Abstract:
An electrostatic precipitator structure includes a dielectric plate arranged between two collecting electrode plates, which define an air flow channel. The dielectric plate divides the air flow channel into two sub-channels. A plurality of discharge wires are attached on in the upper and lower surfaces of the dielectric plate for generating corona discharge in the sub-channels. When a gas with particles passes through the sub-channels, the particles are charged by the ions produced by corona discharge and then migrate to the collecting electrode plates by electrostatic force. This electrostatic precipitator structure may avoid intensive particle contamination on the discharge wires, wherefore particle collection efficiency is enhanced. Further, due to the insulating dielectric plate immobilize the attached ions, the corona current and the ozone concentration is reduced, wherefore power efficiency is enhanced.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an electrostatic precipitator structure, particularly to an electrostatic precipitator structure whose discharge wires are less likely to be contaminated by particles and whose dust collection efficiency is enhanced. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    A common electrostatic precipitator device uses a high voltage power supply to generate corona discharge, and the corona discharge ionizes air molecules. Particles in the air are charged by the ionized air molecules. Thus, the charged particles migrate to dust collection plates. Thereby, particles are removed from the air stream, and the air is purified. 
         [0005]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , in a conventional electrostatic precipitator structure  10 , a plurality of discharge wires  12  are directly disposed between two collecting electrode plates  14 ,  14 ′. The discharge wires  12  generate corona discharge to make the particles in the air, which flows along an air flow direction A to pass through the space between two collecting electrode plates  14 ,  14 ′, be collected by the collecting electrode plate  14 ,  14 ′. However, the discharge wires  12  of the conventional electrostatic precipitator structure  10  are entirely directly exposed to the processed air. Then, the particles are likely to accumulate on the discharge wires  12 . Thus, the electric field intensity and dust collection efficiency diminishes with the usage time. The contaminated discharge wires  12  need cleaning by rapping periodically. However, the discharge wires  12  are hard to clean. If the user intends to clean the discharge wires via injecting water, the electrostatic precipitator system must be turned off to avoid electric short-circuit to occur. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    One objective of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic precipitator structure whose discharge wires are placed on the surface of a dielectric member to prevent the discharge wires from being exposed to the particles of the processed air and prevent the discharge wires from being contaminated by the particles, whereby the dust collection efficiency of the dust precipitator structure is enhanced and the period of cleaning the discharge wires is prolonged, and the abovementioned problems are resolved. 
         [0007]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic precipitator structure, wherein there is no need to remove all discharge wires separately at the time of wire cleaning. The wires can be removed altogether with the dielectric member on which the discharge wires are assembled, whereby the time to disassemble and reassemble the discharge wires is reduced. 
         [0008]    A still another objective of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic precipitator structure, wherein the dielectric member is arranged between two collecting electrode plates to generate a dielectric-barrier-discharge effect to enhance the corona discharge effect, whereby the dust collection efficiency of the electrostatic precipitator structure is enhanced. 
         [0009]    A further objective of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic precipitator structure, wherein the insulating dielectric member immobilize the attached ions, whereby the corona current and the ozone concentration is reduced, wherefore power efficiency is enhanced. 
         [0010]    To achieve the abovementioned objectives, the present invention proposes an electrostatic precipitator structure, which includes at least two collecting electrode plates, at least one dielectric member and a plurality of discharge wires. The collecting electrode plates are arranged apart from each other. Each two adjacent collecting electrode plates define an air flow channel. The air flow channel has an inlet and an outlet, and the air to be processed enters the air flow channel from the inlet. The dielectric member is arranged in the air flow channel and separates the air flow channel into two sub-channels. The gas to be processed flows in the air flow channel along an air flow direction. The dielectric member has two opposite surfaces respectively facing the two collecting electrode plates. The discharge wires are attached on the surfaces of the dielectric member. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, the dielectric member is a dielectric plate parallel to the two collecting electrode plates. The dielectric plates and the collecting electrode plates are arranged alternately. The plurality of discharge wires is attached on the surface of the dielectric plate. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment, each of the plurality of the discharge wires is arranged perpendicularly to the air flow direction at a fixed interval. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment, the opposite inner surfaces of the two collecting electrode plates are hydrophobic surfaces. The two collecting electrode plates are grounded electrodes. The plurality of discharge wires is connected with a high-voltage power supply. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, a porous metallic plate is disposed at the inlet to straighten the gas flow to be processed. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment, the electrostatic precipitator structure of the present invention includes a central dielectric member, a hollow cylindrical collecting electrode, and a plurality of discharge wires. The central dielectric member includes two opposite surfaces and a side surface. The hollow cylindrical collecting electrode encircles the periphery of the central dielectric member. The side surface of the central dielectric member and the hollow cylindrical collecting electrode jointly define an air flow channel where a gas to be processed flows along an air flow direction. The air flow channel includes an inlet and an outlet. The plurality of discharge wires is distributed on the side surface of the central dielectric member. One end of each discharge wire intersects at least one of the two surfaces of the central dielectric member. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, the central dielectric member is a cylindrical dielectric body; the central dielectric member and the hollow cylindrical collecting electrode are concentric but respectively have different diameters. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, a high-voltage power supply is connected with the discharge wires. Each of the discharge wires is attached on the side surface of the central dielectric member along the air flow direction. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, a porous metallic plate is disposed at the inlet to straighten the gas flow to be processed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a diagram schematically showing a conventional electrostatic precipitator structure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a diagram schematically showing an electrostatic precipitator structure according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a diagram schematically showing an application of the electrostatic precipitator structure according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a diagram schematically showing an electrostatic precipitator structure according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the electrostatic precipitator structure shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0024]    Refer to  FIG. 2  a diagram schematically showing an electrostatic precipitator structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. The electrostatic precipitator structure  20  of the present invention includes at least two collecting electrode plates  22 ,  22 ′, a dielectric member  30 , and a plurality of discharge wires  34 . The collecting electrode plates  22 ,  22 ′ are arranged apart from each other. Each two adjacent collecting electrode plates  22 ,  22 ′ define an air flow channel  24 . The collecting electrode plates  22 ,  22 ′ shown in  FIG. 2  are arranged apart from each other and parallel to each other. The air flow channel  24  defined by two collecting electrode plates  22 ,  22 ′ has an inlet  26  and an outlet  28 . The dielectric member  30  is arranged in the air flow channel  24  and separates the air flow channel  24  into two sub-channels  32 ,  32 ′. The gas to be processed flows in the air flow channel  24  along an air flow direction D 1 . In one embodiment, the dielectric member  30  is a dielectric plate; the dielectric plate is arranged parallel to the two collecting electrode plates  22 ,  22 ′; the dielectric plate and the collecting electrode plates  22 ,  22 ′ are arranged alternately. The dielectric member  30  has two opposite surfaces  301 ,  301 ′ respectively facing the two collecting electrode plates  22 ,  22 ′. The discharge wires  34  are attached on the two opposite surfaces  301 ,  301 ′ of the dielectric member  30 . In one embodiment, each of the plurality of the discharge wires  34  is arranged perpendicularly to the air flow direction D 1  at a fixed interval. 
         [0025]    The dielectric member  30  is preferably configured in the middle of the air flow channel  24 , whereby the two sub-channels  32 ,  32 ′ have a fixed width, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The discharge wires  34  are evenly distributed on the two surfaces  301 ,  301 ′ of the dielectric member  30 . In one embodiment, the discharge wires  34  are arranged perpendicularly to the air flow direction D 1 . The electrostatic precipitator structure  20  further includes a porous metallic plate (not shown in the drawing) arranged at the inlet  26  to straighten the gas flow to be processed, before the gas to be processed enters the air flow channel  24 . The straight gas flow enters the air flow channel  24  and then splits into two gas flows respectively entering the sub-channels  32 ,  32 ′. 
         [0026]    Refer to  FIG. 3  a diagram schematically showing an application of the electrostatic precipitator structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. The two collecting electrode plates  22 ,  22 ′ are grounding electrodes. The discharge wires  34  are connected with a high-voltage power supply  60 . While the high-voltage power supply  60  supplies power, the discharge wires  34  generate corona discharge. The ion clouds  62  of the corona discharge move toward the collecting electrode plates  22 ,  22 ′, which the discharge wires  34  face. The moving ion clouds  62  charge the particles  64  of the processed gas inside the sub-channels  32 ,  32 ′. The charged particles  64  are attracted toward the collecting electrode plates  22 ,  22 ′ by electrostatic force and collected by the collecting electrode plates  22 ,  22 ′. The dielectric member  30  arranged between the collecting electrode plates  22 ,  22 ′ enhances the corona discharge effect and inhibits glow discharge and filament discharge, whereby the dust collection efficiency of the electrostatic precipitator is increased. Further, the insulating dielectric member  30  immobilizes the attached ions, whereby the corona current is decreased and the power consumption is reduced. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the discharge wires  34  are detachably attached on the surfaces  301 ,  301 ′ of the dielectric member  30 . The design of attaching the discharge wires  34  on the dielectric member  30  makes only a portion of the surfaces of the discharge wires  34  exposed to the processed gas. Further, the electrostatic force surrounding the discharge wires  34  pushes the particles of the processed gas toward the collecting electrode plates  22 ,  22 ′ to prevent the discharge wires  34  from being contaminated by the particles, whereby the dust collection efficiency of the dust precipitator structure  20  is enhanced and the period of cleaning the discharge wires  34  is prolonged. 
