Concentric electrical discharge aerosol charger

Abstract

The invention concerns an aerosol charger having electrical discharge comprising: a body (2); an ion source (3) comprising two electrodes (31, 32); the charger being characterized in that the body (2) and at least a first electrode (32) of the ion source (3) are aligned along a same axis of longitudinal symmetry (AA) of the charger, the body (2) surrounding the first electrode (32) in such a way as to define an area (5) for an aerosol to flow between a space defined between the body (2) and the first electrode (32); and in that the first electrode (32) comprises a hole (321) in communication with the area (5) for the aerosol (Ae) to flow, the hole (321) being designed to allow ions formed at the ion source (3) to pass therethrough in order for them to mix with an aerosol (Ae) flowing in the area (5) for the aerosol (Ae) to flow.

Claims

1. Electrical discharge aerosol charger comprising: a body comprising a flared segment extended by a straight segment, the flared segment narrowing from an inlet opening to an outlet opening at the extremity of the straight segment, an ion source comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the second electrode is tip shaped, said first and second electrodes being disposed along a center line of the flared segment with the first electrode being axially interposed between the second tip-shaped electrode and walls of the flared segment, defining an ion formation zone upstream of the straight segment between the electrodes; the electrical discharge aerosol charger being wherein the body and at least the first electrode of the ion source are aligned on a same longitudinal axis of symmetry of the electrical discharge aerosol charger, the body surrounding the first electrode; the electrical discharge aerosol charger comprising an area surrounding the first electrode, between the body and the first electrode, so that aerosols are able to flow into said area from the flared segment and to converge into the straight segment; and in that the first electrode comprises a hole aligned with the second electrode and extending around the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the electrical discharge aerosol charger, said hole being in communication with the area so that ions formed coming from the ion source mix with an aerosol flowing in the area, the mixing beginning at the hole, and wherein the first electrode is composed of a layer of insulating material, surrounded by an outer metallic layer and an inner metallic layer, the electrical discharge aerosol charger further comprising a voltage generator configured to set up a DC voltage between the two metallic layers of the electrode.

2. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode is composed of two plates mutually symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the electrical discharge aerosol charger.

3. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 1, further comprising a voltage generator configured to set up a DC voltage between the first and the second electrode.

4. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 3, further comprising a ballast resistor placed in series with the generator.

5. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 1, further comprising a voltage generator configured to set up a DC voltage between the outer metallic layer of the first electrode and the body.

6. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 1, further comprising successive rings polarised with the same polarity as the particles and positioned at the narrowed part of the body, in such a way as to confine the ions in the center of the narrowed part of the body by electrostatic repulsion.

7. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 1, wherein the narrowed part of the body is composed of two semicylindrical electrodes, powered by an AC current generator, in such a way as to form an oscillating field in the narrowed part of the body.

8. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 1, wherein the narrowed part of the body is composed of three electrodes powered by a three-phase current generator, in such a way as to form a rotating field in the narrowed part of the body.

9. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode is tapered in shape, the body being composed of a cone extended by a tube.

10. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode is composed of two plates mutually symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the electrical discharge aerosol charger.

11. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 1, further comprising a voltage generator configured to set up a DC voltage between the first and the second electrode.

12. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 11, further comprising a ballast resistor placed in series with the generator.

13. Electrical discharge aerosol charger comprising: a body comprising a flared segment and a straight segment, the flared segment narrowing from an inlet opening to an outlet opening at the extremity of the straight segment; an ion source comprising a first electrode and a second electrode; the electrical discharge aerosol charger being wherein the body and at least the first electrode of the ion source are aligned on a same longitudinal axis of symmetry of the electrical discharge aerosol charger, the body surrounding the first electrode in such a way as to define an area for an aerosol to flow between a space defined by the body and the first electrode; and in that the first electrode comprises a hole aligned with the second electrode and extending around the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the electrical discharge aerosol charger, the hole being in communication with the area so that ions formed coming from the ion source mix with an aerosol flowing in the area the mixing beginning at the hole; wherein the first electrode is composed of a layer of insulating material, surrounded by an outer metallic layer and an inner metallic layer, the electrical discharge aerosol charger further comprising a voltage generator configured to set up a DC voltage between the two metallic layers of the electrode.

14. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 13, further comprising a voltage generator configured to set up a DC voltage between the outer metallic layer of the first electrode and the body.

15. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 13, further comprising successive rings polarised with the same polarity as the particles and positioned at the narrowing part of the body, in such a way as to confine the ions in the center of the narrowing part of the body by electrostatic repulsion.

16. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 13, wherein the narrowing part of the body is composed of two semicylindrical electrodes, powered by an AC current generator, in such a way as to form an oscillating field in the narrowed part of the body.

17. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 13, wherein the narrowing part of the body is composed of three electrodes powered by a three-phase current generator, in such a way as to form a rotating field in the narrowed part of the body.

18. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 13, wherein the ion source further comprises a second electrode aligned with the body and the first electrode on the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the electrical discharge aerosol charger.

19. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 13, further comprising a voltage generator configured to set up a DC voltage between the first and the second electrode.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Other features, aims and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description, given by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the appended figures, among which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section view of an aerosol charger according to the invention;

(3) FIGS. 1bis and 1ter are representations in space of two variants of the device according to the invention;

(4) FIGS. 2 and 3 are longitudinal section views of two variants of aerosol charger according to the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 represents the current-voltage characteristic of a plasma discharge obtained with the invention;

(6) FIG. 5a is a representation in space of a variant of the device according to the invention;

(7) FIGS. 5b and 5c are transverse section views of two variants of the device according to the invention;

(8) In all the figures, similar elements bear identical reference numbers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) With reference to FIG. 1 a corona discharge aerosol charger according to the invention comprises a body 2, a second electrode 31 in the shape of a tip and a first electrode 32. The first 32 electrode and the second 31 electrode define between them a source of ions 3 where ions are formed by corona effect. The distance between the first electrode and the second electrode is typically between 1 and 10 mm. The first electrode can also be a wire or any other object having a low radius of curvature.

(10) The aerosol charger further comprises a voltage generator 6 which makes it possible to set up a DC voltage between the first 32 and the second 31 electrode in order to generate ions by corona effect between the two electrodes 31 and 32.

(11) The body 2 and the first electrode 32 are hollow and are aligned with the second electrode 31 on a same longitudinal axis of symmetry AA of the charger. The body 2 surrounds the first electrode 32 in such a way as to define an area 5 for the aerosol to flow Ae in a space defined between the body 2 and the first electrode 32. The aerosol Ae to be charged is injected between the body 2 and the first electrode 32. The first electrode 32 comprises a hole 321, 321, 321 in communication with the area 5 for the aerosol to flow in, the hole 321, 321, 321 being adapted to let through ions formed by corona discharge between the first 32 and the second 31 electrode in order that they mix with the aerosol Ae flowing in the area 5 for the aerosol Ae to flow. The ions are injected into the center of the particles to be charged, which has the effect of limiting ion loss on the walls of the charger.

(12) Advantageously, a stream of dry air Ai is introduced into the hole 321, 321, 321, in such a way as to drive the ions formed by corona discharge toward the area 5 for the aerosol Ae to flow. The charging of the aerosol Ae takes place post-discharge. The ions are extracted from the ion source 3 by convection and mixed with the aerosol Ae, thus limiting the collection of aerosol on the electrodes 32 and 31 and thus the destabilization of the discharge.

(13) The body 2, 2, or 2 is a duct composed of a first flared segment 21, 21, or 21 and a second straight segment 22, 22, or 22. The first electrode 32 is placed in the center of the flared part 21, 21, 21 of the body 2, 2, 2.

(14) With reference to FIGS. 1bis and 1ter we will now describe two variant embodiments of a device according to the invention.

(15) In a first variant embodiment illustrated by FIG. 1bis, the first electrode 32 is tapered in shape and hollow so as to guide the stream of dry air Ai in the direction of the hole 321, 321, 321. The body 2 is composed of a cone 21 extended by a tube 22. The first electrode 32 is placed in the center of the body 2 in such a way that the stream of aerosol injected between the first electrode 32 and the hollow cone 21 is evacuated by the tube 22 after being charged with ions at the hole of the first electrode 321, 321, 321.

(16) In a second variant embodiment illustrated by FIG. 1ter, the first electrode 32 is composed of two plates mutually symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry AA of the charger. The body 2 is a duct of rectangular cross section composed of a first flared segment 21 and a second straight segment 22.

