Low Cost Discharge Electrode
- Technology Benefits
- The proposed technology provides a number of key benefits over existing models: Inexpensive and efficient production feasible by reducing the amount of alloy used. This is facilitated byfabricating the device using multiple sub-components instead of a solid metal construction. Lower manufacturing cost, facilitated by using ten times lower cost polymers and other similar materials. Lower installation costs enabled by its light-weight design that reduces structural support requirements. Flexibility in design parameters permits variation in the pitch and length of the spikes.
- Technology Application
- The technology has strong potential applications in energy production, ESP and air-purifier manufacturing. The Department of Energy (DOE) guidelines for coal-fired power plants require significant reduction in emissions of particulate matter and other toxic by-products. The electrodes can help achieve these goals by controlling emission in exhaust stacks. With nearly 540 U.S. coal-burning plants using ESPs, the devised technology has lucrative commercial prospects. ESP components form a $1.5 billion world-wide market aided by huge international investments. U.S., India and China plan on constructing 850 coal power-plants in the next four years.
- Detailed Technology Description
- Stage of Development:The proposed technology is at an early conceptual stage and requires further research and testing to develop a marketable device. It needs improvement to meet manufacturing requirements. Multiple configuration prototypes of the device have been constructed and successfully tested in the laboratory.Future Development:Actual application testing is required to confirm the cost and performance evaluation of the devised prototype in comparison to the existing conventional technology. Research is needed to identify suitable low-cost materials,manufacturing and installation options.
- *Abstract
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The Discharge Electrode is a critical component of Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP) and airfilters. Researchers have devised a low-cost alternative that meets the growing market demand for such a device. The prototype is a two-piece assembly consisting of a cylindrical rod (made from an inexpensive, not necessarily conductive material) on which sharp discharge pins are mounted and is wrapped by a conductive spike-carrying material (made from good quality material to provide environmental resilience). It is cost-effective in comparison to available one-piece electrodes that are fabricated from a single expensive material. As an example, the adjoining figure shows a mace electrode that has been fabricated using metallic spikes wrapped around a hollow PVC cylindrical pipe. The device can have unlimited configurations, being highly flexible in design parameters, physical dimensions and materials.
- *Principal Investigator
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Name: Hajrudin Pasic, Ph. D.
Department:
- Country/Region
- USA
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