US4345916A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Means and method for removing airborne particulates from an aerosol stream
Assignee: BROOK MARX 1216 NORTH DRIVE SOCORRO 87801
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Filing: 1980-05-19
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Granted: 1982-08-24
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Expires: 2000-05-19
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed herein is a method for removing airborne particulates from an aerosol stream by first humidifying said aerosol with steam, and then cooling said aerosol with water to saturation temperature. Thereafter, the saturated aerosol is adiabatically cooled to a supersaturated state and maintained at supersaturation for a time sufficient to permit the growth and removal thereof of said particulates. Further disclosed is an apparatus adapted for practicing the method of the present invention and employing charged droplet scrubbing techniques to remove said particulates.
Inventors
- 👤 Clyde N. Richards
- 👤 Marx Brook
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:39
CPC Classifications
B; B03; B03C; B03C3/00; B03C3/02; B03C3/16; B01; B01D; B01D47/00; B01D47/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/09; Y10S261/54; Y10S261/76
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
A method for removing airborne particulates from an aerosol stream, comprising the steps of (a) saturating said aerosol stream with water vapor; (b) supersaturating said saturated aerosol stream for a time sufficient to permit condensation of said water vapor upon, and growth of said particulates; and (c) scrubbing said supersaturated aerosol stream, while maintaining said stream at supersaturation, whereby to remove said particulates therefrom.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
64 words
A method for removing airborne particulates from an aerosol stream, comprising the steps of (a) saturating said aerosol stream with water vapor; (b) supersaturating said saturated aerosol stream for a time sufficient to permit condensation of said water vapor upon, and growth of said particulates; and (c) scrubbing said supersaturated aerosol stream, while maintaining said stream at supersaturation, whereby to remove said particulates therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of saturating said aerosol stream comprises the steps of: (a) humidifying said aerosol stream with water vapor whereby to obtain an unsaturated aerosol stream having a predetermined mixing ratio; and (b) cooling said humidified aerosol stream to saturation temperature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said aerosol stream is humidified by admixing steam therewith.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said humidified aerosol stream is cooled to saturation temperature by passing said humidified aerosol stream through a mist of water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of supersaturating said saturated aerosol stream comprises adiabatically cooling said saturated aerosol stream by passing said saturated aerosol stream through a converging duct.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least a part of the particulates, prior to said condensation, have a diameter less than about one micron.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said supersaturated aerosol is maintained at supersaturation for a time sufficient to grow said airborne particulates to a size of about 1.0 to 5.0 microns diameter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said supersaturated aerosol is maintained at supersaturation for about 0.1 seconds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of scrubbing said supersaturated aerosol stream comprises sweeping highly charged droplets of scrubbing liquor across the flow path of said supersaturated aerosol stream whereby to cause said highly charged droplets to collect said particulate from the aerosol stream.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said scrubbing liquor is water.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said highly charged droplets have a size of about 500 microns diameter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of admixing NO x and SO x conditioning particulate with said aerosol stream prior to saturation thereof.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
67 words
An apparatus for removing airborne particulates from an aerosol stream, comprising: (a) means for saturating said aerosol stream with water vapor; (b) means for supersaturating said saturated aerosol stream for a time sufficient to permit condensation of said water vapor upon, and growth of said particulates; and (c) means for scrubbing said supersaturated aerosol stream, while maintaining said stream at supersaturation, whereby to remove said particulates therefrom.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
67 words
An apparatus for removing airborne particulates from an aerosol stream, comprising: (a) means for saturating said aerosol stream with water vapor; (b) means for supersaturating said saturated aerosol stream for a time sufficient to permit condensation of said water vapor upon, and growth of said particulates; and (c) means for scrubbing said supersaturated aerosol stream, while maintaining said stream at supersaturation, whereby to remove said particulates therefrom.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said aerosol saturation means comprises: (a) means for humidifying said aerosol stream with water vapor whereby to obtain an aerosol stream having a predetermined mixing ratio; and (b) means for cooling said humidified aerosol stream to saturation temperature.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said means for humidifying said aerosol stream comprises a humidification vessel having aerosol stream inlet means, and outlet means at the opposite ends thereof for removing said aerosol, and means for controllably delivering steam into the interior of said vessel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said means for cooling said humidified aerosol stream comprises a wash tower having inlet means at the base thereof for receiving said humidified aerosol stream and outlet means at the top for removing said saturated aerosol stream, and nozzle means within said tower for saturating said humidified aerosol stream with water vapor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said supersaturation means comprises a converging duct.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said scrubbing means comprises highly charged droplets scrubbing means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-08-23 | 1986-02-22 | 1986-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-08-23 | 1990-02-22 | 1990-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-08-23 | 1994-02-22 | 1994-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |