ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. An electrostatic air cleaner comprising: an electrostatic precipitator having an air inlet, an air outlet, and at least two electrode sets; at least one air quality sensor positioned to monitor precipitator outlet air quality; a control system connected to said sensors; and a power source connected to at least two electrode sets and responsive to said control system, wherein said control system is connected to receive said signal from said sensor and adjust a voltage at a power source output.

2. An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said control system is connected to adjust said power source outputs to achieve an air quality goal at a minimum energy expenditure.

3. An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said air quality sensor is a particle size distribution sensor.

4. An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said air quality sensor is a particle concentration sensor.

5. An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said air quality sensor is an air flow rate sensor.

6. An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein one of said electrode sets is an exciting electrode set positioned to cooperate with a corona electrode set.

7. An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 6 wherein said exciting electrode set is grounded.

8. An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein one of said electrode sets comprises a repelling electrode set.

9. An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 8 further comprising a collecting electrode set and wherein said collecting electrode set is at or near ground potential.

10. An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said power source has a first output connected to a corona electrode and a second output connected to a repelling electrode.

11. An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 9 wherein said power source output connected to said first set of electrodes is independent of said power source output connected to said second set of electrodes.

12. An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said control system is responsive to an elevation sensor.

13. An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said control system is responsive to an air flow rate sensor.

14. An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 13 further comprising an air flow generator connected to said power source.

15. An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said electrostatic air cleaner is a particle separator.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of the air mover and electrode structure of an electrostatic air cleaner;

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of an electrostatic air cleaner with a voltage control system responsive to air quality measurements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0042] Before the present invention is described in further detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appended claims.

[0043] Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range is encompassed within the invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges is also encompassed within the invention, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the invention.

[0044] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, a limited number of the exemplary methods and materials are described herein.

[0045] It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0046] All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference to disclose and describe the methods and/or materials in connection with which the publications are cited. The publications discussed herein are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior invention. Further, the dates of publication provided may be different from the actual publication dates, which may need to be independently confirmed.

[0047] FIG. 1 schematically shows an air mover and the electrode geometry of an electrostatic precipitator stage 101 of an electrostatic air cleaning system. An ionizing stage may be provided in the intake air flow path. The ionizing stage may include one or more corona electrodes 103 which may be provided near an intake of the precipitator 101. One or more exciting electrodes 104 may be provided near an intake of the precipitator 101 and positioned to co-act with the corona electrodes 103. Repelling electrodes 105 may be located downstream from the ionization stage. In addition collecting electrodes 109 covered with porous, open-cell foam 107 may be located downstream from the exciting electrodes 104 and corona electrodes 103. The electrostatic precipitator may control actual air filtration efficiency in a wide range, from 30% to 99%, for particles of sizes from 0.3 to 5 microns. The filtration efficiency may be controlled by controlling the voltages on the corona electrode and the repelling electrode. These voltages may be kept within the range from zero to maximum voltage. The maximum voltage is determined by air breakdown voltage.

[0048] The air purification device shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/401,082 and the T. Wen article show devices with high voltages applied to both the corona electrode and the repelling electrode and show grounded exciting electrode(s) and collecting electrode(s). The device shown in FIG. 1 may have applied the corona electrodes 103 and repelling electrodes 104. The exciting electrodes 104 and collecting electrodes 109 may also be grounded. Ionized particles 108 are subjected to forces, indicated by arrows in FIG. 1. Particles 110 may settle on the open-cell collecting foam 107. All four electrode sets may have any electrical potential with regard to the ground, but the potential difference should be applied between the pairs of corona-exciting and repelling-collecting electrode sets in order to achieve maximum filtration or the required particles separation efficiency. At the same time, maximum voltage on the corona electrode set would require considerable electrical power usage. The electrostatic air cleaner 101 may include a fan 100 blowing air into the direction from the left to the right.

[0049] It has been found that collection efficiency varies based on particle size. Even when the operating parameters of an electrostatic precipitator are set for high efficiency, larger particles settle closer to the leading end of a collector and smaller particles settle progressively further from the leading end of a collector. In this way the collector may operate as a particle separator. With a low repelling electrode voltage the collection efficiency is also low. As the repelling electrode voltage increases so does the collection efficiency. The efficiency for large particles will reach a maximum at a relatively lower voltage and as voltage is increased the particle size subjected to maximal efficiency decreases.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an electrostatic air cleaner with voltage controls responsive to air quality. The electrostatic air cleaner 301 may include a fan 303 blowing air into the direction shown by the arrow 304. The electrostatic air cleaner and particle separator section 302 clean incoming air. It may be powered by a power source 308 with a control system 309. Air quality monitors (sensors) 305 and 306 may monitor air quality and the condition of both outdoor and indoor air correspondingly. Sensor 307 may monitor the velocity of the air that passes through the particle separator section 302.

[0051] The power source 308 may generate high voltage that may be applied to the corona electrode 103 and to the repelling electrode 105 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0052] These voltages may be controlled separately (independently) or together depending on the specific requirements.

[0053] The electrostatic air cleaning device 301 may have maximum filtration efficiency when the voltages on both the repelling and the corona electrodes are set at the maximum level.

[0054] The fan 303 speed and incoming air quality may be related to collection performance.

[0055] The air velocity of incoming air provided to the air velocity monitor 307 and may be processed by the control system 309. The control system 309 may adjust voltage levels for the power source 308 and either increase or decrease voltages across the corona 103 and repelling 105 electrodes in order to achieve air quality requirements, filtration efficiency, or energy savings.

[0056] An air quality sensor 305 such as an Amphenol SM-PWM-01A SMART Dust Sensor or a Waveshare Dust Sensor Detector Module with Sharp GP2Y1010AUOF may be used.

[0057] Lowering the air velocity generated by the fan 303 permits the electrostatic air cleaner 301 to maintain necessary filtration efficiency at a reduced voltage. The air velocity monitor 307 may send a corresponding signal to the control system 309. The control system 309 may decrease the voltages generated by the power source 308 in accordance with either a pre-programmed value, a measured air quality level, or a required filtration efficiency. Air quality may be measured by the sensor 306, and the filtration efficiency is a result of a calculation in accordance with equation (1).

[0058] The control system may also use other environmental parameters including, but not limited to, elevation, air humidity, etc. Additional measures of environmental parameters or conditions allows for complicated and comprehensive power source 308 control via control system 309.

[0059] At high elevations, corona electrode voltage should be decreased in accordance with the Paschen law. In thinner air, the corona onset voltage and air breakdown voltage may be lower than at sea level. An additional air pressure monitor (not shown) may measure air pressure and send a corresponding signal to the control system 309.

[0060] The electrostatic air cleaner 301 may change its filtration efficiency due to other factors such as electrode contamination or other factors that cannot be readily predicted. In this case, the control system still may sense the difference in the filtration efficiency and change power source 308 output voltages to a level where the filtration efficiency is satisfactory.

[0061] The air cleaner 301 may be installed as a recirculating air cleaner having its air inlet and air outlet in a closed space, like a building or residence or an exterior intake system having an outdoor air inlet and an air outlet inside a closed space like a building or other enclosure. The particular air quality requirements and installation will inform the operation of the control system 309.

[0062] The techniques, processes and apparatus described may be utilized to control operation of any device and conserve use of resources based on conditions detected or applicable to the device.

[0063] The invention is described in detail with respect to preferred embodiments, and it will now be apparent from the foregoing to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and the invention, therefore, as defined in the claims, is intended to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit of the invention.

[0064] Thus, specific apparatus for and methods of controlling electrostatic air cleaners have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the disclosure. Moreover, in interpreting the disclosure, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.