Method for Electrically-driven classification of combustion particles

摘要

In a combustion system, a charge source is configured to cooperate with a collection plate and a director conduit to cause at least one particle charge-to-mass classification to be reintroduced to a flame for further reaction.

主权项

1. A method for reducing particles entrained within an exhaust flow leaving a combustion system, comprising the steps of:
applying a first electrical potential between shaped electrodes that are positioned above a flame within a combustion volume and are adjacent to the exhaust flow leaving the combustion volume, thereby generating an ionic wind between the shaped electrodes, such that the exhaust flow-entrained particles pass through the ionic wind; generating a corona discharge proximate to the shaped electrodes, thereby providing the ionic wind, the ionic wind comprising a plurality of electric charges passing through the exhaust flow; depositing at least a fraction of the electric charge having a first polarity onto at least a fraction of the plurality of particles when the particles pass through the ionic wind and ions of the ionic wind become attached to the particles, such that the particles become charged; providing an electrically conductive collector plate, the collector plate disposed above and away from the combustion volume distal to the flame; and applying a second electrical potential between ground and the electrically conductive collector plate, the second electrical potential having an attractive polarity, whereby at least a fraction of the plurality of charged particles is collected at a surface of the collector plate.