Combined electrostatic precipitator and acidic gas removal system

Claim 1

A method of retrofitting an apparatus for removing acidic gas and particulate matter from air, the device to be retrofit including an electrostatic precipitator, lacking a precharger, positioned within a housing, a flue gas generating means outside said housing, an entry port in said housing and upstream of said electrostatic precipitator; an exit port in said housing and downstream of said electrostatic precipitator; and ductwork, outside said housing, leading from said generating means to said entry port; said retrofitting comprising the steps of: substituting electrostatic filtration units, for dry electrostatic precipitation, each comprising a precharger and a downstream particle collector having wires of from 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter for said electrostatic precipitator, said substituted units being designed so as to occupy less space in the housing that said electrostatic filter lacking a precharger, thereby leaving free space within said housing between a one of said prechargers which is first downstream from said entry port and said exit port; inserting an acidic gas removal means, within said housing, essentially entirely within said free space between said entry port and said one of said prechargers, said acidic gas removing means having a means for spraying an acidic gas neutralizing agent, in water droplets having a diameter of from 5 to 60 micrometers, into said flue gas drying means for maintaining said wires in an essentially dry state, said drying means including a reaction zone of sufficient length for said neutralizing agent in water and the acidic gases to react and form a wet neutral salts and for said water to evaporate from said wet neutral salts to form dry neutral salts, for removal by said electrostatic filtration units.

Claim 2

A method of retrofitting an apparatus for removing acidic gas and particulate matter from air, the device to be retrofit including an electrostatic precipitator, lacking a precharger, positioned within a housing, a flue gas generating means outside said housing, an entry port in said housing and upstream of said electrostatic precipitator; an exit port in said housing and downstream of said electrostatic precipitator; and ductwork, outside said housing, leading from said generating means to said entry port; said retrofitting comprising the steps of: substituting electrostatic filtration units, for dry electrostatic precipitation, each comprising a precharger and a downstream particle collector having wires of from 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter for said electrostatic precipitator, said substituted units being designed so as to occupy less space in the housing that said electrostatic filter lacking a precharger, thereby leaving free space within said housing between a one of said prechargers which is first downstream from said entry port and said exit port; inserting an acidic gas removal means, within said housing, essentially entirely within said free space between said entry port and said one of said prechargers, said acidic gas removing means having a means for spraying an acidic gas neutralizing agent, in water droplets having a diameter of from 5 to 60 micrometers, into said flue gas drying means for maintaining said wires in an essentially dry state, said drying means including a reaction zone of sufficient length for said neutralizing agent in water and the acidic gases to react and form a wet neutral salts and for said water to evaporate from said wet neutral salts to form dry neutral salts, for removal by said electrostatic filtration units.