US3320151A - Apparatus for treatment of gases - Google Patents

Description

EBZQESR May M, 96? c. F. TEPE ET AL APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF GASES Filed July 5. 1963 INVENTOR5 C/JA/2L55 A TEPE AA/D BY LEW/5 0. Jam-s 3,320,151 Patented May 16, 1967 ice 3,320,151 APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF GASES Charles F. Tepe, and Lewis 0. Jones, Fairport, N.Y., assignors to Chemetron (Iorporatiou, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 3, 1963, Ser. No. 292,665 7 Claims. (Cl. 204-313) This invention relates to apparatus and methods for treatment of gases and, more particularly, to an improved method and apparatus for treating gases of the atmosphere to provide an increased yield of ions in air.

The use of negative ionsin'medical treatment and the evaluation of this use has been hampered in some degree by the lack of a negative ion generator capable of producing an adequate concentration of negative ions. Known apparatus using conventional ion generating techniques, such as radio active bombardment and/or electrical stressing of an ionizable medium, for example air from the earths atmosphere, are not capable of producing large ion concentrations with units of a small or conveniently portable size that can be used in the home. In part, the relative low ion production in these units is due to ionizing chambers or cell constructions in which the electrodes impede the flow of the ionizable medium or in which the ionizing and conveying chambers are such as to permit substantial recombinations of the ions.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for treating gases found in the atmosphere.

Another object is to provide an ion generator including a new and improved ionizing cell structure.

A further object is to provide an ion producing cell including a new and improved electrode configuration.

Another object is to provide an improved method and apparatus for producing ozone with no significant generation of ions.

Another object is to provide an ionizing cell comprising a tubular dielectric chamber containinga centrally disposed electrode structure and a pair of point electrodes carried on the dielectric chamber at positions opposite each other.

A further object is to provide an improved method for treating air to generate large quantities of ions of a desired polarity.

In accordance with these and many other objects, an embodiment of the invention comprises a tubular dielectric element forming a chamber and having one end connected to the output of a pump that forces a flow of air or other ionizable medium through the dielectric tube at a desired rate. Substantially midway along the length of the dielectric tube, a somewhat L-shaped point electrode is mounted with the horizontal leg of the electrode extending along the axis of the tube and with the other leg intersecting and carried on the wall of the tube or chamber. A pair of small wire or point electrodes are mounted in the walls of the tube or chamber slightly downwstream from the free or pointed end of the horizontal leg of the center electrode in positions opposite each other. These electrodes are connected to ground, and the center electrode is connected to an adjustable source of direct current potential. An electrical stress treatment is applied to the air or other ionizable medium forced through the dielectric tube by the electrical field applied between the center electrode and the two grounded or side electrodes, causing the air to become ionized. Because resistance to flow and turbulence within the ionizing cell is reduced to a minimum and because a desirable potential gradient can be maintained for stressing the ionizable medium, the stream discharged from the open end of the dielectric tube contains a relatively large concentration of positive or negative ions or,

if desired, quantities of ozone in dependence on the magnitude and polarity of the potential applied to the center electrode.

Reference has been made above, and will be made hereinafter to ions. Within the teaching of this invention this term contemplates ions which may be gaseous components of the atmosphere, for example oxygen, nitrogen, and water vapor. The appended claims should be understood with this in mind. Also there should be recognition of the fact that emphasis hereinafter on a negatively ionized atmosphere is not intended to exclude possible practice of the invention to achieve a positively ionized atmosphere, or even the possibility that some ions of one sign may be present in an atmosphere which is predominantly of the other polarity.

Many other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View in partial section of a gas treatment unit embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the electrode arrangement used in the form of ion generating unit illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevation view, partially broken away, of a modification of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5--5 in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view, partially broken away, of a modification of the invention adapted for generating ozone.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, in FIG. 1 there is illustrated gas treatment apparatus in the form of a negative ion generator which is indicated generally as 10 and which embodies the present invention. The ion generator includes a passageway forming an ion generating cell or chamber indicated generally as 12, through which a flow of air or other ionizable medium is forced by a centrifugal pump or blower 14. The electrode arrangement within the ionizing cell 12 is such that the medium from the pump or blower 14 passes through the chamber 12 without substantial turbulence and throttling and is ionized to an appreciable degree to provide an enriched source of ions of either polarity or of ozone.

