Method of electrostatic acceleration of a fluid
A method for handling a fluid may be incorporated into the operation of, for example, a corona discharge device and an electric power supply. Such a corona discharge device typically includes at least one corona discharge electrode and at least one collector electrode positioned proximate each other so as to provide a total inter-electrode capacitance within a predetermined range. The electric power supply is connected to supply an electric power signal to said corona discharge and collector electrodes so as to cause a corona current to flow between the corona discharge and collector electrodes. A relationship between alternating and direct (or constant, non-time varying) components of the voltage may be expressed as (V ac /V dc )≦(I ac /I dc ).
1. A method of accelerating a fluid comprising the steps of:
generating an a.c. signal having a frequency f; and
applying a voltage V t between corona discharge and collector electrodes so as to cause a corona current I t to flow between said corona discharge and collector electrodes, both said voltage V t and corona current I t each being a sum of respective constant d.c. and alternating a.c. components superimposed on each other whereby V t =V d.c. +V a.c. and I t =I d.c. +I a.c ., a current ripple value I a.c. /I d.c. related to a voltage ripple value V a.c. /V d.c. as
I
a
.
c
.
I
d
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c
.
=
C
·
V
a
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c
.
V
d
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c
.
wherein C≧2;
said a.c. component having said frequency f.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein C≧10.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein C≧100.
4. The device according to claim 1 wherein C≧1000.
5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of maintaining said frequency f of said alternating component of said voltage V a.c. to be well in excess of an audible sound level.
6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of maintaining said frequency f of said alternating component of said voltage V a.c. in a range above 30 kHz.
7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of maintaining said frequency f of said alternating component of said voltage V a.c. in a range of 50 kHz to 1 MHz.
8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of maintaining said frequency f of said alternating component of said voltage V a.c. to approximately 100 kHz.
9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of maintaining said amplitude of said constant component of said voltage of said electric power signal within a range of 10 kV to 25 kV.
10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of maintaining said amplitude of said constant component of said voltage V d.c. to be greater than 1 kV.
11. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of maintaining said amplitude of said constant component of said voltage V d.c. of said electric power signal to be approximately 18 kV.
12. The method according to claim 1 wherein:
said amplitude of said alternating component of said corona current I a.c. of said electric power signal is no more than 10 times greater than said amplitude of said constant current component I d.c. of said electric power signal; and
said amplitude of said constant current component I d.c. of said electric power signal is no more than 10 times greater than said amplitude of said alternating component I a.c. of said corona current of said electric power signal.
13. The method according to claim 1 wherein said amplitude of an alternating component of said voltage V a.c. of said electric power signal is no greater than one-tenth of said amplitude of said constant component of said voltage V d.c. .
14. The method according to claim 1 wherein said amplitude of said alternating component of said voltage of said electric power signal V a.c. is no more than 1 kV.
15. The method according to claim 1 wherein said constant component of said corona current I d.c. is at least 100 μA.
16. The method according to claim 1 wherein said constant component of said corona current I d.c. is at least 1 mA.
17. The method according to claim 1 wherein a reactive capacitance between said corona discharge electrodes has a capacitive impedance that corresponds a highest harmonic of a frequency of said alternating component of said voltage that is no greater than 10 MΩ.
18. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of maintaining a potential of the corona electrode to be close to a ground potential.
19. The method according to claim 1 including a step of maintaining said potential of the corona electrode to be within ±50 V of a ground potential.
20. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of maintaining a potential the collecting electrode to be close to a ground potential.
21. The method according to claim 1 including a step of maintaining a potential of the collecting electrode to be within ±50 V of a ground potential.
22. The method according to claim 1 wherein the potential of neither said corona discharge electrode nor said collecting electrode is close to a ground potential.
23. The method according to claim 1 wherein potentials of both said corona discharge electrode and said collecting electrode are at least 10 V different from a ground potential.
24. The method according to claim 1 wherein potentials of both said corona discharge electrode and said collecting electrode are at least 50 V different from a ground potential.
25. A method of accelerating a fluid comprising the steps of:
generating an a.c. signal having a frequency f; and
applying a voltage V t between corona discharge and collector electrodes so as to cause a corona current I t to flow between said corona discharge and collector electrodes, both said voltage V t and corona current I t each being a sum of respective constant d.c. and alternating a.c. components superimposed on each other whereby V t =V d.c. +V a.c. and I t =I d.c. +I a.c. ., wherein V a.c. <<V d.c. and I a.c. ˜I d.c. ;
said a.c. component having said frequency f.
