Patent ID: 7261765

Claim:
An electrostatic precipitator comprising: an intake pipe attached to a first exterior portion of the electrostatic precipitator that receives exhaust gas; an exhaust gas inflow fan attached to the intake pipe so as to regulate the flow of exhaust gas into the electrostatic precipitation device; a plurality of electrostatic precipitation units positioned within the electrostatic precipitator, wherein each of the electrostatic precipitation units include a plurality of negative wire electrodes and a plurality of positive electrode plates, and wherein spacing between the negative wire electrodes of a first electrostatic precipitation unit is a first distance apart, and wherein spacing between the negative wire electrodes of a second electrostatic precipitation unit is less than the spacing between the negative wire electrodes of the first electrostatic precipitation unit, and wherein a variable voltage is applied to the each of the electrostatic precipitation units between the positive electrode plates and the negative wire electrodes so as to cause particles in the exhaust gas to adhere to the positive electrode plates; a plurality of electrical control circuits electrically connected to the plurality of electrostatic precipitation units that individually control the variable voltages applied to the electrostatic precipitation units, wherein the amount of voltage applied to the electrostatic precipitation units depends, at least in part, on the characteristics of the particles in the exhaust gas; and a discharge pipe attached to a second exterior portion of the electrostatic precipitator that discharges exhaust gas from the electrostatic precipitator.