The present invention relates to static neutralization, and more particularly, to static neutralization of a charged objects located at distance within a relatively wide range from an ion generating source using a multi-frequency voltage.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific best mode, it is to be understood that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the following description. The use of these alternatives, modifications and variations in or with the various embodiments of the invention shown below would not require undue experimentation or further invention.
The various embodiments of the present invention, described below, are generally directed to the electrostatic neutralization of an electro-statically-charged object, named “charged object”, by applying an alternating voltage having a complex waveform, hereinafter referred to as a “multi-frequency voltage”, to an ionizing electrode in an ionizing cell. When the multi-frequency voltage, measured between the ionizing electrode and a reference electrode available from the ionizing cell, exceeds the corona onset voltage threshold of the ionizing cell, the multi-frequency voltage generates a mix of positively and negatively charged ions, sometimes collectively referred to as a “bipolar ion cloud”. The multi-frequency voltage also redistributes these ions into separate regions according to their negative or positive ion potential when the multi-frequency voltage creates a polarizing electrical field of sufficient strength. The redistribution, sometimes referred to as polarization herein, of these ions increases the effective range in which available ions may be displaced or directed towards a charged object.
The bipolar ion cloud has a weighted center that oscillates between the ionizing electrode and the reference electrode. The term “weighted center” when used in reference to a bipolar ion cloud refers to a space of the ion cloud having the highest concentration of approximately equal number of positive and negative ions.
The term “ionizing electrode” includes any electrode that has a shape suitable for generating ions.
The term “corona onset voltage threshold” is a voltage amount, measured between an ionizing electrode and a reference electrode, that when reached or exceeded creates ions by corona discharge. The corona onset voltage threshold is typically a function of the parameters of the ionization cell, such as configuration and dimensions, the polarity of the ionizing voltage, and the physical environment in which the ionization cell is used. For a filament or wire type ionizing electrode, the corona onset voltage threshold is typically in the range of 4 kV and 6 kV for positive ionizing voltages and in the range of −3.5 kV and −5.5 kV for negative ionizing voltages.
Referring now to
Using two reference electrodes is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. One of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize that an ionizing cell may be limited to a single reference electrode for receiving a reference voltage 12 that may be fixed or dynamically adjusted according to the balance of positive ions and negative ions desired. For example, reference voltage 12 may be set to ground. In another example, reference voltage 12 may be adjusted dynamically using a current sensing circuit (not shown) that senses the ion current balance created during corona discharge and that adjusts ion balancing voltage 14 to maintain an approximate balance of positive and negative ions created. In both examples, using a separate ion balancing voltage and an additional reference electrode to receive the ion balancing voltage may be omitted, such as ion balancing voltage 14 and reference electrode 10b, respectively.
In another example, the reference electrode(s) used may be coupled to the common output, such as ground, of a power supply, which is not shown in
Ionizing electrode 6 is located within structure 16, such as at a location within the space defined between inner side walls 18a and 18b and between inner top surface 20 and a plane 22 defined by edges 24a and 24b of inner side walls 18a and 18b, respectively. The location of ionizing electrode 6 within structure 16 is not intended to limit the various embodiments disclosed herein although one of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize after receiving the benefit of the herein disclosure that locating ionizing electrode 6 within structure 16 enhances the harvesting of ions when using a driven gas, such as air, to assist with the dispersion of these ions.
Ionizing electrode 6 has a shape suitable for generating ions by corona discharge and, in the example shown in
For example, referring to
Referring again to
A reference electrode may be placed at a distance from ionizing electrode 6 in the range of 5E-3 m to 5E-2 m. For example, since ionizing cell 4 utilizes a pair of reference electrodes 10a and 10b, which are respectively located at a distance 44a and a distance 44b in the range of 5E-3 m to 5E-2 m from ionizing electrode 6.
