ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrostatic precipitator that removes particulate matter (PM) from a PM-containing gas such as exhaust gas, for example, of an internal combustion engine, which includes the PM.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion engine includes hazardous substances such as NOx, SOx, and also PM including carbon as the main component. The PM that has penetrated into a human body as a result of breathing is known to cause various health problems, and it is desirable to develop a PM collecting apparatus with high collection efficiency.

[0003] A method in which a filter is disposed in an exhaust gas duct can be used in such a PM removing apparatus, but the filter can be easily clogged and has a large pressure loss. By contrast, an electrostatic precipitator does not have a risk of clogging and has a small pressure loss, and therefore can be effectively installed in the exhaust gas duct of an internal combustion engine.

[0004] A dust collecting apparatus comprising a discharge electrode 201 in a flow of gas including a particulate matter, a filtration device 202 provided opposite the discharge electrode 201, a high-voltage power source 203 that applies a high voltage between the discharge electrode 201 and the filtration device 202, an extraction blower 204 that adjusts the gas flow passing through the filtration device 202, and a main blower 205 that sucks in the exhaust gas, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, is known as a PM collecting apparatus of such an electric dust collection system (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Likewise, a dust collecting apparatus is also known in which the extraction blower 204 is omitted, a gas outlet is divided in two, and a damper 210 for pressure loss adjustment is provided in each gas outlet instead of the blower, as shown in FIG. 15 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0005] A dust removing apparatus is also known which includes a discharge electrode 201 in a gas flow including a particulate matter, a filtration device 202 having a counter electrode 207 disposed opposite the discharge electrode 201, a high-voltage power source 203 that applies a high voltage between the discharge electrode 201 and the filtration device 202, and a closed space 208 provided inside the filtration means 202 or at the rear surface thereof, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

[0006] 

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H2-63560.

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H2-184357.

[0007] JP 2007 100635 A describes a discharge electrode charging particulate matter in exhaust gas that is provided at a center part of a casing, a dust collecting electrode collecting charged particulate matter that is provided on an inner wall surface of the casing, wherein an exhaust gas supply passage supplying exhaust gas reaching an inlet part to the dust collecting electrode and separating collected particulate matter, and a re-collecting part re-collecting particulate matter separated from the dust collecting electrode and a filter with a heater burning the re-collected particulate matter are provided.

[0008] JP 2011 245429 A discloses an electrostatic precipitator which includes a tubular electrode 3 and a discharge electrode 2 arranged on a central part of the tubular electrode, wherein a voltage is applied between the tubular electrode 3 and the discharge electrode 2 while causing a gas containing particulate material to flow through an inner part of the tubular electrode 3, a corona discharge is generated and, thereby, the particulate material 5 in the gas containing the particulate material is removed. A large number of through-holes 3b for causing the particulate material to pass therethrough are formed in the tubular electrode 3, at the same time, the tubular electrode 3 is arranged in a tubular casing electrode 4 larger than the tubular electrode 3 and a potential having the same polarity as the tubular electrode 3 is applied to the casing electrode 4.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0009] However, in the conventional example shown in FIG. 14 which is described in Patent Document 1, the amount of the exhaust gas flowing through the filtration device 202 is adjusted by the extraction blower 204, but since the filtration device 202 is required to use a filtration material with sufficiently fine pores for filtering the particulate matter of a submicron-order size, the loss of pressure in the filtration device 202 is large and a large-capacity blower should be used as the extraction blower 204. In this case, after operating for a certain time, the filtration device 202 is clogged by the particulate matter 209, as shown in FIG. 18, and the dust collection becomes impossible. The resultant unresolved problem is that the filtration device 202 should be frequently replaced. Conversely, where the capacity of the extraction blower 204 is small, the amount of gas flowing through the filtration device 202 is small. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 19, the particulate matter 209 is mostly collected close to the surface of the filtration device 202. In this case, the collected particulate matter 209 is exposed to the main gas flow. The unresolved problem encountered in this case is that when the conditions are changed to obtain a high-speed main gas flow, the particulate matter collected on the surface of the filtration device 202 is stripped away by the drag of the main gas flow, so called re-entrainment.

