ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR
An electrostatic air cleaner may be operated according to a manner designed to achieve acceptable air quality while balancing power usage and corona electrode degradation levels. The voltage applied to the corona electrode(s) may be controlled as well as the voltage applied to repelling electrodes and air flow velocity. The air cleaner may also be operated to achieve desired particle separation.
1 . An electrostatic air cleaner comprising:
an electrostatic precipitator having an air inlet, an air outlet, and at least two electrode sets;
at least one air quality sensor positioned to monitor precipitator outlet air quality;
a control system connected to said sensors; and
a power source connected to at least two electrode sets and responsive to said control system, wherein said control system is connected to receive said signal from said sensor and adjust a voltage at a power source output.
2 . An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said control system is connected to adjust said power source outputs to achieve an air quality goal at a minimum energy expenditure.
3 . An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said air quality sensor is a particle size distribution sensor.
4 . An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said air quality sensor is a particle concentration sensor.
5 . An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said air quality sensor is an air flow rate sensor.
6 . An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein one of said electrode sets is an exciting electrode set positioned to cooperate with a corona electrode set.
7 . An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 6 wherein said exciting electrode set is grounded.
8 . An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein one of said electrode sets comprises a repelling electrode set.
9 . An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 8 further comprising a collecting electrode set and wherein said collecting electrode set is at or near ground potential.
10 . An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said power source has a first output connected to a corona electrode and a second output connected to a repelling electrode.
11 . An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 9 wherein said power source output connected to said first set of electrodes is independent of said power source output connected to said second set of electrodes.
12 . An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said control system is responsive to an elevation sensor.
13 . An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said control system is responsive to an air flow rate sensor.
14 . An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 13 further comprising an air flow generator connected to said power source.
15 . An electrostatic air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said electrostatic air cleaner is a particle separator.