Electro-kinetic air transporter and conditioner devices with insulated driver electrodes

Abstract

Electro-kinetic air transporter and conditioner systems and methods are provided. A system includes at least one emitter electrode and at least a one collector (and likely, at least a pair of collector electrodes) that are downstream from the emitter electrode. An insulated driver electrode is located adjacent a collector electrode, and where there is at least a pair of collector electrodes, between each pair of collector electrodes. A high voltage source provides a voltage potential to the at least one of the emitter electrode and the collector electrode(s), to thereby provide a potential different therebetween. The insulated driver electrode(s) may or may not be at a same voltage potential as the emitter electrode, but should be at a different voltage potential than the collector electrode(s).

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM [0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 500,437, filed Sep. 5, 2003, entitled “Electro-Kinetic Air Transporter and Conditioner Devices with Insulated Driver Electrodes.”CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED ART [0002] The present invention is related to the following patent applications and patent, each of which is incorporated herein by reference: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 074,207, filed Feb. 12, 2002, entitled “Electro-Kinetic Air Transporter-Conditioner Devices with Interstitial Electrode”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 074,827, filed Feb. 12, 2002, “Electro-Kinetic Air Transporter-Conditioner with Non-Equidistant Collector Electrodes”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,977, entitled “Electro-Kinetic Air Transporter-Conditioner”.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention relates generally to devices that electro-kinetically transport and / or condition air. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [00...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] The insulation (i.e., dielectric material) on the driver electrodes allows the voltage potential to be increased between the driver and collector electrodes, to a voltage potential that would otherwise cause arcing if the insulation were not present. This increased voltage potential increases particle collection efficiency. Additionally, the insulation will reduce, and likely prevent, any arcing from occurring if a carbon path is formed between the collector and driver electrodes, e.g., due to an insect getting caught therebetween.

[0016] The embodiments as describe above have some or all of the advantages of increasing the particle collection efficiency, increasing the rate and / or volume of airflow, reducing arcing, and / or reducing the amount of ozone generated. Further, ions generated using many of the embodiments of the present invention will be more of the negative variety as opposed to the positive variety.

Problems solved by technology

Further, the corona discharge produced between the electrode arrays can release ozone into the ambient environment, which can eliminate odors that are entrained in the airflow, but is generally undesirable in excess quantities.

However, the extent that the voltage difference can be increased is limited because arcing will eventually occur between the collector electrodes 122 and the driver electrodes 232.

Such arcing will typically decrease the collecting efficiency of the system, as well as produce an unpleasant odor.

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