Corona Ground Element for Electrostatic Precipitator Pre-Ionization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art electrostatic precipitators have limited airflow travel distance for ionization and inefficient pre-ionization due to corona charge elements being aligned with and at the same voltage potential as charge plates, leading to incomplete ionization and potential arcing issues with complex and costly corona wire loop ends.
Innovation Solution
A corona ground element with a substantially elongate body and projections or threaded apertures is used in the pre-ionizer, allowing for separate voltage control and improved retention, creating a more efficient and uniform pre-ionizing electrical field with aerodynamic design to enhance airflow ionization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If corona charge elements are aligned with and at the same voltage potential as charge plates, then the structure is simplified, but the pre-ionization efficiency is limited and arcing may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electrode system into separate corona charge elements and corona ground elements, allowing independent voltage control. The corona charge elements are connected to the high voltage source while the corona ground elements are connected to ground, creating distinct functional segments that prevent arcing and improve pre-ionization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces corona ground elements as intermediary components between the corona charge elements and the charge plates. These ground elements act as mediators that establish a proper electrical potential gradient, enabling effective pre-ionization without direct high voltage contact that would cause arcing.
2Reliability
If corona wire loop ends are made complex to ensure retention, then the corona wire is securely held, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the retention function from the corona wire itself by introducing separate corona ground elements with projections that engage with retention features in the housing. This separates the electrical function (corona wire) from the mechanical retention function (projections and retention features), simplifying the overall structure while ensuring secure mounting.
3Reliability
If airflow travel distance through electrostatic precipitator is increased, then ionization efficiency improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using the corona ground elements to pre-ionize the air and particulate matter before the airflow enters the main electrostatic precipitator chamber. This preliminary ionization occurs in a compact region around the corona elements, reducing the energy required for subsequent ionization in the main chamber while maintaining high overall ionization efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution increases the ionization efficiency of airflow, reduces arcing risks, and simplifies the manufacturing and installation of corona charge elements, resulting in a more effective and cost-efficient electrostatic precipitator.
Implementation Method 1
The pre-ionizer 120 comprises corona charge elements 126 located in the airflow before (i.e., in front of) the charge plates 102 and the collection plates 103. The pre-ionizer 120 at least partially ionizes the airflow and the entrained particulate before the airflow enters the electrostatic precipitator cell 101
Implementation Method 2
An electrostatic precipitator operates by creating an electrical field. Dirt and debris in the air becomes ionized when it is brought into the electrical field by an airflow. Charged positive and negative electrodes in the electrostatic precipitator air cleaner, such as positive and negative plates or positive and grounded plates, create the electrical field and one of the electrode polarities attracts the ionized dirt and debris
Data Source
AI summary
A corona ground element for use in a pre-ionizer of an electrostatic precipitator is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The corona ground element includes a substantially elongate body including a proximate end and a distal end and first and second projections formed on the proximate end and the distal end. The first and second projections are adapted to retain the corona plate in the electrostatic precipitator.