[0010] Likewise, in the conventional example shown in FIG. 15 and described in Patent Document 1, the extraction blower can be omitted, and the extraction amount in the filtration device 202 is adjusted by the pressure loss regulating damper 210. Therefore, since the filtration device 202 is required to use a filtration material with sufficiently fine pores for filtering the particulate matter of a submicron-order size, the loss of pressure in the filtration device 202 is large and the pressure loss regulating damper 210 should be regulated to assume a nearly closed state. In this case, the pressure loss in the main flow caused by the pressure loss regulating damper 210 increases, and therefore a large-capacity blower should be used as the blower 205. Yet another unresolved problem is that, as shown in FIG. 18, where the filtration device 202 operates for a certain time, the device is clogged and the dust collection becomes impossible. Conversely, the unresolved problem encountered when the closing degree of the pressure loss regulating damper 210 is small is that, although the capacity of the blower 205 may be reduced, since the amount of gas blown through the filtration device 202 is also small, the particulate matter 209 collected on the surface of the filtration device 202 is stripped away, as shown in FIG. 19. Yet another unresolved problem is that a movable mechanism such as the pressure loss regulating damper 210 is extremely prone to failure in a high-temperature exhaust gas.

[0011] In the conventional example shown in FIG. 16 and described in Patent Document 2, the secondary flow created by an ion wind generated between the discharge electrode 201 and the counter electrode 207 has a maximum flow velocity of about 2 m/s. Since the filtration device 202 is required to use a filtration material with sufficiently fine pores for filtering the particulate matter of a submicron-order size and the pressure loss of the filtration device 202 is large, it is difficult to cause a sufficient amount of gas to pass through the filtration device 202 only with the secondary flow created by the ion wind, and the particulate matter 209 is mostly collected close to the surface of the filtration device 202, as shown in FIG. 20. In this case, the collected particulate matter is exposed to the main gas flow. The unresolved problem encountered in this case is that when the conditions are changed to obtain a high-speed main gas flow, the particulate matter 209 collected on the surface of the filtration device 202 is stripped away by the drag of the main gas flow.

[0012] The present invention has been created to resolve the problems unresolved in the above-described related art, and it is an objective of the present invention to provide an electrostatic precipitator that does not require a large-capacity extraction device when collecting a PM, demonstrates high dust collection performance which is free from clogging or re-entrainment under high-blowing-rate conditions, and has a low probability of failure.

[0013] In order to attain the abovementioned objective, the present invention provides an electrostatic precipitator according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments are described in dependent claims 2 to 13. According to a first aspect of the present invention, the electrostatic precipitator includes: a plate-shaped electrode having formed therein a plurality of through holes that allow a particulate matter to pass therethrough; a discharge electrode disposed to face one surface of the plate-shaped electrode; a discharge generating unit that applies a voltage between the plate-shaped electrode and the discharge electrode and generates an electric discharge imparting a Coulomb force to the particulate matter; a collection region that is formed on an opposite side of the plate-shaped electrode to a surface thereof facing the discharge electrode and collects the particulate matter; a gas flow-through region that is formed between the plate-shaped electrode and the discharge electrode and allows gas including the particulate matter to flow therethrough; and a particulate matter recovery unit that causes a recovery gas to flow through in the collection region in a direction crossing the flow-through direction of the gas including the particulate matter and strips and recovers the collected particulate matter in a flow-through state of the gas including the particulate matter. The particulate matter in the gas including particulate matter is electrically charged by the electric discharge and collected in the collection region through the through holes, and the particulate matter collected in the collection region is stripped away and recovered by the recovery gas.

[0014] With such a configuration, the particulate matter in the gas including the particulate matter is electrically charged by the electric discharge, such as corona discharge and barrier discharge, generated between the discharge electrode and plate-shaped electrode, the charged particulate matter is moved by a Coulomb force through the through holes into the collection space formed on the surface of the plate-shaped electrode on the side opposite that facing the discharge electrode, and the particulate matter is collected in the collection space. The collected particulate matter is stripped away and recovered by the recovery gas flowing through in the direction crossing the flow-through direction of the exhaust gas including the particulate matter. As a result, the particulate matter can be reliably stripped away and recovered by the recovery gas in the flow-through state of the exhaust gas including the particulate matter, with the exhaust gas including the particulate matter not being involved in re-entrainment.

[0015] In the electrostatic precipitator according to a second aspect of the present invention, the discharge generating unit generates a corona discharge by applying a DC voltage between the plate-shaped electrode and the discharge electrode.

[0016] According to the second aspect, the PM is electrically charged and a Coulomb force is applied thereto by a corona discharge generated between the plate-shaped electrode and the discharge electrode.

[0017] In the electrostatic precipitator according to a third aspect of the present invention, the discharge electrode includes: a plate-shaped electrode main body that has a rectangular cross section, with the long sides of the cross section facing the plate-shaped electrode; and thorn-shaped discharge portions formed at the short sides of the cross section of the plate-shaped electrode main body.

[0018] According to the third aspect, the discharge portion of the discharge electrode is configured by thorn-shaped discharge portions. Therefore, a comparatively thick discharge portion can be formed. As a result, the processing and assembling are facilitated, the production cost can be reduced, and the service life can be extended.

