Patent ID: 7976616

Claim:
A discharge electrode in an electrostatic precipitator having a power supply connected to at least one collection electrode and a flow of gas across the discharge electrode and the collection electrode, the discharge electrode comprising: (a) a composite support rod mounted to a frame and made of reinforcing fibers infiltrated with a solid, non-conductive matrix; (b) at least one composite plate made of reinforcing fibers infiltrated with a solid matrix, the plate being mounted to the support rod and having a peripheral edge, wherein at least some of the reinforcing fibers are conductive and are electrically connected to the power supply; wherein at least a portion of the plate edge is formed by a plurality of tips of at least some of the conductive reinforcing fibers embedded in the composite plate, said tips being exposed to the flow of gas at the edge of the plate to produce a corona for ionization of substances in the flow of gas.