Gas separation: apparatus – Electric field separation apparatus – With control means responsive to sensed condition
Patent
1997-12-01
2000-05-02
Chiesa, Richard L.
Gas separation: apparatus
Electric field separation apparatus
With control means responsive to sensed condition
96 82, 96 92, 96 96, 96 97, 96 98, 361235, B03C 341, B03C 368
Patent
active
060568089
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to ionizers and more particularly to a modular and low power ionizer suitable for commercial and residential use.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Conventional ionizers or precipitators comprise large and very specialized devices. These devices are intended for large industrial applications, for example a cement factory, and have high power requirements. Due to their large power requirements, the ionizers include separate high voltage power supplies and tend to be very bulky and costly to manufacture and maintain. The devices are typically designed as stand-alone units which are coupled to existing ventilation or heating and cooling equipment. For these reasons, known devices are not well-suited for commercial applications, such as once buildings, or residential or consumer use. Published European Patent Application No. 90850276.8 discloses one such device according to the prior art.
In an office building, the air circulation system includes a filter bank which comprises a matrix of filter modules. Each filter module typically has a mechanical filter element which traps particulate matter in the air before the air is circulated. The filter elements need to be replaced on a regular basis thereby incurring both maintenance and replacement costs. There is also a cost associated with the disposal of the used filter elements. For medical facilities, the filter elements are treated as hazardous biological waste and the disposal costs are significant. Furthermore, the air circulation fans must have the capacity to push the "dirty air" through the filter elements. For a typical once building this means large electric motors with a high horsepower output to drive the circulation fans, which further increases the cost of a conventional air conditioning/heating installation.
There is also reason to believe that filter elements which have become contaminated may contribute to "sick building syndrome".
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, there is a need for an ionizer which is suitable for commercial and residential use. It is an object of the present invention to provide a modular ionizer which may be integrated with an existing heating or cooling duct in the heating and cooling equipment (HVAC) of a building. It is another object of the present invention to provide an ionizer with an integrated high voltage generator which is operated from conventional AC power and features low power consumption. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ionizer which produces negligible amounts of ozone as a by-product of the ionization process. It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a modular ionizer which is arranged with other ionizer modules to form an ionizer bank or matrix suitable for use in larger installations such as those found in residential condominiums, office buildings, medical facilities, laboratories, food processing plants, electronic assembly (i.e. "clean-room") plants, and manufacturing and industrial plants.
In a first aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for purifying gas flowing in a duct by establishing a radially directed ionic wind within the duct to sweep particulate solids directly onto one or more collector electrodes, said apparatus comprising: (a) an ionizing unit; (b) means for supporting said ionizing unit within the duct, said ionizing unit comprising, (i) a water-tight housing, (ii) a high voltage generator within the housing and having a high voltage output, (iii) an electrode support rod coupled to said high voltage output and extending from said housing coaxially within said duct, (iv) at least one group of ionizing electrodes mounted on said support rod and extending radially therefrom; and (c) means for connecting said high voltage generator to an external low voltage power supply.
In a second aspect, the present invention provides an air purifier for purifying air in an enclosed space and said enclosed space being provided with an AC power supply, said air purifier comprising: (a) an enclosure having
REFERENCES:
patent: 1130212 (1915-03-01), Steere
patent: 1357202 (1920-10-01), Nesbit
patent: 2097233 (1937-10-01), Meston
patent: 2637408 (1953-05-01), Yadoff
patent: 2868318 (1959-01-01), Perkins et al.
patent: 3157479 (1964-11-01), Boles
patent: 3582711 (1971-06-01), Jahnke
patent: 3695001 (1972-10-01), Watanabe
patent: 3745749 (1973-07-01), Gelfand
patent: 3765153 (1973-10-01), Grey
patent: 3768258 (1973-10-01), Smith et al.
patent: 3872370 (1975-03-01), Regnault
patent: 4216000 (1980-08-01), Kofoid
patent: 4284417 (1981-08-01), Reese et al.
patent: 4400675 (1983-08-01), Thomas
patent: 4536698 (1985-08-01), Shevalenko et al.
patent: 4689056 (1987-08-01), Noguchi et al.
patent: 4772998 (1988-09-01), Guenther, Jr. et al.
patent: 5404079 (1995-04-01), Ohkuni et al.
patent: 5578112 (1996-11-01), Krause
Chiesa Richard L.
DKW International Inc.
LandOfFree
Modular and low power ionizer does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Modular and low power ionizer, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Modular and low power ionizer will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1591134