastening column in a direction upstream, or at an angle in the range between 80-100, preferably perpendicular, to the surface of the fastening column.

15. (canceled)

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to guide an air flow through the cavity between the fastening column and the collection surface.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of an outer wall of the collection chamber or at least a part of a band made of electrically conductive material, which band surrounds the outer wall of the collection chamber, is grounded.

18. A method of separating materials in the form of particles and/or drops from a gas flow, the method comprising: directing the gas flow through a collection chamber, providing a cavity for the gas flow between a fastening column and a collection surface conducting electricity that is electrically insulated from the outer wall of the collection chamber, providing ion yield tips on a surface of the fastening column, wherein said ion yield tips protrude from the surface of the fastening column into the cavity of the collection chamber, wherein a diameter of the fastening column is in a range between 40-150 mm and a diameter of the collection chamber is in a range between 200-1600 mm, creating high tension between the ion yield tips and the collection surface, directing high tension with the opposite sign of direct voltage than the high tension directed to the ion yield tips to the collection surface, wherein the voltage is in a range between 10-100 kV and a current is in a range between 50-5000 A, and separating inside the collection chamber at least a part of the materials from the gas flow.

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the gas flow is exposed to an electric field in the cavity between the ion yield tips and the collection surface, and wherein all of the material contained in the gas flows through the cavity.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein a voltage in a range between 10-60 kV is used.

23. (canceled)

24. The method according to claim 18, wherein a current in a range between 400-2300 A, for example 1500 A, is used.

25. The method according to claim 18, wherein the gas flow is guided through the cavity with a volumetric flow rate of the air is in a range of 20-800 m.sup.3/h, for example 200 m.sup.3/h.

26. The method according to claim 18, wherein the gas flow is guided through the cavity with a velocity in a range between 0.5-2.5 m/s, for example more than 1.0 m/s.

27. A device for separating materials from a gas flow, the device comprising: an inlet for incoming air to be purified, a collection chamber, an outlet for the purified air, a voltage source, and a fastening column to which ion yield tips have been coupled, wherein the ion yield tips are arranged directly on a surface of the fastening column, and wherein the ion yield tips protrude from the surface of the fastening column into a cavity of the collection chamber, wherein the device is configured to direct high tension to the ion yield tips providing ion beams from the ion yield tips to the collection surface, wherein the collection surface conducting electricity is electrically insulated from the outer wall of the collection chamber by an electrical insulation, wherein the device is configured to direct voltage of opposite sign to the ion yield tips than the voltage directed to the collection surface, and wherein a major axis of the elliptical fastening column is in a range between 40-150 mm, a major axis of the elliptical collection chamber is in a range between 200-1600 mm, the volume is in a range between 10-100 kV, and a current is in a range between 50-5000 A.

28. The device according to claim 27, wherein a minor axis of the elliptical fastening column is in a range between 20-120 mm, preferably between 50-100 mm, for example 80 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a device for separating materials in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention, and

[0041] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic side view of a fastening column in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention.

EMBODIMENTS

[0042] The present invention relates to a device for separating materials in the form of particles and/or drops from a gas flow, the device comprising a chamber arranged within a housing providing an inlet and an outlet for an air flow. The housing provides a surface which serves as a collection surface. Inside the housing substantially at the centre is provided a column with a cylindrical or elliptical body. On the surface of the cylindrical or elliptical body a series of ion yield tips is arranged for directing ion beams to the collection surface. The column is connected to a power supply that allows the ion yield tips to generate electric fields in the form of ion beams emanating from the ion yield tips. The housing and the column are isolated from each other and they can be connected to separate power supplies so that they possess different charges for the purpose of directing the electric fields. The column is typically at least partially a cylindrical body that has a surface defined by the diameter in its cross section and the length of the body. The dimensions of the column define the cross sectional area of a cavity between the column and the collection surface. The local velocity of the air flow in the cavity can be increased by increasing the diameter of the column. Further, the larger the surface area, the more ion yield tips can be arranged on the body, thereby increasing the electric field and current generated encapsulating the body. This allows greater exposure of the electric field for the particles contained in the air flow to be charged and then directed to the collection surface for removal. The high density of the electric field created inside the chamber improves the efficiency of extraction of the particles by extracting more particles from a fast flow of air. Furthermore, all particles included in the air flow have to pass through the cavity between the column and the collection surface.

[0043] In FIG. 1 a schematic view of a device for separating materials in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention is illustrated. The device 1 is designed to separate materials in the form of particles and/or drops from a gas flow. Especially, the device is designed to separate particles and/or drops the diameter of which varies from one nanometer to a few dozen nanometers. The device comprises an inlet 2 for incoming air 3 to be purified, a collection chamber 4, an outlet 6 for the purified air 7, a voltage source with actuators, and a fastening column 9 to which ion yield tips 10 have been coupled. A metal band (not shown), which surrounds the outer wall of the collection chamber, is grounded. The fastening column 9 comprises outer surfaces forming a closed body. The device 1 is configured to guide an air flow through a cavity 14 between the fastening column 9 and a collection surface 12. The device 1 is further configured to direct high tension to the ion yield tips 10 providing ion beams 11 from the ion yield tips 10 to the collection surface 12.

