Electrostatic Precipitators
By: Kate Lowrey
WHAT ARE THEY???
WHEN WERE THEY CREATED???
HOW DO THEY WORK???
Electrostatic Precipitators work based on two main factors; Like charges repel and unlike charges attract (Ron Kurtus). To remove unwanted particles from the air, they consist of a power supply, an ionizing source, a dust removal method, and an external enclosure (Electrostatic Precipitators, ThomasNet.com)
They are built with a vertical tube that contains an insulated wire. Dust particles and liquid droplets in a polluted gas become positively charged when they come into contact with the wire, which is positively charged. The positively charged particles collide with the collection plates, and they are neutralized and collected in large containers called hoppers (Ron Kurtus)
The two main inlets are one to allow the entrance of polluted air, and one that facilitates the exit of the clean air stream at the end of cleaning. The efficiency of air purifiers depends on the size of the collection plate, how much power is being produced in the electric field, and the airflow rate (Electrostatic, Modern Alchemy Air Purifiers)
BENEFITS
-It reduces the amount of air pollution caused by factories.
-It helps reduce the amount of dust and toxins in our homes.
-It makes us healthier.
-It helps the earth.
CITATIONS
-"Electrostatic." Modern Alchemy Air Purifiers. Modern Alchemy Air Purifiers, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. <http://www.modernalchemyair.com/technology/electrostatic/>.
-"Electrostatic Precipitators." ThomasNet.com. Thomas Publishing Company, 2013. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. <http://www.thomasnet.com/articles/plant-facility-equipment/electrostatic-precipitators>.
-Frederick Cottrell. Digital image. Historia De Interlingua. Union Mundial Pro Interlingua, 29 Dec. 2006. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. <http://www.interlingua.com/historia/biographias/cottrell.htm>.
- How electrostatic precipitators work. Digital image. Bitesize. BBC, 2013. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_aqa_pre_2011/electricity/staticelectrev2.shtml>.
-Kurtus, Ron. "Uses for Static Electricity." School For Champions. School For Champions, 11 Oct. 2007. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. <http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/static_uses.htm>.
-"Uses of Electrostatics." Bitesize. BBC, 2013. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_gateway_pre_2011/radiation/electrostaticsusesrev1.shtml>.
-Electrostatic Precipitator System Working.avi. YouTube. YouTube, 01 Mar. 2012. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0tDieiia_c>
-Mill, George. "Electrostatic Precipitator." Access Science. McGraw-Hill Education, 2013. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. <http://www.accessscience.com/content.aspx?searchStr=Electrostatic+precipitator&id=227000>.