High intensity ionization-wet collection method and apparatus

Claim 1

Apparatus for removing particles from a feed gas stream comprising: a vetically positioned rod electrode of curvilinear cross-section having at least one disc-shaped discharge electrode secured thereto, an outer collecting electrode tube with a gas inlet end and a gas outlet opposite end longitudinally aligned with the rod electrode such that the outer tube inner wall and the peripheral edge of the at least one disc-shaped discharge electrode are spaced to form a first transverse gap therebetween and a second larger transverse gap between the rod electrode outer surface and said outer tube inner wall, with said rod electrode, said at least one disc-shaped discharge electrode and said outer electrode tube being sized such that: (a) at least a major portion of the rod electrode length has an equivalent diameter between 0.05 and 0.2 of the at least one disc-shaped electrode maximum diameter; (b) at least a major portion of the rod electrode length has an equivalent diameter between 0.02 and 0.1 of the outer tube inner wall equivalent diameter; (c) said peripheral edge of the at least one disc-shaped electrode is formed such that the ratio of the rod electrode equivalent diameter to the equivalent edge radius of said at least one disc-shaped electrode is between 10 and 65; direct current power supply means for imposing electric potential both: (i) between said at least one disc-shaped electrode and said outer tube inner wall such that a relatively high intensity corona field may be established in said first gap, and (ii) between said rod electrode and said outer tube inner wall such that a relatively low intensity corona field may be established in said second gap; and means for introducing liquid at the upper end to said outer tube inner wall for downward flow and particle removal from the bottom end.