[0044] The collection surface 12 conducting electricity is electrically insulated from the outer wall 5 of the collection chamber 4 by an electrical insulation. The electrical insulation may be, for example, attached to the outer wall 5 of the collection chamber 4 with the help of fasteners (not shown). The electrical insulation may be glass, plastic, acrylic-nitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), or some other similar substance insulating high tension, for instance.

[0045] Furthermore, the device 1 is configured to direct voltage of opposite sign to the ion yield tips 10 than the voltage directed to the collection surface 12. In other words, voltage with the opposite sign of direct voltage (positive in the figure) as the high tension directed to the ion yield tips 10 (negative in the figure) is directed to the surface 12 conducting electricity. Thus, the voltages are opposite, i.e. positive for the ion yield tips 10 and negative for the surface 12 conducting electricity, or negative for the ion producing tips 10 and positive for the surface 12 conducting electricity. Typically, the voltage of the ion yield tips 10 is substantially equal to that of the collection surface 12, but it is also possible to use voltages of different magnitude. The advantage of equal voltages is the simple structure of high tension centres. Better purification results have also been achieved with equal voltages.

[0046] The ion yield tips 10 are arranged directly on a surface 13 of the fastening column 9 having a length L.sub.col and a diameter D.sub.col, wherein the ion yield tips 10 protrude from the surface 13 of the fastening column into a cavity 14 of the collection chamber 4. The dimensions of the fastening column 9 define the cross sectional area of the cavity 14 between the column and the collection surface. Thus, for a given volumetric flow rate of the air application of the equation of continuity results in an increasing local velocity of the air flow through the cavity 14 with increasing diameter of the fastening column.

[0047] In FIG. 2 a schematic side view of a fastening column 9 in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention is illustrated. The diameter D.sub.col of the fastening column 9 may be in a range between 40-150 mm, for instance. In particular, the diameter D.sub.col of the fastening column may be e.g. 40 mm, 100 mm, or 150 mm. The ratio between the diameter D.sub.col and the maximum diameter of the collection chamber may be, for example, 1:3. The fastening column 9 may e.g. include 48 ion yield tips 10. The length of an ion yield tip 10 may be in a range between 2-15 mm, for instance. In particular, the length of an ion yield tip 10 may be e.g. 5 mm or 10 mm. In FIG. 2 the ion yield tips are arranged at an even distance relative to each other. According to certain embodiments, the ion yield tips 10 are arranged spirally wound around the surface 13 of the fastening column 9.

[0048] Air flows through the ring-like cavity 14 of the collection chamber 4 during use of the shown fastening column 9 in a device 1 according to FIG. 1. The volumetric flow rate of the air may be e.g. about 200 m.sup.3/h. The velocity of an air flow through the cavity 14 may be in a range between 0.5-2.5 m/s, for example 1.5 m/s.

[0049] All particles and/or drops contained in the air flow pass through the cavity 14 between the collection surface 12 and the surface 13 of the fastening column 13. Consequently, all particles and/or drops pass through ion beams 11, thus improving the purifying process of the air.

[0050] It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention disclosed are not limited to the particular structures, process steps, or materials disclosed herein, but are extended to equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those ordinarily skilled in the relevant arts. It should also be understood that terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

[0051] Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases in one embodiment or in an embodiment in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Where reference is made to a numerical value using a term such as, for example, about or substantially, the exact numerical value is also disclosed.

[0052] As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. In addition, various embodiments and example of the present invention may be referred to herein along with alternatives for the various components thereof. It is understood that such embodiments, examples, and alternatives are not to be construed as de facto equivalents of one another, but are to be considered as separate and autonomous representations of the present invention.

[0053] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of lengths, widths, shapes, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

[0054] While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.

[0055] The verbs to comprise and to include are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of also un-recited features. The features recited in depending claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of a or an, that is, a singular form, throughout this document does not exclude a plurality.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0056] At least some embodiments of the present invention find industrial application in air purifiers and/or purifying air. Very suitable uses being particularly isolation rooms in hospitals, operating rooms, factories manufacturing microchips, and air intake in such rooms in which biological weapons have to be repelled. Of course, the present invention may also find application in purification of rooms in homes and offices.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0057] 1 device for separating materials [0058] 2 inlet [0059] 3 incoming air [0060] 4 collection chamber [0061] 5 outer wall [0062] 6 outlet [0063] 7 purified air [0064] 9 fastening column [0065] 10 ion yield tips [0066] 11 ion beams [0067] 12 collection surface [0068] 13 surface [0069] 14 cavity [0070] L.sub.col length [0071] D.sub.col diameter

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

EP 1165241 B1