Airborne contaminant removal by electro-photoionization

Abstract

Abstract Apparatus and method are disclosed for reducing or removing particulate solid matter as well as admixed gaseous contaminants from a main stream of gas, as for example removing solid and gaseous contaminants from air. The removal is effected by the combined action on the gas stream of high intensity electrical field and electromagnetic radiation, whereby to cause electrostatic precipitation of solid contaminants and electrochemical and photochemical transformation of gaseous contaminants to elemental or non-contaminant form. The field is induced by oppositely charged electrodes causing excitation of the particulate and gaseous contaminants to a state or condition causing dark current flow and/or glow discharge between the electrodes while avoiding field-disrupting arc discharge. Concurrently with such high voltage excitation, the fluid is subjected to electromagnetic radiation, more particularly in the ultraviolet range, to produce photoionization to sustain the electrochemical and photochemical transformation.

Inventors

• 👤 Harold W Scott
• 👤 Avery B Smith

Bibliographic Details