The centrifugal blower or pump 14 comprises means for producing a flow of gas and includes an inlet opening 16 preferably provided with a filter through which air is supplied to a pump or blower cavity in which is disposed an impeller structure driven by an electric motor 18. The impeller produces a continuous current flow of air outwardly through the ionizing cell 12. The cell is connected to the blower or pump 14 by a flanged portion which is secured to a corresponding flange 14a on the housing of the blower 14 by a plurality of separable fasteners 20.

The ionizing cell 12 includes means forming a confined passageway comprising a cylindrical tubular dielectric body 22, secured at one end to the outlet of the blower 14 and having a discharge opening at its other end through which the ionized medium flows, which may be provided with a conical diffuser end portion 36. The electrode structure for the cell 12 includes a center electrode 24 of a somewhat L-shaped configuration including a vertically extending leg 24a that is secured to and carried on the dielectric member 22 and a horizontally extending leg 2411 which terminates at its free end in a point and which extends generally along the axis of the t be 22. A pair of other or side electrodes 26 and 28 are carried on the walls of the dielectric member 22 at opposite ends of a diameter so as to be located directly opposite each other. The inner ends of the electrodes 26 and 28, which preferably are formed of small diameter wire to provide point electrodes, are spaced radially with respect to the axis of the tube 22 and may be slightly recessed in the walls of the tube 22 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 or may be fiush with the walls of the tube 22, or may intrude slightly into the interior of the tube 22. Thus the inner ends of the electrodes 26 and 28 do not impede the flow of the ionizable medium through tube 22 or create appreciable turbulence. The electrodes 26 and 28 are preferably positioned slightly downstream from the free end or the horizontal leg 24b of the center electrode 24 and slightly recessed in the walls of the tube 22.

To provide means for electrically stressing the ionizable medium by applying a high voltage gradient to the material passing through the ionizing cell 12, the center electrode 24 is connected to an adjustable tap on a potentiometer 30 that is connected across a direct current potential supply shown as comprising a battery 32. Obviously, the direct current supply can comprise an electronic or magnetic circuit of a suitable type, such as a high frequency oscillator including an output rectification stage for converting the generated oscillations to a direct current potential. In the system illustrated in FIG. 1, which is designed to provide negative ions, the positive terminal of the battery 32 or direct current potential source is connected to ground either directly or indirectly through a power line so that the potential applied to the electrode 24 is negative with respect to ground. The other point electrodes 26 and 28 are connected to ground.

The rate of ion production in generator 10 may advantageously be indicated by a neon lamp 33 connected between electrodes 26 and 28 and ground, with a capacitor 34 connected across the base of lamp 33 as shown in FIG. 1. The rate of flash of the lamp 33 will indicate the rate of ion production. As an alternative the capacitor 34 may be omitted and the relative brilliance of the lamp will indicate the rate of ion production.

In one generator 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention, the centrifugal pump or blower 14 is operated to provide a flow of air through the ionizing cell 12 of approximately 10 c.f.m., and the potentiometer 30 is adjusted to apply a potential in the range of from 6000 to 8000 volts to the center electrode 24, the side electrodes 26 and 28 being connected either directly or through the power line to an earth ground. Under these operating conditions, the electrode configuration applies a uniform electrical stress or potential gradient to the molecules of the air, and the flow of air through the ionizing cell 12 is substantially without hindrance or turbulence. It has been determined that ion generators 10 constructed in the manner set forth above may weigh as little as ten pounds and produce negative ion concentrations on the order of 1.8 l negative ions per cubic centimeter with an air flow of six c.f.m.

