Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B03—SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
  • B03C—MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
  • B03C3/00—Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapour, e.g. air, by electrostatic effect
  • B03C3/34—Constructional details or accessories or operation thereof
  • B03C3/40—Electrode constructions
  • B03C3/41—Ionising-electrodes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B03—SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
  • B03C—MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
  • B03C3/00—Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapour, e.g. air, by electrostatic effect
  • B03C3/34—Constructional details or accessories or operation thereof
  • B03C3/40—Electrode constructions
  • B03C3/45—Collecting-electrodes
  • B03C3/49—Collecting-electrodes tubular
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B03—SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
  • B03C—MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
  • B03C2201/00—Details of magnetic or electrostatic separation
  • B03C2201/10—Ionising electrode with two or more serrated ends or sides

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for separating materials in the form of particles and/or drops from a gas flow. Further, the present invention relates to a method for separating materials in the form of particles and/or drops from a gas flow.
• filters, cyclones, or electrical methods are used in gas purification systems and for separating particles from a gas flow.
• Methods and devices for separating particles or drops from a gas flow are e.g. known from DE 1471620 Al and DE 19751984 Al .
• Air purifiers that are currently being used have moved away from the conventional method of using filters in order to mechanically extract unwanted particles from air.
• Such conventional filtration systems suffer from the disadvantages that the air flow has to be limited to a slow flow stream and that the filter has to be periodically removed for cleaning.
• electric air purifiers exploit the properties of charges in ionised gas and use electrostatic means to extract the charged particles from a directed airflow. This method of extraction improves efficiency not only in terms of overall amount of particles being extracted but also the types of particles.
• An air purifier would typically exploit the properties of positively or negatively charged particles where an electric field would interact with these charged particles. The charged particles would respond to the electric field and be pulled towards the ion blow onto a collection surface.
• Document EP 1165241 Bl discloses a method and device for separating materials in the form of particles and/or drops from a gas flow, in which method the gas flow is directed through a collection chamber the outer walls of which are grounded, and in which high tension is directed to the ion yield tips arranged in the collection chamber, thus providing an ion flow from the ion yield tips towards the collection surface, separating the desired materials from the gas flow. It is characteristic of the invention that the collection surface conducting electricity are electrically insulated from the outer casings, and that high tension with the opposite sign of direct voltage as the high tension directed to the ion yield tips is directed to the collection surface.
• the electrical insulation is made of ABS
• the surface conducting electricity comprises a thin chrome layer arranged on the insulation layer.
• the ion yield tips are arranged in rings, with the help of which the distance between the ion yield tips and the collection surface is made shorter.
• some particles contained in the slow gas flow do not pass through the ion beams, but instead between the fastening rod and the ion yield tips.
• a device for separating materials in the form of particles and/or drops from a gas flow 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 the 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.
• Various embodiments of the first aspect may comprise at least one feature from the following bulleted list:
• the collection chamber is formed cylindrically, elliptically or annularly
• the fastening column is formed cylindrically, elliptically or annularly
• a diameter of a cylindrical fastening column is in a range between 40 - 150 mm, preferably between 80 - 120 mm, for example 100 mm
• a major axis of an elliptical fastening column is in a range between 40 - 150 mm, preferably between 80 - 120 mm, for example 100 mm, and/or 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
• a maximum diameter or a maximum major axis of the collection chamber is in a range between 200 - 1600 mm
• a voltage is in a range between 10 - 100 kV, preferably in a range between 10 - 60 kV
• a current is in a range between 50 - 5000 ⁇ , preferably between 400-2300 ⁇ , for example 1500 ⁇
• the length of an ion yield tip is in a range between 1-40 mm, preferably between 5- 20 mm
• a volumetric flow rate of the air is in a range o f 20 - 800 m 3 /h, for example 200 m 3 /h
• 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
• • 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
• the fastening column comprises outer surfaces forming a closed body
• the device is configured to guide an air flow through the cavity between the fastening column and the collection surface