Electrodes 6, 10a and 10b may be placed at a location near an electro-statically charged object 38 having a surface charge 40 by using structure 16 to set object distance 46 in the range in which available neutralizing ions may be displaced or directed effectively towards surface charge 40. This effective range is currently contemplated to be from a few multiples of the distance between an ionizing electrode and a reference electrode, such as the dimensions defined by distances 44a or 44b, up to 100 inches although this range is not intended to be limiting in any way. Structure 16 should be electrically non-conductive and insulating to an extent that its dielectric properties would minimally affect the creation and displacement of ions as disclosed herein. The dielectric properties of structure 16 may be in the range of resistance of between 1E11 to 1E15Ω and have a dielectric constant of between 2 and 5. Object distance 46 is defined as the shortest distance between the closest edges of an ionizing electrode and of an object intended for static neutralization, such as ionizing electrode 6 and charged object 38, respectively.
The two closest respective edges of ionizing electrode 50 and reference electrode 52a defines distance 62a, the two closest respective edges of ionizing electrode 50 and reference electrode 52b defines distance 62b. Distance 62a and distance 62b are substantially equal in the embodiment shown.
As shown in
For example, as shown in
The term “polarizing field” is defined as an electrical field created between an ionizing electrode, such as ionizing electrode 50, and a reference electrode, such as reference electrode 54a, reference electrode 54b or both, that has sufficient charge to redistribute positive and negative ions, which are in the space between the ionizing electrode and the reference electrode(s), into separate regions according to the polarity of the ions, such as distances 62a and 62b. Redistributing ions increases the effective range in which available ions may be displaced or directed towards a charged object 80 without the use of a stream of gas or other means. Polarizing fields are not shown to avoid overcomplicating the herein disclosure. Charged object 80 is depicted to have a region having a negative charge 81a.
The term “polarization threshold voltage” is defined to mean a voltage amplitude, measured between an ionizing electrode and a reference electrode, that when exceeded creates a positive or negative electrical field of sufficient intensity to redistribute positive and negative ions available in the space between an ionizing electrode and a reference electrode.
As shown in
Ions created by corona discharge do not dissipate immediately by recombination but have a certain lifetime, which is approximately within one to sixty (60) seconds in clean gas or air after the corona discharge ends. Negative ions, such as negative ions 67a and 67b, redistributed in a positive first time-voltage region, such as in first time-voltage region 64-1, 64-2, 64-3 or 64-4, are negative ions previously created that have not yet recombined with positive ions or been neutralized by a charged object. Alternatively, positive ions, such as positive ions 73a and 73b, redistributed in a negative first time-voltage region, such as in first time-voltage region 70-1, 70-2, 70-3 or 70-4, are positive ions previously created that have not yet recombined with positive ions or been neutralized by a charged object.
The second time-voltage region describes a waveform area representing the voltage amplitude of multi-frequency voltage 52 for a given time period that is adjacent in time to, overlaps or both, the time period of a first time-voltage region and during which available ions are redistributed according to the polarity of the created ions and the polarity of the polarizing field created by multi-frequency voltage 52. Also, while in the second time-voltage region, multi-frequency voltage 52 does not exceed the positive or negative corona onset threshold voltages. For example, in
Similarly, as seen in
The third time-voltage region describes a waveform area representing the voltage amplitude of multi-frequency voltage 52 for a given time period that neither abuts in time nor overlaps the time period of a first time-voltage region and during which available ions are redistributed according to the polarity of the created ions and the polarity of the polarizing field created by multi-frequency voltage 52. For example in
In another example and in reference to
Multi-frequency voltage 52 may be created by summing or combining at least two alternating voltages with one of the alternating voltages having a relatively high frequency and the other having a relatively low frequency. For example, referring to
First voltage component 82 also includes relatively high amplitude voltages that, when combined with second voltage component 84, exceed during certain time periods the positive or negative corona onset threshold voltage required to generate ions by corona discharge in an ionizing cell. In the embodiment of the present invention shown in
The polarizing effectiveness of multi-frequency voltage 52 when used in an ionizing cell is dependent on many factors, including the shape and position of the ionizing electrode used and the position of the weighted center of the bipolar ion cloud within the distance between an ionizing electrode and a reference electrode, such as distance 62a or 62b. In the embodiment shown in
First voltage component 82 of multi-frequency voltage 52 causes ions comprising a bipolar ion cloud to oscillate between an ionizing electrode and a reference electrode, such as between ionizing electrode 50 and reference electrode 54a and between ionizing electrode 50 and reference electrode 54b. Further details may be found in U.S. patent application, having Ser. No. 10/821,773, entitled “Ion Generation Method and Apparatus”, hereinafter referred to as the “patent”.