If the structure of FIG. 1 is housed in a non-metallic case, for example, a plastic case, it has been discovered that the ion output can be materially increased by placing a ring of conducting material 35 connected to ground about the passageway formed by tube 22 so as to encircle or enclose the discharge portion of tube 22 as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the modification of the invention shown therein employs a center electrode 44, of a somewhat F-shaped configuration including a vertically extending leg 44a that is secured to and carried on a dielectric member 42 forming a passageway, and a pair of horizontally extending legs 44b and 440 which terminate at their free ends in points and which extend generally in parallel-fashion along the axis of the tube 42. The legs 44c and 44b are spaced approximately a third of a daimeter from the walls of the tube 42 and from each other as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. A pair of other or side electrodes 46 and 48 connected to ground are carried on the walls of the dielectric member 42 at opposite ends of a diameter from the walls to the tube 42 and from each and are preferably positioned slightly downstream from the free ends of the horizontal legs 44b and 440 and slightly recessed in the walls of tube 42. The relationship between electrode 44 and the electrodes 46 and 48 is such that a straight line drawn through the points 440 and 44b of electrode 44 would be approximately at right angles to or perpendicular to a straight line drawn through the electrodes 46 and 48. It will be understood that FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary and that details of the required blower structure and the high potential circuit connected between the center electrode 44 and ground, which advantageously may be similar to those of FIG. 1, have been omitted for brevity. Ion output employing the dual pointed electrode structure of FIGS. 4 and 5 increased slightly over the version shown in FIG. 1. Similar results were obtained by adding a third pointed electrode located approximately midway between the pointed portions 44b and 440.

To produce ozone with the unit shown in FIG. 1 the voltage must be adjusted by potentiometer 30' and the grounded electrodes 26 and 28 must be inserted through the wall of the dielectric member 22 close enough to the center electrode 24 to establish a corona discharge but not so close that an arc is established. The exact spacing is dependent on the applied voltage and the air velocity. It should also be pointed out that ozone can be produced in the cell of FIG. 1 using a high voltage A.C. source in place of the D.C. source 32 of FIG. 1.

A modification of the invention adapted for treating air from the atmosphere to generate ozone with substantially no output of ions is illustrated in FIG. 6. It will be understood that FIG. 6 is fragmentary and that all details of the blower and the high potential circuit, both of which may be similar to those of FIG. 1, have been omitted for brevity. The structure shown in FIG. 6 includes means forming a passageway comprising a tube 52, a center electrode 54, a pair of side electrodes 56 and 58 connected to an earth ground and projecting into the passageway formed by tube 52, and an electrode member 60, shown in the form of a pair of mutually perpendicular cross bars joined on the axis of the tube 52 and extending through the walls of the tube 52 transverse to the direction of air flow, and downstream from the grounded electrodes 56 and 58. The electrode 60 is connected to center electrode 54 as shown in FIG. 6. The electrode 60 thus has a polarity which repels the negative ions and thereby decreases their velocity to the point that they are substantially all captured by the ground electrodes 56 and 58. Although the transverse electrode 60 is shown in the shape of a cross, its precise configuration is not critical and other electrode shapes connected in the same manner may yield similar results.

It will be apparent to those skilled in this art that the foregiong description of an embodiment of equipment illustrates an improved method for treating an oxygencontaining gaseous medium such as air from the atmosphere to generate large quantities of negative or positive ions, or, if desired, quantities of ozone in dependence on the magnitude and polarity of the potential applied to the electrodes. This method may be briefly summarized as follows: An oxygen-containing gaseous medium such as air from the atmosphere is treated, employing suitable means such as the typical structure illustrated and described herein, to flow the gaseous medium in a continuous stream within a dielectric medium past a first electrode located intermediate the stream and at least one other electrode of small area disposed on one side of the stream in spaced relation to the first electrode, and applying a high potential gradient to the oxygen-containing gaseous medium with the electrodes. The method can be practiced to treat an oxygen-containing gaseous medium such as air to generate ions of a desired polarity by operating the first electrode with it connected so that it has the same polarity as the ions to be generated and with the small area electrode disposed on one side of the stream connected to ground.

This method can be varied somewhat to obtain an increased output of ions by further passing the stream through an electrically conducting ring downstream of the small area electrode which is connected to ground.

