Apparatus for dielectrophoretically enhanced particle collection

Claim 1

Apparatus for effecting dielectrophoretically enhanced separation of small sized particulates from a moving gas stream comprising conduit means for confining said moving gas stream bearing said particulates, a high potential electrode element disposed coaxially within said conduit means, means for introducing a spray of selectively sized and charged liquid droplets of from 10 to 60 microns in diameter outwardly directed from said high potential electrode element into said gas stream in a path relative to the advance of said gas stream to maximize geometric interdiction of said charged droplets and the particulates in said gas stream, means associated with said spray introduction means for limiting the size of said introduced liquid droplets to 60 microns or less in diameter, means for applying an electrical charge of greater than 10 -3 coulombs per kilogram to said emitted spray Oroplets, such charge not being greater than 35 percent of the Rayleigh limit therefore and, means for regulating the volume of liquid so introduced in droplet form to be in the order to about three ten thousandths that of the volume of gas being treated per unit time to minimize space charge degradation of the collecting environment with attendant maximization of dielectrophoretic attraction forces therewithin.