Apparatus and method for purifying air

• US 6,607,579 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2001
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Gaw, Chinto Benjamin, Jefferson, Jean Angela, Saunders, James Henry, Willey, Alan David, Gartstein, Vladimir, Youngquist, Robert Scott, Verhoff, Marta Lea
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiesa, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US10/039,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20020185004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 96/27, 96/52, 96/53, 502/172, 95/71, 95/72
• US Class Current: 95/71
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/16 wet type

Abstract

An apparatus for removing particles from air, including an inlet for receiving a flow of air, a first chamber in flow communication with the inlet, wherein a charged spray of semi-conducting fluid droplets having a first polarity is introduced to the air flow so that the particles are electrostatically attracted to and retained by the spray droplets, and an outlet in flow communication with the first chamber, wherein the air flow exits the apparatus substantially free of the particles. The first chamber of the apparatus further includes a collecting surface for attracting the spray droplets, a power supply, and a spray nozzle connected to the power supply for receiving fluid and producing the spray droplets therefrom. The apparatus may also include a second chamber in flow communication with the inlet at a first end and the first chamber at a second end, wherein particles entrained in the air flow are charged with a second polarity opposite the first polarity prior to the air flow entering the first chamber. The second chamber of the apparatus further includes a power supply, at least one charge transfer element connected to the power supply for creating an electric field in the second chamber, and a ground element associated with the second chamber for defining and directing the electric field, wherein the air flow passes between the charge transfer element and the ground element.

Claims

1. An apparatus for removing particles from air, comprising:

(a) at least one inlet for receiving a flow of air, containing entrained particles;

(b) a first chamber in flow communication with said inlet, wherein an electrostatically charged spray of semi-conducting, non-aqueous, fluid droplets having a first polarity is introduced to said air flow passing therethrough so that said particles are electrostatically attracted to and retained by said spray droplets; and

(c) an outlet in flow communication with said first chamber, wherein said air flow exits said apparatus substantially free of said particles.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said first chamber further comprising a collecting surface for attracting said spray droplets.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said collecting surface is grounded.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said collecting surface is charged at a second polarity opposite said first polarity.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, said first chamber further comprising:

(a) a first device for forming said spray droplets from said fluid; and

(b) a second device for charging said spray droplets.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, said first chamber further comprising:

(a) a power supply; and

(b) a spray nozzle connected to said power supply for receiving fluid, producing said spray droplets therefrom, and charging said spray droplets.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second chamber in flow communication with said inlet at a first end and said first chamber at a second end, wherein said particles entrained in said air flow are charged with a second polarity opposite said first polarity prior to said air flow entering said first chamber.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, said second chamber further comprising:

(a) a power supply;

(b) at least one charge transfer element connected to said power supply for creating an electric field in said second chamber; and

(c) a ground element associated with said second chamber for defining and directing said electric field, wherein said air flow passes between said charge transfer element and said ground element.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said collecting surface is spaced from said spray nozzle by a predetermined distance so that charge on said spray droplets is maintained until striking said collecting surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a device located adjacent to said inlet for directing said air flow into said first chamber.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said particles have a specified size of approximately 0.1-10 microns.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a filter located adjacent to said inlet for collecting particles in said air flow having a size greater than said specified size.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a filter located adjacent to said outlet for removing any spray droplets not collected in said first chamber.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a device located adjacent to said outlet for directing said air flow from said inlet through said first chamber.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a device located adjacent to said outlet for monitoring quality of said air flow upon exiting said apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a fluid recirculation system in flow communication with said first chamber for providing said fluid from said collecting surface to said first device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, said fluid recirculation system further comprising:

(a) a reservoir in flow communication with said collecting surface; and

(b) a pump for providing said fluid to said spray nozzle.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, said fluid recirculation system further comprising a filter positioned between said collecting surface and said first device for removing said particles from said fluid.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, said fluid recirculation system further comprising a device for monitoring quality of said fluid prior to being pumped to said spray nozzle.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an air passage associated with said first chamber for assisting in the formation of said spray droplets.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, said spray droplets having a size in a range of approximately 0.1-1000 microns.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said spray flows in a direction at an angle to said air flow.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said spray flows in a direction substantially opposite to said air flow.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said spray flows in a direction substantially the same as said air flow.

25. An apparatus for removing particles from air, comprising:

(a) at least one defined passage having an inlet and an outlet, wherein each said inlet receives a flow of air and said air flow exits said at least one defined passage at each said outlet;

(b) a first volume positioned between each said inlet and each said outlet wherein an electrostatically charged spray of semi-conducting, non-aqueous fluid droplets having a first polarity is introduced within said at least one defined passage so that particles entrained within said air flow are electrostatically attracted to and retained by said spray droplets; and

(c) a collecting surface associated with said first volume of said at least one defined passage for attracting said spray droplets.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a second volume positioned between said inlet and said first volume, wherein particles entrained in said air flow are charged with a second polarity opposite said first polarity.

27. A method of removing particles from air, comprising the following steps:

(a) introducing a flow of air having particles entrained therein into a defined volume;

(b) providing an electrostatically charged spray of semi-conducting, non-aqueous fluid droplets having a first polarity to said defined volume, wherein said particles are electrostatically attracted to and retained by said spray droplets; and

(c) attracting said spray droplets to a collecting surface.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of forming said spray droplets from said fluid.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of charging said spray droplets.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of providing a charge to particles in said air flow at a second polarity opposite said first polarity.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein said particles in said air flow are within a specified size range of approximately 0.1-10 microns.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of filtering said air flow for particles having a size greater than said specified size range.

33. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of monitoring quality of said air flow.

34. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of filtering said particles from said spray droplets.

35. The method of claim 27, further comprising the following steps:

(a) collecting said spray droplets in an aggregate of said fluid; and

(b) recirculating said fluid aggregate for use in said spray.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of monitoring a quality of said recirculated fluid prior to forming said spray.