The method of the present invention can also be practiced to generate ozone with substantially no ions by inducing a stream of air to flow continuously through a confined passage, applying a high voltage gradient to the stream of air by a first polarity point electrode located intermediate the passage and a pair of point electrodes of opposite polarity disposed downstream of the first electrode, and passing the stream about a third electrode disposed downstream of the pair of point electrodes, the third electrode being connected to the first electrode so that ions in the stream are repelled by the third electrode and slowed to a velocity enabling them to be captured by the pair of point electrodes.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that other modifications may be made therein and are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims wherein there is claimed:

We claim:

1. Gas treatment apparatus comprising means forming an electrically isolated passageway, means for producing a flow of gas through the passageway, first point electrode means directed generally downstream and in spaced relation to said means forming a passageway, second electrode means comprising at least one electrode of small area lying in the flow of gas and disposed generally in a region of short axial length downstream from said first electrode means, said second electrode means having an area which is only a relatively small portion of the area of said means forming the passageway in said region, and means for applying an electrical potential between the first electrode means and the second electrode means to establish a field to treat gas flowing through the passageway.

2. Gas treatment apparatus as claimed in 1, said electrode means including a plurality of elements each having a pointed terminal portion, said pointed terminal portions extending parallel to one another.

3. Gas treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said second electrode means comprising a plurality of small area electrodes.

4. Gas treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said second electrode means comprising a plurality of wirelike small area electrodes supported by said passageway forming means and lying in a plane substantially normal to the flow of gas.

5. Gas treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising additional electrode means downstream from said second electrode means and connected to one of said first and second electrode means.

6. Gas treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 5, said additional electrode means comprising an electrode traversing said passageway and connected to said first electrode means.

7. Gas treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 5, said additional electrode comprising a continuous electrode encircling the passageway and connected to said second electrode means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 25,858 9/1965 Matvay 204-323 2,468,177 4/ 1943 Cotton 204-164 2,583,898 1/1952 Smith 204--3 12 2,763,125 9/1956 Kadosch 60-3554 3,116,433 12/ 1963 Moncrief-Yeates 313-63 3,136,908 6/1964 Weinman 31363 R. H. MIHALEK, Assistant Examiner.

JOHN H. MACK, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Noa 3,320,151

Charles FD Tepe et al,

May 16, 1967 above numbered patthat error appears in the 1d read as It is hereby certified ent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent shou corrected below.

Column 1, line 58, for "downwstream" read N downstream column 3, line 73, for "daimeter" read diameter column 4, line 2, strike out "from the walls fo the tube 42 and from each" and insert instead so as to be located directly opposite each other, line 56, for "foregiong" read foregoing Signed and sealed this 28th day of November 1967,

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

Claims (1)

1. GAS TREATMENT APPARATUS COMPRISING MEANS FORMING AN ELECTRICALLY ISOLATED PASSAGEWAY, MEANS FOR PRODUCING A FLOW OF GAS THROUGH THE PASSAGEWAY, FIRST POINT ELECTRODE MEANS DIRECTED GENERALLY DOWNSTREAM AND IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID MEANS FORMING A PASSAGEWAY, SECOND ELECTRODE MEANS COMPRISING AT LEAST JONE ELECTRODE OF SMALL AREA LYING IN THE FLOW OF GAS AND DISPOSED GENERALLY IN A REGION OF SHORT AXIAL LENGTH DOWNSTREAM FROM SAID FIRST ELECTRODE MEANS, SAID SECOND ELECTRODE MEANS HAVING AN AREA WHICH IS ONLY A RELATIVELY SMALL PORTION OF THE AREA OF SAID MEANS FORMING THE PASSAGEWAY IN SAID REGION, AND MEANS FOR APPLYING AN ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL BETWEEN THE FIRST ELECTRODE MEANS AND THE SECOND ELECTRODE MEANS TO ESTABLISH A FIELD TO TREAT GAS FLOWING THROUGH THE PASSAGEWAY.

Images