Electrostatic precipitator

Claim 2

The electrostatic precipitator of claim 2 wherein said wires are made from an acid-resistant metal selected from a group consisting of lead, titanium, tantalum, stainless steel, and nickel-base alloy.

Claim 3

The electrostatic precipitator of claim 2 wherein said wiRes comprise non-acid-resistant metal wires covered with a layer of lead.

Claim 4

The electrostatic precipitator of claim 1 wherein said discharge electrode comprises a vertically extending frame suspended within each of said gas passages having a plurality of vertically extending wires connected between top and bottom support members of said frame.

Claim 5

The electrostatic precipitator of claim 5 wherein said frame is made from an acid-resistant metal selected from a group consisting of lead, titanium, tantalum, stainless steel, and nickel-base alloy.

Claim 6

The electrostatic precipitator of claim 5 wherein said wires are made from an acid-resistant metal selected from a group consisting of lead, titanium, tantalum, stainless steel, and nickel-base alloy.

Claim 7

The electrostatic precipitator of claim 5 wherein said frame comprises a non-acid-resistant metal covered with a layer of lead.

Claim 8

The electrostatic precipitator of claim 5 wherein said wires comprise a non-acid-resistant metal covered with a layer of lead.

Claim 9

The electrostatic precipitator of claim 1 wherein said reinforcing frame includes: a rigid top member extending horizontally between opposite walls of said shell and supported thereon; a plurality of rigid, laterally spaced, vertically extending support members connected at their upper ends to said horizontal support member; and a horizontally extending rigid bottom member connected to the bottom ends of said vertically extending support members, thereby forming a substantially rectangular rigid reinforcing frame.

Claim 10

The electrostatic precipitator of claim 10 wherein said reinforcing frame further includes: a plurality of apertures spaced along the outer surface of each of said support members; and a portion of said plate indented into said apertures for supporting said plate on said support members, thereby substantially retarding the tendency of said plate to creep caused by gravity and heat stresses acting on said plate.

Claim 11

The electrostatic precipitator of claim 11 wherein said support members are substantially tubular.

Claim 12

The electrostatic precipitator of claim 1 wherein said plate is formed around said frame forming an overlap with a surface of said plate, said overlap being burned to form an acid-impervious joint.

Claim 13

In an electrostatic precipitator having a shell defining a gas chamber therein, a gas inlet for entry of acid-laden gas into said gas chamber, an outlet for exit of purified gas from said gas chamber, a plurality of spaced, vertically extending, collecting electrode plates suspended within said shell for collecting acidic elements thereon, the improvement wherein: said discharge electrodes comprise a plurality of acid-resistant discharge electrodes suspended between adjacent ones of said collecting plates for ionizing said acid-laden gas, and said collecting electrodes include anit-creep means to retard creep of substantially flat elemental lead collecting plates comprising said electrodes.

Claim 14

The collector electrode of claim 14 wherein said anti-creep means includes: a support frame having; a horizontally extending tubular top support member; a plurality of vertically extending tubular support members connected at one end to said top support member each having a plurality of holes spaced along their outer periphery; and a horizontally extending tubular bottom support member connected to the other end of each of said vertical support members; said lead collecting plate formed around said support frame for collecting said acidic elements thereon without said acidic elements contacting said frame; and a portion of said plate indented within each of said spaced holes on said vertical support members for providing a plurality of individual support points for said collecting plate, thereby reducing the effect of gravity and heat stresses upon said plate tending to cause said lead plate to creep.