Respectively positioning the weighted center of bipolar ion cloud within distance 62a or distance 62b may be accomplished by empirical means or by using the following equation, which is also taught in the patent:
V(t)=μ*F(t)/G2 [1]
where V(t) is the voltage difference between ionizing electrode 50 and a reference electrode, such as reference electrode 54a or 54b, μ is the average mobility of positive and negative ions, F(t) is the frequency of multi-frequency voltage 52 and G is equal to the size of the distance, such as distance 62a or 62b, between ionizing electrode 50 and a reference electrode, such as reference electrode 54a or 54b, respectively.
Equation [1] characterizes, among other things, the relationship of the voltage and frequency of an ionizing voltage with the position of the weighted center of a bipolar ion cloud within the distance formed between an ionizing and a reference electrode, such as distance 62a, which is formed between ionizing electrode 50 and reference electrode 54a and distance 62a, which is formed between ionizing electrode 50 and reference electrode 54b.
Positioning the weighted center of a bipolar ion cloud approximately between an ionizing electrode and a reference electrode enhances the polarization effectiveness of a multi-frequency voltage, such as multi-frequency voltage 52. This positioning may be accomplished by adjusting the amplitude, frequency or both, of first voltage component 82. However, it has been found that the most convenient method of adjusting the position of a bipolar ion cloud is by adjusting the amplitude of first voltage component 82, while keeping the distance between the ionizing electrode and a reference electrode in the range of 5E-3 m and 5E-2 m and the frequency of first voltage component 82 in the range 1 kHz and 30 kHz, and assuming an average light ion mobility in the range of 1E-4 to 2E-4 [m2/V*s] at 1 atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 21 degrees Celsius.
Although equation [1] characterizes an ionizing cell having an ionizing electrode and a reference electrode that is relatively flat, one of ordinary skill in the art after reviewing this disclosure and the above referred United States patent application would recognize that the centered position of an oscillating bipolar ion cloud can be characterized using the above mentioned variables for other configurations and/or shapes of an ionizing electrode and reference electrode(s).
Second voltage component 84 may also include a DC offset (not shown) for balancing the number of positive and negative ions generated. A positive DC offset increases the number of positive ions generated, while a negative DC offset increases the number of negative ions generated. For example, adding a positive DC offset to second voltage component 84 causes second voltage component 84 to have an alternating asymmetrical waveform, which in turn will cause multi-frequency voltage 52 to remain generally at a longer period of time above corona onset and polarization threshold voltages 66a and 68a, respectively, and to remain for a shorter period of below corona onset and polarization threshold voltages 66b and 68b, respectively, than multi-frequency voltage 52 would have if second voltage component 84 did not have a DC offset. Alternatively, providing a negative DC offset to second voltage component 84 causes second voltage component 84 to have also an alternating asymmetrical waveform, which in turn will cause multi-frequency voltage 52 to remain generally at a shorter period of time above corona onset and polarization threshold voltages 66a and 68b, respectively, and to remain for a longer period of below corona onset and polarization threshold voltages 66b and 68b, respectively, than multi-frequency voltage 52 would have if second voltage component 84 did not have a DC offset. The combined peak voltage amplitude and maximum DC offset for second voltage component 84 may be less than the threshold voltage that will create a corona discharge for a particular ionizing cell, which in the embodiment disclosed herein, is typically within +/−10 to 3000V.