• a method of separating materials in the form of particles and/or drops from a gas flow 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, creating high tension between the ion yield tips and the collection surface providing ion yield tips on a surface of the fastening column having a length and a diameter, which ion yield tips protrude from the surface of the fastening column into the cavity of the collection chamber, directing high tension with the opposite sign of direct voltage than the high tension directed to the ion yield tips to the collection surface, separating inside the collection chamber at least a part of the materials from the gas flow.
• Various embodiments of the second aspect may comprise at least one feature from the following bulleted list:
• 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
• a system and a method of separating materials in the form of particles and/or drops from a gas flow are provided.
• separation of materials from a gas flow can be further improved.
• a high reduction efficiency can be achieved.
• increasing the diameter of the fastening column thus also increasing the local flow speed in the cavity, does not reduce the reduction efficiency in comparison to the known systems.
• it seems that the effect of the increased electric field and current in the cavity between the fastening column and the collection surface is more important than the effect of a higher speed of the gas flow.
• a device using a fastening column with a diameter of 100 mm, using a voltage of 60 kV and using a current of 1400 ⁇ has provided an excellent reduction efficiency, for example for particles having a size of greater than 50- 200 nm.
• the reduction efficiency can be improved from about 70 % to about 80 % by means of certain embodiments of the invention.
• a suitable amount of ion yield tips can be arranged directly on the surface of the fastening column. The gas flow is exposed to an electric field in the cavity between the ion yield tips and the collection surface and all of the material contained in the gas flows through the cavity. There is no gas flow through rings outside the electric field.
• the reduction efficiency can be also improved for particles and/or drops the diameter of which varies from one nanometer to 10 nanometers or to 20 nanometers or to a few dozen nanometers.
• the system according to certain embodiments of the invention also improves the reduction efficiency of particles and/or drops with a diameter of less than 10 nanometers.
• FIGURE 1 illustrates a schematic view of a device for separating materials in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention
• FIGURE 2 illustrates a schematic side view of a fastening column in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention.
• 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.
• a column Inside the housing substantially at the centre is provided a column with a 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.
• 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.
• FIGURE 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 lis 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 gounded.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 vo ltages .
• the ion yield tips 10 are arranged directly on a surface 13 of the fastening column 9 having a length L co i and a diameter D 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.
• FIGURE 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 co i of the fastening column 9 may be in a range between 40 - 150 mm, for instance.
• the diameter D co i of the fastening column may be e.g. 40 mm, 100 mm, or 150 mm.
• the ratio between the diameter D co i 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.
• an ion yield tip 10 may be e.g. 5 mm or 10 mm.
• the ion yield tips are arranged at an even distance relative to each other.
• the ion yield tips 10 are arranged spirally wound around the surface 13 of the fastening column 9.
• the volumetric flow rate of the air may be e.g. about 200 m 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.
• 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.

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• Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)
• Electrostatic Separation (AREA)
• Elimination Of Static Electricity (AREA)
• Other Investigation Or Analysis Of Materials By Electrical Means (AREA)

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Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

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Citations (5)

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• 2018
  • 2018-05-14 WO PCT/FI2018/050357 patent/WO2018220261A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2018-05-14 AU AU2018278288A patent/AU2018278288B2/en active Active
  • 2018-05-14 KR KR1020197034616A patent/KR102357546B1/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 2018-05-14 JP JP2019566742A patent/JP6949145B2/ja active Active
  • 2018-05-14 CA CA3064503A patent/CA3064503C/en active Active
  • 2018-05-14 BR BR112019025098-0A patent/BR112019025098B1/pt active IP Right Grant
  • 2018-05-14 CN CN201880036420.1A patent/CN110753584B/zh active Active
  • 2018-05-14 RU RU2019137108A patent/RU2741418C1/ru active
• 2019
  • 2019-11-19 ZA ZA2019/07645A patent/ZA201907645B/en unknown
  • 2019-11-28 SA SA519410676A patent/SA519410676B1/ar unknown

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