[0019] In the electrostatic precipitator according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the extension direction of the plate-shaped electrode main body crosses the flow-through direction of the gas including the particulate matter.

[0020] According to the fourth aspect, with such a configuration, by arranging the thorn-shaped discharge portion in a plurality of discharge electrodes such that positions thereof do not overlap, it is possible to form the corona discharge region effective with respect to the entire gas including the particulate matter that flows therethrough and the particulate matter removal ratio can be increased.

[0021] In the electrostatic precipitator according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the discharge generating unit generates a barrier discharge by applying an AC voltage between the plate-shaped electrode and the discharge electrode.

[0022] According to the fifth aspect, the PM is electrically charged and a Coulomb force is applied thereto by a barrier discharge generated between the plate-shaped electrode and the discharge electrode.

[0023] In the electrostatic precipitator according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the discharge electrode is formed by a metal electrode and a dielectric covering the metal electrode to have a plate shape having a plate surface along the flow-through direction of the gas including the particulate matter.

[0024] According to the sixth aspect, since the metal electrode is covered by the dielectric, a barrier discharge plasma column can be generated between the discharge electrode and the opposing plate-shaped electrode and a silent discharge can be realized.

[0025] In the electrostatic precipitator according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the discharge electrode operates as a heater which is configured by a heat generating resistor connected between a pair of terminals and burns the adhered particulate matter when a voltage is applied between the pair of terminals.

[0026] According to the seventh aspect, the particulate matter adhered to the discharge electrode can be burned and removed.

[0027] In the electrostatic precipitator according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, two sets of the plate-shaped electrode and the discharge electrodes are disposed in parallel in a relationship such that the plate-shaped electrodes face each other, and the collection region is formed between the opposing plate-shaped electrodes.

[0028] According to the eighth aspect, two sets of the plate-shaped electrode and the discharge electrodes are combined to form the collection space between the plate-shaped electrodes. Therefore, the width can be reduced by comparison with the case in which the collection spaces are provided individually.

[0029] In the electrostatic precipitator according to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the collection region is surrounded by an angular tubular body formed by the pair of the opposing plate-shaped electrodes and a pair of end plate portions closing both end portions of the pair of plate-shaped electrodes that are parallel to the flow-through direction of the recovery gas.

[0030] According to the ninth aspect, the collection region is surrounded by an angular tubular body, and the recovery gas flows through inside thereof. As a result, the recovery gas can be caused to flow through without affecting the flow-through state of the gas including the particulate matter.

[0031] In the electrostatic precipitator according to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a cyclone dust collector is connected to one side of the collection region in a recovery gas flow-through direction, a suction device is connected to the cyclone dust collector, and a recovery gas flow is formed by a suction force of the suction device.

[0032] According to the tenth aspect, since the recovery gas flow is formed by suction, the particulate matter can be reliably recovered without being involved in re-entrainment.

[0033] In the electrostatic precipitator according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, cyclone dust collectors are individually connected to both sides of the collection region in a recovery gas flow-through direction, a suction device is connected to each of the cyclone dust collectors, and a bidirectional recovery gas flow is formed by a suction force of the suction device.

[0034] According to the eleventh aspect, the recovery gas is sucked in from both sides of the collection region. Therefore, the recovery efficiency of the particulate matter can be increased.

[0035] In the electrostatic precipitator according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, a suction hood that sucks in the recovery gas only of the collection regions is disposed between a plurality of collection regions, which are formed between the opposing electrodes, and the cyclone dust collector.

[0036] With such a configuration, the recovery gas can be caused by the suction hood to flow through only the collection regions, and the recovery gas can be caused to flow through in the direction crossing the direction of the exhaust gas including the particulate matter, without affecting the exhaust gas including the particulate matter. Further, since the suction location can be restricted, the flow rate of the recovery gas can be inhibited and the suction device can be reduced in size.

