GB818996A - Improvements in or relating to electrostatic precipitators - Google Patents

Abstract

818,996. Electrostatic precipitation. WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC INTERNATIONAL CO. Aug. 24, 1956 [Aug. 30, 1955], No. 25891/56 Class 39(1). In an electrostatic precipitator which comprises a plurality of spaced, parallel collector plates and ionizer wires upstream of these plates, the upstream edges of the collector plates constitute non-discharging electrodes which together with the ionizer wires form the main ionizer zone of the precipitator. As shown, alternate ones 23 of the collector plates extend closer to the ionizer wires 18 than do the remaining plates 24. Plates 23 are insulatedly supported from the casing 10 and are connected through a variable resistance 31 to ground while plates 24 are connected directly to the casing and to ground. In operation, ionization current flows between the ionizer wires, which are connected to the positive terminal of the voltage power pack 30, the collector plates and ground. A grounded, perforated metal screen may be provided upstream of the ionizer wires to provide an ionization field upstream as well as downstream of the wires. A dielectric screen may be placed between the ionizer wires and the collector plates where it becomes positively charged and forces the positive ions to take longer paths between the wires and the plates. In an alternative embodiment each of the plates 23 is connected to ground through an individual resistor, each of which can be selected to provide a voltage drop which will equalize the voltages on the plates 23.