26. A method of accelerating a fluid comprising:
generating an a.c. signal having a frequency f; and
applying a voltage V t between corona discharge and collector electrodes so as to cause a corona current I t to flow between said corona discharge and collector electrodes, both said voltage V t and corona current I t each being a sum of respective constant d.c. and alternating a.c. components superimposed on each other whereby V t =V d.c. +V a.c. and I t =I d.c. +I a.c ., wherein V a.c <V d.c. and I a.c. >I d.c. ;
said a.c. component having said frequency f.
27. A method of accelerating a fluid comprising:
generating an a.c. signal having a frequency f; and
applying a voltage V t between corona discharge and collector electrodes so as to cause a corona current I t to flow between said corona discharge and collector electrodes, both said voltage V t and corona current I t each being a sum of respective constant d.c. and alternating a.c. components superimposed on each other whereby V t =V d.c. +V a.c. and I t =I d.c. +I a.c ., wherein V RMS ≃V MEAN and I RMS >I MEAN ;
said a.c. component having said frequency f.
28. A method of handling a fluid comprising:
introducing the fluid to a corona discharge device including at least one corona discharge electrode and at least one collector electrode positioned proximate said corona discharge electrode so as to provide a total inter-electrode capacitance within a predetermined range; and
supplying an electric power signal to said corona discharge device by applying a voltage V t between said corona discharge and collector electrodes so as to induce a corona current I t to flow between said electrodes, both said voltage V t and corona current I t each being a sum of respective constant d.c. and alternating a.c. components superimposed on each other whereby V t =V d.c. +V a.c. and I t =I d.c. +I a.c ., and wherein V a.c. .<<V d.c and I a.c. ˜I d.c. ;
said alternating component of said voltage V a.c. having a main frequency in excess of an audible sound level.
29. The method according to claim 28 further comprising a step of supplying said power signal to have a frequency of said alternating component of said corona current in a range above 30 kHz.
30. The method according to claim 28 wherein a frequency of said alternating component of said voltage is in a range of 50 kHz to 1 MHz.
31. The method according to claim 28 wherein a frequency of said alternating component of said voltage is approximately 100 kHz.
32. The method according to claim 28 wherein said amplitude of said constant component of said voltage V d.c. is within a range of 10 kV to 25 kV.
33. The method according to claim 28 wherein said amplitude of said constant component of said voltage V d.c. is greater than 1 kV.
34. The method according to claim 28 wherein said amplitude of said constant component of said voltage V d.c. is approximately 18 kV.
35. The method according to claim 28 wherein:
said amplitude of said alternating component of said corona current I a.c. is no more than 10 times greater than said amplitude of said constant component of said corona current I d.c. ; and
said amplitude of said constant component of said corona current I d.c is no more than 10 times greater than said amplitude of said alternating component of said corona current I a.c. .
36. The method according to claim 28 wherein said amplitude of said alternating component of said voltage V a.c. is no greater than one-tenth of said amplitude of said constant component of said voltage V d.c. .
37. The method according to claim 28 wherein said amplitude of said alternating component of said voltage V a.c. of said electric power signal is no greater than 1 kV.
38. The method according to claim 28 wherein said constant component of said corona current I d.c. is at least 100 μA.
39. The method according to claim 28 wherein said constant component of said corona current I d.c. is at least 1 mA.
40. The method according to claim 28 wherein a reactive capacitance between said corona discharge electrodes and said collector electrodes has a capacitive impedance that corresponds to a highest harmonic of a frequency of said alternating component of said voltage and is no greater than 10 MΩ.
41. A method of handling a fluid comprising:
introducing the fluid to a corona discharge device including at least one corona discharge electrode and at least one collector electrode positioned proximate said corona discharge electrode so as to provide a total inter-electrode capacitance within a predetermined range; and
supplying an electric power signal to said corona discharge device by applying a voltage V t between said corona discharge and collector electrodes so as to induce a corona current I t to flow between said electrodes, both said voltage V t and corona current I t each being a sum of respective constant d.c. and alternating a.c. components superimposed on each other whereby V t =V d.c. +V a.c. and I t =I d.c. +I a.c. , and wherein V a.c. <V d.c. and I a.c. >I d.c. ;
said alternating a.c. component of said voltage V a.c. having a main frequency in excess of an audible sound level.