[0037] In accordance with the present invention, a plate shaped electrode having a plurality of through holes and a discharge electrode are disposed opposite each other, a collection region is formed on a side of the plate-shaped electrode opposite that facing the discharge electrode, a PM-containing gas is caused to flow through between the plate-shaped electrode and the discharge electrode, and a voltage is applied between the plate-shaped electrode and the discharge electrode, thereby generating an electric discharge and charging the PM. As a result, the PM is moved by a Coulomb force through the through holes and the PM is collected in the collection space. The collected PM can be reliably recovered by the recovery gas flowing in the direction crossing the flow-through direction of the PM-containing gas, without re-entrainment. The PM collected in the collection region can be recovered without providing a large-capacity extraction blower. Furthermore, the PM is recovered without re-entrainment even under high blowing rate conditions, high dust collection performance can be demonstrated, and electrostatic precipitator with a low probability of failure can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] 

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with a partial cut-out, of a housing showing the first embodiment of the electrostatic precipitator in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the A-A line in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a discharge electrode that can be used in the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a separation and suction hood taken along the B-B line in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the schematic configuration of the exhaust gas treatment system;

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the principal portion illustrating yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the C-C line in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the configuration shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 shows the discharge electrode that can be used in the second embodiment, with FIG. 11(a) being a perspective view of the entire configuration and FIG. 11(b) being a perspective view of a state with a separated dielectric plate;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the schematic configuration of the exhaust gas treatment system using the second embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a characteristic diagram showing a corona discharge characteristic;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory drawing illustrating an example of the related art;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory drawing illustrating another example of the related art;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory drawing illustrating yet another example of the related art;

FIG. 17 is a detailed configuration diagram of the filtration device shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a particulate matter collection state in the filtration device;

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing a re-entrainment state in the filtration device; and

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing a re-entrainment state in the filtration device.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0039] The embodiments of the present invention will be explained hereinbelow with reference to the appended drawings.

[0040] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing, with a partial cut-out, a housing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] In the figure, the reference numeral 1 stands for an electrostatic precipitator that can collect particulate matter (PM) with a particle diameter equal to or less than 100 µm including, as the main component, carbon contained in exhaust gas, for example, of an internal combustion engine, in particular, a diesel engine for a ship, in particular suspended particulate matter (SPM) with a particle diameter equal to or less than 10 µm.

[0042] The electrostatic precipitator 1 has, for example, a cubic housing 2. A plurality of dust collecting electrodes 40, each being constituted, for example, by a square plate-shaped electrode 20 and a discharge electrode 30 that faces from a predetermined distance L1, as shown in FIG. 2, one surface of the plate-shaped electrode 20, is provided inside the housing 2.

[0043] The plate-shaped electrode 20 is formed from a punching plate 22 in which, for example, a plurality of round through holes 21, which reach from the surface facing the discharge electrode 30, to the surface on the opposite side, is formed over the entire surface. The plate shape electrodes are arranged, for example, such that the plate surface thereof is in the vertical direction.

[0044] Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the discharge electrode 30 has a flat rectangular cross section and includes, for example, a band-shaped electrode main body 31 extending in the horizontal direction opposite the plate-shaped electrode 20 and a large number of thorn-shaped electrode portions 32 which are formed at a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction on the upper and lower end surfaces which become the end surface sides in the cross section of the band-shaped electrode main body 31. The long sides in the cross section of the band-shaped electrode main body 31 are disposed parallel to each other opposite the plate-shaped electrodes 20.

[0045] In the present configuration, a plurality of (for example, three) discharge electrodes 30 is disposed parallel to each other at a predetermined distance in the vertical direction.

[0046] Two dust collecting electrodes 40 are disposed at a relationship such that the plate-shaped electrodes 20 thereof face each other through a predetermined distance L2. The upper and lower end portions of the plate-shaped electrodes 20 disposed opposite each other are closed by end plates 23a and 23b, and an angular tubular electrode body 24 opened at the left and right ends is formed by the plate-shaped electrodes 20 and the end plates 23a and 23b.

[0047] Therefore, the interior of the angular tubular electrode body 24 serves as a PM collection region 25, and a plurality of discharge electrodes 30 is disposed at positions facing the plate-shaped electrodes 20 on the outside of the angular tubular electrode body 24.

[0048] Therefore, in the adjacent dust collecting electrodes 40, the discharge electrode 30 is shared, and the discharge electrode 30, angular tubular electrode body 24, discharge electrode 30, and angular tubular electrode body 24 are disposed in parallel in the order of description. The number of the discharge electrodes 30 and angular tubular electrode bodies 24 is set according to the flow rate of the PM-containing exhaust gas from which the particulate matter should be collected.

[0049] Further, a high-voltage power source 45 that applies a high voltage, for example, of about 103 V to 105 V is connected between the angular tubular electrode body 24 and the discharge electrode 30, the positive electrode being connected to the angular tubular electrode body 24 and the negative electrode being connected to the discharge electrode 30. The positive electrode side of the high-voltage power source 45 is grounded.

[0050] Therefore, a corona discharge is generated between the angular tubular electrode body 24 and the thorn-shaped electrode portions 32 of the discharge electrodes 30, and the PM of the PM-containing exhaust gas passing through a gas flow-through region 33 formed between the angular tubular electrode body 24 and the discharge electrodes 30 is exposed to the corona discharge and electrically charged.

