Spark management method and device
A spark management device includes a high voltage power source and a detector configured to monitor a parameter of an electric current provided to a load device. In response to the parameter, a pre-spark condition is identified. A switching circuit is responsive to identification of the pre-spark condition for controlling the electric current provided to the load device so as to manage sparking including, but not limited to, reducing, eliminating, regulating, timing, and/or controlling any intensity of arcs generated.
1. A spark management device comprising:
a high voltage power source operable to provide an electric power to the load device;
a sensor operable to monitor one or more electromagnetic parameters in said load device;
a detector responsive to said one or more electromagnetic parameters to identify a pre-spark condition in said load; and
a driver-controller connected to said detector to enable said high voltage power supply to rapidly change a magnitude of said electric power to a desirable level in response to said pre-spark condition.
2. The spark management device according to claim 1 wherein said high voltage power source comprises a high voltage power supply configured to transform a primary power source to a high voltage electric power feed for supplying said electric current.
3. The spark management device according to claim 1 wherein said high voltage power source comprises a step-up multi-winding magnetic power device, a high voltage power supply including an alternating voltage generator having an output connected to a primary winding of said step-up multi-winding magnetic power device, and a rectifier circuit connected to a secondary winding of said step-up multi-winding magnetic power device for providing said electric current at a high voltage level.
4. The spark management device according to claim 1 wherein said high voltage power source comprises a high voltage power supply having an output circuit with a low level of stored electromagnetic energy.
5. The spark management device according to claim 4 wherein said high voltage power supply includes a control circuit operable to monitor a current of said at least one electromagnetic parameters and, in response to detecting a pre-spark condition, decreasing a voltage of said electric current to a level inhibiting spark generation.
6. The spark management device according to claim 4 wherein said high voltage power supply includes a control circuit operable to monitor said electromagnetic parameter and, in response to detecting a pre-spark condition, decreasing a voltage of said electric power to a level not conductive to spark generation.
7. The spark management device according to claim 1 further including a load circuit connected to said high voltage power source for selectively receiving a substantial portion of said electric power in response to said identification of said pre-spark condition.
8. The spark management device according to claim 7 wherein said load circuit comprises an electrical device for dissipating electrical energy.
9. The spark management device according to claim 7 wherein said load circuit comprises an electrical device for storing electrical energy.
10. The spark management device according to claim 1 wherein said load device comprises a corona discharge device including a plurality of electrodes configured to receive said electric power for creating a corona discharge.
11. The spark management device according to claim 10 wherein said corona discharge device comprises an electrostatic air handling apparatus.
12. The spark management device according to claim 11 wherein said electrostatic air handling apparatus comprises a device selected from the group consisting of electrostatic air acceleration devices, electrostatic air cleaners and electrostatic precipitators.
13. The spark management device according to claim 1 wherein said detector includes circuitry for selectively powering an auxiliary device in addition to said load device whereby at least a portion of said electric power is diverted from said load device to said auxiliary device in response to said identification of said pre-spark condition.
14. The spark management device according to claim 13 wherein both said load and auxiliary devices comprise respective electrostatic air handling devices configured to accelerate a fluid under influence of an electrostatic force created by a corona discharge structure.
15. The spark management device according to claim 1 wherein said sensor is sensitive to a phenomenon selected from the set consisting of changes in current, changes in voltage, changes in magnetic, occurrence of an electrical event and occurrence of and optical event for identifying said pre-spark condition.
16. A method of spark management comprising the steps
of: supplying a high voltage power to a device;
monitoring of electromagnetic parameters, said high voltage power to detect a pre-spark condition of said device; and
controlling said high voltage power in response to said pre-spark condition to control an occurrence of a spark event associated with said pre-spark condition.
17. The method according to claim 16 wherein said step of supplying a high voltage power includes the steps of:
transforming a source of electrical power from a primary voltage level to a secondary voltage level higher than said primary voltage level; and
rectifying said electrical power at said secondary voltage level to supply said high voltage power to said device.
18. The method according to claim 16 wherein said step of monitoring includes a step of sensing a current spike in said high voltage current.
19. The method according to claim 16 wherein said step of monitoring includes a step of sensing output voltage parameters of said high voltage power.
20. The method according to claim 16 wherein said step of controlling further comprising a step of reducing a voltage level of said high voltage power to a level inhibiting spark generation.
21. The method according to claim 16 wherein said step of controlling includes a step of routing at least a portion of said high voltage power to an auxiliary loading device.
22. The method according to claim 20 wherein said step of routing at least a portion of said high voltage power to said auxiliary loading device includes connecting an additional load to an output circuit of a high voltage power supply supplying said high voltage power.
23. The method according to claim 16 further comprising the steps of: introducing a fluid to a corona discharge electrode;
electrifying said corona discharge electrode with said high voltage power; generating a corona discharge into said fluid; and
accelerating said fluid under influence of said corona discharge.
24. An electrostatic fluid accelerator comprising: an array of corona discharge and collector electrodes;
a high voltage power source electrically connected to said array for supplying high voltage power to said corona discharge electrodes;
a sensor configured to monitor electromagnetic parameters of said high voltage power;
a detector responsive to identification of said pre-spark condition for controlling said electric power provided to said load device; and
a driver-controller connected to said detector, said driver-controller operable to control said high voltage power supply to rapidly change an electric power magnitude of said high voltage power to a desirable level in response to said pre-spark condition.
25. The electrostatic fluid accelerator according to claim 24 wherein said detector is configured to inhibit supply of said high voltage power to said corona discharge electrodes by said high voltage power supply in response to said pre-spark condition.
26. The electrostatic fluid accelerator according to claim 24 wherein said detector includes a dump resistor configured to receive at least a portion of said high voltage power in response to said identification of said pre-spark condition.