(17) As can be seen in FIG. 4, the current I/voltage T characteristic of a plasma discharge is not linear. The current I/voltage T characteristic of a plasma discharge depends on the polarity of the second electrode 31. If the second electrode 31 has a higher potential than the first electrode 32, the following succession of regimes of discharge is observed. When the voltage is relatively low, the electric field applied between the two electrodes 31 and 32 only drives the ions and the electrons present in air because of ambient radioactivity. These ions and electrons migrate toward the electrodes 31 and 32 in the applied electric field while producing a low current. This regime is called the Background ionization regime. If the voltage between electrodes 31 and 32 is sufficiently increased, all the electrons produced by radioactivity are captured and the current saturates. If the voltage increases until the electrons initially present in the gas acquire enough energy to ionize a neutral atom, the current then increases exponentially with the voltage. This regime is called the Townsend regime. If the voltage is further increased, the discharge enters the Trichel regime wherein the current is pulsed then the Corona regime wherein the instantaneous current is constant. If the voltage is further increased, the electric break point is reached, electrons are emitted by the cathode after impact with an ion or a photon and the current drops. The discharge then enters the so-called Glow regime. If the voltage increases until the electrodes 31 and 32 become hot enough for the cathode to emit ions thermally, the creation of an arc is observed.

(18) If the second electrode 31 has a lower potential than the first electrode 32, the series of discharge regimes is as follows. First the Townsend regime is observed, then the Corona regime. If the current is further increased, the discharge filament joins the two electrodes. This regime is called the streamer regime. Finally, if the voltage further increases until the electrodes 31 and 32 become hot enough for the cathode to emit ions thermally, the creation of an arc is observed.

(19) The Trichel regime, the Corona regime and the Glow regime are the most propitious regimes to the formation of charged species. The streamer regime is ruled out because the filaments vaporize part of the electrodes, which leads to the formation of particles. The applied voltage between the first electrode 32 and the second electrode 31 makes it possible to determine the discharge regime. In the case of the Trichel and Corona regimes, it is not necessary to add a Ballast resistor to stabilize the discharge. On the other hand, in the case of the Glow regime, a ballast resistor 61 is preferably added, placed in series with the generator 6 to stabilize the discharge in the Glow regime.

(20) The concentric injection of the ions in the center of the particles to be charged makes it possible to limit ion loss on the charger walls. However, part of the ions is still collected on the edge 323 of the first electrode 31 when they pass through the hole 321, 321, 321 of the first electrode. To further limit these losses, the first electrode 32 can be composed of a layer of insulating material 324 (with reference to FIG. 2), surrounded by an outer metallic layer 322 and an inner metallic layer 326, the charger further comprising a voltage generator 7 making it possible to set up a DC voltage between the two metallic layers 322 and 326 of the electrode, typically of a few hundred volts. The voltage difference between the two metallic layers 322 and 326 of the first electrode 32 creates an electrostatic field that increases the velocity of the ions as they pass through the hole 321, 321, 321, and thus limits the quantity of ions collected on the first electrode 32 at the hole 321, 321, 321.

(21) Moreover, a fraction of the ions extracted from the hole 321, 321, 321 of the first electrode 32 is collected on the outer metallic layer 322 of the first electrode 32, this fraction is useless for charging aerosols. To limit this effect, a voltage generator 8 is advantageously added (with reference to FIG. 3) making it possible to set up a DC voltage, typically of a few hundred volts, between the outer metallic layer 326 of the first electrode 32 and the body 2. The potential difference between the first electrode 32 and the body 2 creates an electrostatic field between the body 2 and the first electrode 32 which limits the collection of ions collected on the first electrode 32.

(22) With reference to FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c we will now describe three variant embodiments of a device according to the invention.

(23) In order to limit the loss of particles on the walls of the body 2, 2 or 2, it is advantageously possible to place successive rings 23 (with reference to FIG. 5a) polarised with the same polarity as the particles at the narrowed part 22, 22, 22 of the body 2, 2, 2, in such a way as to confine the ions in the center of the narrowed part 22, 22, 22 of the body 2, 2, 2 by electrostatic repulsion.

(24) Advantageously, the narrowed part 22, 22, 22 of the body 2, 2, 2 can be composed of two semicylindrical electrodes, powered by an AC current generator 24 (with reference to FIG. 5b), in such a way as to form an oscillating field in the narrowed part 22, 22, 22 of the body 2, 2, 2.

(25) Advantageously, the narrowed part 22, 22, 22 of the body 2, 2, 2 can be composed of three electrodes powered by a three-phase current generator 25 (with reference to FIG. 5c), in such a way as to form a rotating field in the narrowed part 22, 22, 22 of the body 2, 2, 2.