[0051] Further, a Coulomb force acts from the electric field between the angular tubular electrode body 24 and the discharge electrodes 30 on the PM, and the PM starts moving toward the angular tubular electrode body 24. Since the PM has a certain mass, it is directly introduced by the force of inertia into the collection region 25 via the through holes 21 in the angular tubular electrode body 24.

[0052] In the collection region 25, since the flow field is extremely weak, the PM is hardly affected by the flow field, and the PM receives an electric image force created by the difference in electric potential between the electric charges carried by the PM itself and the plate-shaped electrode 20 of the angular tubular electrode body 24 and is collected by moving to the inner circumferential surface of the plate-shaped electrode 20, which constitutes the angular tubular electrode body 24, and adhering thereto.

[0053] Further, an exhaust gas introducing port 3 and an exhaust gas discharge port 4 through which the PM-containing exhaust gas passes are formed in the lower surface and upper surface of the housing 2, respectively, and the PM-containing gas introduced into the housing 2 from the exhaust gas introducing port 3 flows through vertically in the direction crossing the extension direction of the discharge electrodes 30 between the discharge electrodes 30 and the plate-shaped electrodes 20 of the angular tubular electrode bodies 24, and then the PM-containing gas is discharged from the exhaust gas discharge port 4.

[0054] A plurality of openings 5 facing the inner surface of the angular tubular electrode bodies 24 is formed, for example, in the left end surface of the housing 2, and a separation and suction hood 50 serving as a PM recovery unit that sucks in the recovery gas only from the inner surface side of the angular tubular electrode bodies 24 is disposed at the right end surface. As shown in FIG. 4, the separation and suction hood 50 has separation suction passages 52 communicating with the inner surface of the angular tubular electrode bodies 24 and communicating with a suction port 51 at the other end. In order to facilitate the understanding of the explanation of the example, in FIG. 1, the right end surfaces of the housing 2 and the angular tubular electrode bodies 24 are shown as separated from the separation and suction hood 50. However, in the actual configuration of the example, as shown in FIG. 4, the right end surfaces of the housing 2 and the angular tubular electrode bodies 24 are not separated from the separation and suction hood 50. The separation and suction hood 50 is disposed in contact with the right end surfaces of the housing 2 and the angular tubular electrode bodies 24.

[0055] A recovery port 61 of a cyclone dust collector 60 communicates with the suction port 51 of the separation suction hood 50. The cyclone dust collector 60 performs solid-gas separation of the mixed fluid including the sucked-in collected PM and recovery gas, and a blower 64 serving as a suction device is connected to a suction port 63 formed in the upper portion of a housing 60a. Where the blower 64 is actuated, gas is sucked in by the blower 64 from the suction port 63 of the cyclone dust collector 60, whereby the mixed fluid including the collected PM and recovery gas is sucked in from the recovery port 61 and subjected to solid-gas separation. The separated PM falls down into a PM recovery unit 62 located therebelow and is recovered. The separated recovery gas is returned from the upper suction port 63 through the blower 64 into the exhaust gas introducing port 3 on the lower surface side of the electric dust collecting apparatus 1.

[0056] Further, since the cyclone dust collector 60 is connected to the collection regions 25 inside the angular tubular electrode bodies 24 through the separation suction hood 50, where the blower 64 is actuated, the external air is sucked in as the recovery gas from the openings 5 in the housing 2, and this recovery gas passes through the collection regions 25 in the direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the PM-containing exhaust gas. As a result, the PM collected in the collection regions 25 is stripped away and supplied together with the recovery gas into the cyclone dust collector 60 through the separation suction hood 50.

[0057] The operation of the first embodiment is explained below.

[0058] First, as shown schematically in FIG. 5, the exhaust gas introducing port 3 of the housing 2 in the electrostatic precipitator 1 is connected by a gas flow-through unit 71 such as a duct to a PM-containing gas discharge device 70 such as a diesel engine of a ship. The exhaust gas discharge port 4 of the housing 2 is likewise connected to a gas discharge unit 73 such as a chimney by a gas flow-through unit 72 such as a duct.

[0059] Where the PM-containing gas discharge device 70 is actuated in this state, the PM-containing exhaust gas is outputted from the PM-containing gas discharge device 70, and this PM-containing exhaust gas is introduced into the exhaust gas introducing port 3 in the housing 2 of the electrostatic precipitator 1.