         [0028]    On the other hand, the particles collected by the collecting electrode plates  22 ,  22 ′ can be knocked off or removed via continuously injecting water. In one embodiment, the inner surfaces of the collecting electrode plates  22 ,  22 ′ are coated with a hydrophobic material to form hydrophobic surfaces, whereby the particles on the collecting electrode plates  22 ,  22 ′ can be more easily removed via injecting water. 
         [0029]    Refer to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 4  is a diagram schematically showing an electrostatic precipitator structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the electrostatic precipitator structure shown in  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment, the electrostatic precipitator structure  40  of the present invention includes a central dielectric member  42 , a hollow cylindrical collecting electrode  44  and a plurality of discharge wires  34 . In one embodiment, the central dielectric member  42  is a cylindrical dielectric body having tow opposite surfaces  421 ,  421 ′ and a side surface  422 . A high-voltage power supply  46  is arranged on the surface  421  of the central dielectric member  42 . The hollow cylindrical collecting electrode  44  encircles the periphery of the side surface  422  of the central dielectric member  42 . The side surface  422  of the central dielectric member  42  and the hollow cylindrical collecting electrode  44  jointly define an air flow channel  48 . The processed gas flows in the air flow channel  48  along an air flow direction D 2 . The air flow channel  48  has an inlet  50  and an outlet  52 . The discharge wires  34  are dispersively distributed on the side surface  422  of the central dielectric member  42  and the discharge wires  34  are connected with the high-voltage power supply  46 . 
         [0030]    In one embodiment, the central dielectric member  42  and the hollow cylindrical collecting electrode  44  are concentric but respectively have different diameters, whereby the central dielectric member  43  is located in the center of the hollow cylindrical collecting electrode  44 , and whereby the air flow channel  48  between the central dielectric member  42  and the hollow cylindrical collecting electrode  44  has a fixed width, as shown in  FIG. 4 . In the same embodiment, the discharge wires  34  are evenly distributed on the side surface  422  of the central dielectric member  42 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the plurality of discharge wires  34  is exemplified by four pieces of discharge wires  34 . However, the present invention does not limit that there must be four pieces of discharge wires  34  on the side surface  422 . In one embodiment, the discharge wires  34  are attached on the side surface  422  of the central dielectric member  34  along the air flow direction D 2 . In one embodiment, the electrostatic precipitator structure  40  further includes a porous metallic plate (not shown in the drawing) arranged at the inlet  50  to straighten the gas flow to be processed; then the straight gas flow enters the air flow channel  48 . 
         [0031]    The hollow cylindrical collecting electrode  44  is a grounding electrode. While the high-voltage power supply supplies power, the discharge wires  34  generate corona discharge. The ion clouds of the corona discharge ionize the particles of the processed gas in the air flow channel  48 . The charged particles are moved toward the hollow cylindrical collecting electrode  44  and collected by the hollow cylindrical collecting electrode  44 . Further, the insulating central dielectric member  42  immobilizes the attached ions, whereby the corona current is decreased and the power consumption is reduced. 
         [0032]    The particles collected by the hollow cylindrical collecting electrode  44  can be knocked off or removed via continuously injecting water. In one embodiment, an inner surface  441  of the hollow cylindrical collecting electrode  44 , which faces the central dielectric member  42 , is coated with a hydrophobic material to form a hydrophobic surface, whereby the particles on the hollow cylindrical collecting electrode  44  can be more easily removed via injecting water. 
         [0033]    In the present invention, the discharge wires are attached on the dielectric member to prevent the discharge wires from being exposed to the particles of the processed gas and prevent the discharge wires from being contaminated by the particles. Thereby, the dust collection efficiency of the electrostatic precipitator structure is enhanced, and the period of cleaning the discharge wires is prolonged. Further, there is no need to remove all discharge wires separately at the time of wire cleaning. The discharge wires can be removed altogether with the dielectric member on which the discharge wires are assembled, whereby the time to disassemble and reassemble the discharge wires is reduced. 
         [0034]    The embodiments have been described in detail to fully demonstrate the characteristics and spirit of the present invention. However, these embodiments are only to exemplify the present invention but not to limit the scope of the present invention. Contrarily, any equivalent modification or variation according to the characteristic or spirit of the present invention is to be also included within the scope of the present invention. The claims of the present invention should be interpreted in the broadest sense according to the specification and cover all possible equivalent modifications and variations.