Arrangement for generating an electric corona discharge in air

• US 4,955,991 A
• Filed: 09/26/1988
• Issued: 09/11/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Astra-Vent AB Arstaangsvagen 1A S-117 43 Stockholm Sweden
• Original Assignee: Astra Vent AB
• Inventors: Loreth, Andrezej, Torok, Vilmos
• Primary Examiner(s): Nozick, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US07/252,362
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 55/2, 55/129, 55/138, 55/130, 55/150-152, 55/120, 361/230-232
• US Class Current: 96/50
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/38 Particle charging or ionising stations, e.g. using electric discharge, radioactive radiation or flames

Abstract

An arrangement for generating an electric corona discharge in air having a corona electrode, a target electrode which is spaced from the corona electrode, and a d.c. voltage source, the respective terminals of which are connected to the corona electrode and the target electrode. The voltage of the voltage source and the construction of the corona electrode are such as to generate a corona discharge at the corona electrode. A conduit is provided for continuously removing the air present in the immediate vicinity of the corona electrode and dealing with the air thus removed in a manner to render innocuous physiologically harmful substances or irritants present in the air and generated by the corona discharge, such as primarily ozone and nitrogen oxides.

Claims

1. An arrangement for generating an electric corona discharge in an air flow path which is in communication with a human environment and continuously removing harmful gases produced as a consequence of the corona discharge from the air flow path comprising

a duct having an air flow therethrough;

a corona electrode, and a target electrode spaced from said corona electrode in said air flow of said duct;

a d.c. voltage source having first and second terminals to which said corona electrode and said target electrode, respectively, are connected, the voltage between said terminals of said voltage source capable of creating a corona discharge at said corona electrode;

piping means to continuously remove harmful gases produced as consequence of said corona discharge, extending from inside said duct and out said duct, and having a first pipe with an orifice at one end of said first pipe;

said orifice of said first pipe located in the vicinity of and opening in the direction of said corona electrode, and said pipe over the remainder of its length being hermetically sealed relative to said air flow in said duct;

a second pipe having an open end located axially opposite to and spaced from said orifice of said first pipe;

air pumping means connected to said second pipe for generating a jet of air out through said open end of said second pipe closely past said corona electrode and into said orifice of said first pipe.

2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein

a purifying means for removing said harmful gases from a flow of air through said first pipe is connected to an other end of said first pipe.

3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein

said corona electrode comprises a short needle element oriented substantially axially in said air flow in said duct and said orifice is substantially circular.