[0060] As a result of applying a high voltage from the high-voltage power source 45 between the angular tubular electrode bodies 24 and the discharge electrodes 30, a corona discharge crossing the gas flow-through regions 33 of the PM-containing gas is generated from the tips of the thorn-shaped electrode portions 32 of the discharge electrodes 30 toward the discharge electrodes 30 constituting the angular tubular electrode bodies 24.

[0061] Therefore, the PM contained in the PM-containing gas is exposed to the corona discharge and electrically charged. A Coulomb force acts from the electric field between the angular tubular electrode bodies 24 and the discharge electrodes 30 upon the PM, and the PM starts moving toward the plate-shaped electrodes 20 constituting the angular tubular electrode bodies 24. Since the PM has a mass, it is caused by an inertia force to pass through the through holes 21 of the plate-shaped electrodes 20 and introduced into the internal collection regions 25.

[0062] In the collection regions 25, since the flow field is extremely weak, the PM is hardly affected by the flow field, and the PM receives an electric image force created by the difference in electric potential between the electric charges carried by the PM itself and the plate-shaped electrodes 20 of the angular tubular electrode bodies 24 and is collected by moving to the inner circumferential surface of the plate-shaped electrodes 20 and adhering thereto.

[0063] Where the PM is thus collected on the inner circumferential surface of the plate-shaped electrodes 20 and the blower 64 is actuated with a predetermined period, the external air is sucked in as the recovery gas from the openings 5 in the housing 2, and this recovery gas passes through the collection regions 25 in the direction orthogonal to the flow-through direction of the PM-containing exhaust gas. Therefore, the PM collected in the collection regions 25 is stripped away and supplied together with the recovery gas into the cyclone dust collector 60 through the separation and suction hood 50. In this case, by setting the opening ratio of the through holes 21 of the plate-shaped electrodes 20 to 20% to 40% and setting the opening ratio of the openings 5 to 90% or greater, it is possible to increase the flow channel resistance in the through holes 21 of the plate-shaped electrodes 20 and minimize the suction of the PM-containing exhaust gas by the recovery gas. As a result, even when the flow velocity of the recovery gas is increased, the PM-containing exhaust gas is not sucked in and the PM collected on the inner circumferential surface of the plate-shaped electrodes 20 can be efficiently stripped away and discharged to the separation and suction hood 50.

[0064] In this case, in the separation and suction hood 50, recovery gas suction passages (separation and suction passages 52) are formed at positions facing the inner circumferential surface of the angular tubular electrode bodies 24. Therefore, since the recovery gas suction passages are not open in the PM-containing exhaust gas flow channels in the angular tubular electrode bodies 24, the PM-containing gas can be reliably prevented from being directly sucked in.

[0065] Further, the mixed fluid including the recovery gas and stripped PM, which has reached the separation and suction hood 50, is introduced from the recovery port 61 into the cyclone dust collector 60, and the mixed gas is subjected to solid-gas separation. The separated PM falls down into the PM recovery unit 62 located in the bottom portion and recovered. The recovery gas including a certain amount of the separated PM is sucked in by the blower 64 from the suction port 63 and returned to the gas flow-through unit 71 close to the exhaust gas introducing port 3 of the housing 2.

[0066] Thus, with the first embodiment, since the PM is collected in the collection regions 25 formed opposite the PM-containing exhaust gas flow channel, with the plate-shaped electrodes being interposed therebetween, by causing the recovery gas to flow in the direction crossing the flow-through direction of the PM-containing exhaust gas in the collection regions 25 in the flow-through state of the PM-containing exhaust gas, it is possible to strip away and reliably recover the collected PM, without remixing the collected PM with the PM-containing exhaust gas.

[0067] In this case, the exhaust gas may be simply caused to flow through in the gas flow channels between the discharge electrodes 30 and the plate-shaped electrodes 20 constituting the angular tubular electrode bodies 24, and it is not necessary to provide a blower as an extraction means. Further, since it is not necessary to provide a damper or the like that hinders the exhaust gas flow, the pressure loss of the exhaust gas can be reduced.

[0068] In addition, since the through holes 21 formed in the plate-shaped electrodes 20 can be formed to have a comparatively large diameter, regardless of the particle diameter of the PM, the pressure loss can be respectively suppressed. Furthermore, the PM is collected on the inner circumferential surface of the plate-shaped electrodes 20 of the angular tubular electrode bodies 24 constituting the collection regions 25. Therefore, the collection of a large amount of PM corresponding to the surface area of the plate-shaped electrodes 20 is allowed, the through holes 21 are very difficult to clog, and the collection can be reliably prevented from being hindered by clogging.