Still referring to the example shown in
Referring now to
Low frequency generator 104 and high voltage amplifier 106 receive current and voltage from DC power supply 102. Low frequency generator 104 generates an alternating output signal 116 having a frequency in the range of 0.1 and 500 Hz, preferably between 0.1 and 100 Hz. High voltage amplifier 106 generates second voltage component 98 by receiving and amplifying alternating output signal 116 to a voltage amplitude of between 10 and 4000 volts. High voltage amplifier 106 may also provide an adjustable DC offset voltage in the range of +/−10 and 500 volts. It is contemplated that the maximum amplitude provided by high voltage amplifier 106 for second voltage component 98 is less than the corona onset threshold voltage for ionizing cell 112 and less than the maximum voltage amplitude selected for first voltage component 96.
High voltage-high frequency generator 108 generates first voltage component 96 and includes an adjustment for selecting the frequency of first voltage component 96. The voltage amplitude of high voltage-high frequency generator 106 is selectable by adjusting the amount of current provided by adjustable current regulator 110 to first voltage component 96. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the position of the weighted center of an ion cloud generated using ionizing cell 112 and multi-frequency voltage 94 may be selected by adjusting the frequency output of high voltage-high frequency amplifier 96 and then fine tuning the position of the weighted center of the ion cloud by adjusting the voltage amplitude of first voltage component 96 by adjusting the amount of current provided by adjustable current regulator to high frequency-high voltage generator 108.
Since summing block 100 combines first and second voltage components 96 and 98 to generate multi-frequency voltage 94, the form of multi-frequency voltage 94 is dependent substantially on the form of first voltage component 94 and second component voltage 96. For example, power supply 92 may be used to generate multi-frequency voltage 52, disclosed above with reference to
Summing block 126 is implemented using a high voltage transformer 142, low and high pass filters and virtual and physical grounds. In the example shown, the outputs of high voltage-high frequency generator 134 and high voltage amplifier 132 are electrically coupled to high voltage transformer 142, which has a primary coil 144 for receiving a high voltage-high frequency signal from high voltage-high frequency generator 134 and a secondary coil 146 having a first terminal 148 and a second terminal 150.
First terminal 148 couples to low pass filter 152 and high pass filter 154, which in combination electrically decouple ionizing cell 138 from power supply 118 during static neutralization. Low pass filter 152 may be implemented by using a resistor having a value that provides a relatively low resistance to low frequency current and high resistance to high frequency current, such as a resistor having a value in the range of approximately 1 and 100 MΩ, preferably in the range of approximately 5 and 10 MΩ. High pass filter 154 may be implemented by using a capacitor having a value that provides a relatively low resistance to high frequency current and relatively high resistance to low frequency current, such as a capacitor having a value in the range of approximately 20 pF and 1000 pF, preferably in the range of approximately 200 pF and 500 pF. With respect to the embodiment shown in
Second terminal 150 is coupled to the output of high voltage amplifier 132 and to a “virtual ground” circuit 156, which is implemented in the form of a capacitor. Circuit 154 is referred to as a virtual ground circuit because it functions as an open circuit for low frequency high voltage generated by the combination of high voltage amplifier 132 and low frequency generator 130, but also functions as a grounding circuit for any high voltage-high frequency voltage induced on secondary coil 146.
In an alternative embodiment, high voltage-high frequency generator 118 is implemented using a Royer-type high voltage frequency generator having a high frequency transformer that includes a primary coil and a secondary coil. This high frequency transformer may be used to implement high voltage transformer 142, reducing the cost of implementing power supply 134 and eliminating the need to provide high voltage transformer 142.
While the present invention has been described in particular embodiments, it should be appreciated that the present invention should not be construed as limited by such embodiments. Rather, the present invention should be construed according to the claims below.
This application is a continuing-in-part application, which claims the benefit of U.S. patent application, entitled “Wide Range Static Neutralizer and Method, having Ser. No. 11/136,754, and filed on May 25, 2005, which in turn claims the benefit of U.S. patent application, entitled “Ion Generation Method and Apparatus, having Ser. No. 10/821,773, and filed on Apr. 8, 2004.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11136754 | May 2005 | US |
Child | 11398446 | Apr 2006 | US |
Parent | 10821773 | Apr 2004 | US |
Child | 11136754 | May 2005 | US |