Patent ID: 8361193
Filing Date: 2013-01-29
Classification: B60H

Abstract:
1. A system for electrostatic air filtering in an automotive vehicle that includes a high-voltage energy storage device, an electric motor for powering the vehicle, and a passenger compartment, the system comprising: an electrostatic filtering system in the vehicle having a plurality of discharge electrodes, at least one accumulation electrode, and a sensor system to sense a first amount of particulates in air flowing upstream of the accumulation electrode and a second amount of particulates in air flowing downstream of the accumulation electrode; and an electrical distribution system in high-voltage electrical communication with the filtering system, the electric motor, and the high-voltage energy storage device to distribute high-voltage electric power from at least one of the electric motor and the high-voltage energy storage device to the filtering system; wherein the filtering system receives the high-voltage electric power from the distribution system to generate a high-voltage electrostatic potential between the accumulation electrode and the discharge electrodes to electrostatically transfer particulates from air flowing through a region of the electrostatic potential to the accumulation electrode, and increases or decreases a rate of air filtering in response to the first and second amounts of sensed particulates.