[0069] Further, since the flow strength of the flow field in the collection region 25 is weak, the collected PM is unlikely to be scattered again into the exhaust gas flow channel. Yet another attainable effect is that since no movable parts, such as a damper or a blower, is present in the electrostatic precipitator 1, the possibility of a malfunction is extremely low.

[0070] Further, the plate-shaped electrodes 20 can use a punching metal, the plate metal processing involving rounding or bending is unnecessary, the angular tubular electrode bodies 24 can be formed by connecting the upper and lower ends by the end plates 23a and 23b, and the processing cost can be greatly reduced.

[0071] Further, the sets of the discharge electrodes 30 and the plate-shaped electrodes 20 are combined so that the plate-shaped electrodes of the two sets face each other and the collection regions 25 are formed between the plate-shaped electrodes 20. Therefore, because only one collection space is used, the spacing in the width direction can be reduced and the configuration can be narrowed by comparison with that in which the collection region is provided in each set of the discharge electrode 30 and the plate-shaped electrode 20.

[0072] Further, a plurality of band-shaped electrode main bodies 31 of the discharge electrodes 30 is disposed in parallel in the flow-through direction so as to extend in the direction crossing the flow-through direction of the PM-containing exhaust gas. Therefore, the arrangement positions of the thorn-shaped discharge portions of the discharge electrodes 30 can be shifted in the direction orthogonal to the flow-through direction of the PM-containing exhaust gas. As a result, the corona discharge can be generated everywhere over the entire region orthogonal to the flow-through direction of the PM-containing exhaust gas and the PM collection ratio of the PM-containing exhaust gas can be increased.

[0073] Further, it is not necessary to form the discharge electrodes 30 as needle-shaped electrode portions, and comparatively thick thorn-shaped electrode portions 32 may be formed. Therefore, the processing is facilitated and the service life can be extended.

[0074] A dust collecting electrode structure can be also considered in which a discharge electrode is configured of a rod-shaped portion and a large number of needle-shaped electrode portions formed on the outer circumferential side of the rod-shaped portion, and a cylindrical electrode portion having a large number of through holes formed therein is arranged so as to surround the discharge electrode. In this case, a corona discharge is generated by applying a high voltage between the discharge electrode and the cylindrical electrode portion, thereby electrically charging the PM of the PM-containing exhaust gas flowing through to the inner circumferential surface side of the cylindrical electrode portion, and moving the charged PM to the collection space outside the cylindrical electrode. The PM collected in the collection space is blown off for recovery, for example, with an air blower in the same direction as the flow-through direction of the PM-containing exhaust gas.

[0075] With such a configuration, the PM collected in the collection space is blown off by the air blower, and most of the blown PM is not sucked from the suction port facing the air blower. For this reason, the PM can be remixed with the PM-containing exhaust gas flowing inside the cylindrical electrode and can be released to the atmosphere. Thus, the recovery efficiency of the collected PM can decrease. Further, the processing cost of the cylindrical electrode and the like is high, multiple electric dust collecting units should be combined in order to process a large amount of PM-containing exhaust gas, and a high assembling accuracy is required. In addition, when the needle-shaped electrode portion is used for the discharge electrode, the service life can be shortened by comparison with that of the thorn-shaped electrode portions.

[0076] By contrast, in the first embodiment, as described hereinabove, a dust collecting electrode can be formed by a simple configuration using the plate-shaped electrode 20 together with the discharge electrode 30. Further, since the flow of the recovery gas inside the collection region is formed by suction in the direction crossing the flow direction of the PM-containing exhaust gas on the outside thereof, the PM stripped away from the inner circumferential surface of the plate-shaped electrodes 20 by the recovery gas can be reliably prevented from being remixed with the PM-containing exhaust gas.

[0077] Further, in the first embodiment, the case is explained in which the separation and suction hood 50 is provided in one opening of the angular tubular electrode body 24 and the recovery gas is sucked in from the other side of the angular tubular electrode body 24, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. Thus, in a variation example of the first embodiment, a suction opening 80 extending along the end plates 23a and 23b and communicating with the external air is formed at the upper and lower ends of the axially central portion of the angular tubular electrode body 24, as shown in FIG. 6. The cyclone dust collectors 60 may be connected by respective separation and suction hoods 50 to the openings at both ends of the angular tubular electrode body 24, and a blower 64 serving as a suction device may be connected to those cyclone dust collectors 60.

[0078] In this case, since the recovery gas suction units are provided at both ends of the collection region 25, the recovery gas suction effect is augmented and the collected PM can be stripped away and recovered with higher efficiency.

[0079] Further, in the first embodiment, the case is explained in which the angular tubular electrode body 24 is formed of two plate-shaped electrodes 20 and the end plates 23a, 23b, but any tubular structure can be used, provided that the plate-shaped electrodes 20 are arranged opposite each other at the predetermined distance L2 from each other.

