Concentric electrical discharge aerosol charger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10177541-B2
Application number	US-201314655541-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2013
Priority date	Dec 28, 2012
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

The invention concerns an aerosol charger having electrical discharge comprising:
a body ( 2 ); an ion source ( 3 ) comprising two electrodes ( 31, 32 ); the charger being characterized in that the body ( 2 ) and at least a first electrode ( 32 ) of the ion source ( 3 ) are aligned along a same axis of longitudinal symmetry (AA′) of the charger, the body ( 2 ) surrounding the first electrode ( 32 ) in such a way as to define an area ( 5 ) for an aerosol to flow between a space defined between the body ( 2 ) and the first electrode ( 32 ); and in that the first electrode ( 32 ) comprises a hole ( 321 ) in communication with the area ( 5 ) for the aerosol (Ae) to flow, the hole ( 321 ) being designed to allow ions formed at the ion source ( 3 ) to pass therethrough in order for them to mix with an aerosol (Ae) flowing in the area ( 5 ) for the aerosol (Ae) to flow.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Electrical discharge aerosol charger comprising:
a body comprising a flared segment extended by a straight segment, the flared segment narrowing from an inlet opening to an outlet opening at the extremity of the straight segment,
an ion source comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the second electrode is tip shaped, said first and second electrodes being disposed along a center line of the flared segment with the first electrode being axially interposed between the second tip-shaped electrode and walls of the flared segment, defining an ion formation zone upstream of the straight segment between the electrodes; the electrical discharge aerosol charger being wherein
the body and at least the first electrode of the ion source are aligned on a same longitudinal axis of symmetry of the electrical discharge aerosol charger, the body surrounding the first electrode; the electrical discharge aerosol charger comprising an area surrounding the first electrode, between the body and the first electrode, so that aerosols are able to flow into said area from the flared segment and to converge into the straight segment; and in that
the first electrode comprises a hole aligned with the second electrode and extending around the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the electrical discharge aerosol charger, said hole being in communication with the area so that ions formed coming from the ion source mix with an aerosol flowing in the area, the mixing beginning at the hole, and
wherein the first electrode is composed of a layer of insulating material, surrounded by an outer metallic layer and an inner metallic layer, the electrical discharge aerosol charger further comprising a voltage generator configured to set up a DC voltage between the two metallic layers of the electrode.

2. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is composed of two plates mutually symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the electrical discharge aerosol charger.

3. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 1 , further comprising a voltage generator configured to set up a DC voltage between the first and the second electrode.

4. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 3 , further comprising a ballast resistor placed in series with the generator.

5. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 1 , further comprising a voltage generator configured to set up a DC voltage between the outer metallic layer of the first electrode and the body.

6. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 1 , further comprising successive rings polarised with the same polarity as the particles and positioned at the narrowed part of the body, in such a way as to confine the ions in the center of the narrowed part of the body by electrostatic repulsion.

7. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 1 , wherein the narrowed part of the body is composed of two semicylindrical electrodes, powered by an AC current generator, in such a way as to form an oscillating field in the narrowed part of the body.

8. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 1 , wherein the narrowed part of the body is composed of three electrodes powered by a three-phase current generator, in such a way as to form a rotating field in the narrowed part of the body.

9. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is tapered in shape, the body being composed of a cone extended by a tube.

10. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is composed of two plates mutually symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the electrical discharge aerosol charger.

11. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 1 , further comprising a voltage generator configured to set up a DC voltage between the first and the second electrode.

12. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 11 , further comprising a ballast resistor placed in series with the generator.

13. Electrical discharge aerosol charger comprising:
a body comprising a flared segment and a straight segment, the flared segment narrowing from an inlet opening to an outlet opening at the extremity of the straight segment;
an ion source comprising a first electrode and a second electrode; the electrical discharge aerosol charger being wherein the body and at least the first electrode of the ion source are aligned on a same longitudinal axis of symmetry of the electrical discharge aerosol charger, the body surrounding the first electrode in such a way as to define an area for an aerosol to flow between a space defined by the body and the first electrode; and in that
the first electrode comprises a hole aligned with the second electrode and extending around the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the electrical discharge aerosol charger, the hole being in communication with the area so that ions formed coming from the ion source mix with an aerosol flowing in the area the mixing beginning at the hole;
wherein the first electrode is composed of a layer of insulating material, surrounded by an outer metallic layer and an inner metallic layer, the electrical discharge aerosol charger further comprising a voltage generator configured to set up a DC voltage between the two metallic layers of the electrode.

14. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 13 , further comprising a voltage generator configured to set up a DC voltage between the outer metallic layer of the first electrode and the body.

15. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 13 , further comprising successive rings polarised with the same polarity as the particles and positioned at the narrowing part of the body, in such a way as to confine the ions in the center of the narrowing part of the body by electrostatic repulsion.

16. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 13 , wherein the narrowing part of the body is composed of two semicylindrical electrodes, powered by an AC current generator, in such a way as to form an oscillating field in the narrowed part of the body.

17. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 13 , wherein the narrowing part of the body is composed of three electrodes powered by a three-phase current generator, in such a way as to form a rotating field in the narrowed part of the body.

18. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 13 , wherein the ion source further comprises a second electrode aligned with the body and the first electrode on the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the electrical discharge aerosol charger.

19. The electrical discharge aerosol charger according to claim 13 , further comprising a voltage generator configured to set up a DC voltage between the first and the second electrode.

Assignees

• Centre Nat Rech Scient
• Univ Paris Sud
• Consejo Superior Investigacion
• Sonsejo Superior De Investig Cientificas

Inventors

• Borra Jean-Pascal
• Alonso Manuel
• Jidenko Nicolas

Classifications

• B05B5/0535

  at least two electrodes having different potentials being held on the discharge apparatus, one of them being a charging electrode of the corona type located in the spray or close to it, and another being of the non-corona type located outside of the path for the material · CPC title

• H01T19/00

  Devices providing for corona discharge (for charging electrographic elements G03G15/02) · CPC title

• B05B5/0533

  Electrodes specially adapted therefor; Arrangements of electrodes · CPC title

• H01T23/00 Primary

  Apparatus for generating ions to be introduced into non-enclosed gases, e.g. into the atmosphere · CPC title

• B05B5/057

  Arrangements for discharging liquids or other fluent material without using a gun or nozzle · CPC title