42. The method according to claim 41 further comprising a step of supplying said power signal to have a frequency of said alternating component of said corona current in a range above 30 kHz.
43. The method according to claim 41 wherein a frequency of said alternating component of said voltage is in a range of 50 kHz to 1 MHz.
44. The method according to claim 41 wherein a frequency of said alternating component of said voltage is approximately 100 kHz.
45. The method according to claim 41 wherein said amplitude of said constant component of said voltage V d.c. is within a range of 10 kV to 25 kV.
46. The method according to claim 41 wherein said amplitude of said constant component of said voltage V d.c. is greater than 1 kV.
47. The method according to claim 41 wherein said amplitude of said constant component of said voltage V d.c. is approximately 18 kV.
48. The method according to claim 41 wherein:
said amplitude of said alternating component of said corona current I a.c. is no more than 10 times greater than said amplitude of said constant component of said corona current I d.c. ; and
said amplitude of said constant component of said corona current I d.c is no more than 10 times greater than said amplitude of said alternating component of said corona current I a.c. .
49. The method according to claim 41 wherein said amplitude of said alternating component of said voltage V a.c. is no greater than one-tenth of said amplitude of said constant component of said voltage V d.c .
50. The method according to claim 41 wherein said amplitude of said alternating component of said voltage V a.c. of said electric power signal is no greater than 1 kV.
51. The method according to claim 41 wherein said constant component of said corona current I d.c. is at least 100 μA.
52. The method according to claim 41 wherein said constant component of said corona current I d.c. is at least 1 mA.
53. The method according to claim 41 wherein a reactive capacitance between said corona discharge electrodes and said collector electrodes has a capacitive impedance that corresponds to a highest harmonic of a frequency of said alternating component of said voltage and is no greater than 10 MΩ.
54. A method of handling a fluid comprising:
introducing the fluid to a corona discharge device including at least one corona discharge electrode and at least one collector electrode positioned proximate said corona discharge electrode so as to provide a total inter-electrode capacitance within a predetermined range; and
supplying an electric power signal to said corona discharge device by applying a voltage V t between said corona discharge and collector electrodes so as to induce a corona current I t to flow between said electrodes, both said voltage V t and corona current I t each being a sum of respective constant d.c. and alternating a.c. components superimposed on each other whereby V t =V d.c +V a.c. and I t =I d.c. +I a.c. , and wherein V RMS ≃V MEAN and I RMS >I MEAN ;
said alternating a.c. component of said voltage V a.c. having a main frequency in excess of an audible sound level.
55. The method according to claim 54 further comprising a step of supplying said power signal to have a frequency of said alternating component of said corona current in a range above 30 kHz.
56. The method according to claim 54 wherein a frequency of said alternating component of said voltage is in a range of 50 kHz to 1 MHz.
57. The method according to claim 54 wherein a frequency of said alternating component of said voltage is approximately 100 kHz.
58. The method according to claim 54 wherein said amplitude of said constant component of said voltage V d.c is within a range of 10 kV to 25 kV.
59. The method according to claim 54 wherein said amplitude of said constant component of said voltage V d.c is greater than 1 kV.
60. The method according to claim 54 wherein said amplitude of said constant component of said voltage V d.c is approximately 18 kV.
61. The method according to claim 54 wherein:
said amplitude of said alternating component of said corona current I a.c. is no more than 10 times greater than said amplitude of said constant component of said corona current I d.c. ; and
said amplitude of said constant component of said corona current I d.c. is no more than 10 times greater than said amplitude of said alternating component of said corona current I a.c. .
62. The method according to claim 54 wherein said amplitude of said alternating component of said voltage V a.c. is no greater than one-tenth of said amplitude of said constant component of said voltage V d.c .
63. The method according to claim 54 wherein said amplitude of said alternating component of said voltage V a.c. of said electric power signal is no greater than 1 kV.
64. The method according to claim 54 wherein said constant component of said corona current I d.c. is at least 100 μA.
65. The method according to claim 54 wherein said constant component of said corona current I d.c. is at least 1 mA.
66. The method according to claim 54 wherein a reactive capacitance between said corona discharge electrodes and said collector electrodes has a capacitive impedance that corresponds to a highest harmonic of a frequency of said alternating component of said voltage and is no greater than 10 MΩ.