[0080] In the first embodiment, the case is explained in which the angular tubular electrode body 24 is configured by combining two dust collecting electrodes 40, but when a sufficient PM collection ratio is attained by providing only one dust collecting electrode 40, the configuration shown in FIG. 7 may be used. Thus, the angular tubular electrode body 24 having the collection region 25 formed inside thereof may be also configured by disposing the plate-shaped electrode 20 and the discharge electrodes 30 opposite each other at the predetermined distance L1 from each other and disposing a sealing plate 81 (can be also realized by the side wall of the housing 2) connecting the ends of the end plates 23a, 23b on the side of the plate-shaped electrode 20 opposite that where the discharge electrodes 30 are disposed.

[0081] Further, in the first embodiment, the case is explained in which the flow-through direction of the PM-containing exhaust gas and the flow-through direction of the recovery gas are orthogonal, but such a configuration is not limiting and the two flow-through directions may cross each other.

[0082] Further, in the first embodiment, the case is explained in which the PM-containing exhaust gas flows through the electrostatic precipitator 1 in the vertical direction from the bottom surface to the top surface, but such a configuration is not limiting, and the flow-through direction of the PM-containing exhaust gas can be set randomly. Thus, the separation and suction hood 50 may be disposed on the bottom surface side and the PM-containing exhaust gas may be caused to flow through in the horizontal direction.

[0083] The second embodiment of the present invention will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11.

[0084] In the second embodiment, the discharge generated between the discharge electrodes and the plate electrodes is changed from the corona discharge to a barrier discharge.

[0085] Thus, in the second embodiment, an electrically conductive housing 100 of the electrostatic precipitator 1 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Thus, the housing 100 has a front plate portion 101a and a rear plate portion 101b, the longitudinal direction being the left-right direction. The housing 100 also has a top plate portion 101c and a bottom plate portion 101d connecting the upper and lower ends of the front plate portion 101a and the rear plate portion 101b, and a left plate portion 101e and a right plate portion 101f connecting the right and left ends of the front plate portion 101a and the rear plate portion 101b.

[0086] Further, for example, six rectangular openings 102a and 102b extending in the front-rear direction are formed, as shown in FIG. 8, at a predetermined distance L3 in the left-right direction in the front plate portion 101a and the rear plate portion 101b. The width L4 of those openings 102a and 102b is set to be less than the predetermined distance L3.

[0087] Further, rectangular openings 102c and 102d bounded by the front plate portion 101a, rear plate portion 101b, left plate portion 101e, and right plate portion 101f are formed, as shown in FIG. 8, in the top plate portion 101c and the bottom plate portion 101d.

[0088] An exhaust gas flow-through duct 103a, for example, of a square cross section, which is connected to the PM-containing gas discharge device 70 such as a diesel engine for a ship, e.g. such as the above-described diesel engine for a ship, is coupled, as shown in FIG. 9, to the opening 102a of the front plate portion 101a.

[0089] An exhaust gas flow-through duct 103b, which is likewise of a square cross section and is connected to the above-described gas discharge unit 73, is coupled to the opening 102b of the rear plate portion 101b.

[0090] Inside the housing 100, as shown in FIG. 8 and 9, five angular tubular electrode bodies 110 having the configuration similar to that of the angular tubular electrode bodies 24 in the first embodiment are disposed in parallel between the positions excluding the openings 102a and 102b of the front plate portion 101a and the rear plate portion 101b. Therefore, the angular tubular electrode bodies 110 are disposed at a predetermined distance equal to the width L4 of the openings 102a and 102b in the direction along the exhaust gas flow-through direction and perpendicular to the exhaust gas flow-through direction.

[0091] Those angular tubular electrode bodies 110 are formed as rectangular parallelepipeds with open top and bottom surfaces, as shown in FIG. 8. Further, plate-shaped electrodes 112a and 112b are disposed at the left and right side surfaces of the angular tubular electrode bodies 110 such that the distance between the outer side surfaces thereof is the abovementioned predetermined distance L3. Those plate-shaped electrodes 112a and 112b are each formed, for example, from a punching plate 114 in which a plurality of round through holes 113 is formed, in the same manner as the plate-shaped electrodes 20 in the above-described first embodiment, and disposed, for example, to extend in the front-rear direction, that is, in the exhaust gas flow-through direction, such that the plate surfaces thereof are in the vertical direction.

[0092] Angular tubular electrode bodies 115 forming a plate-shaped electrode 112c are disposed on the outside of the angular tubular electrode bodies 110 at the left and right ends only at the surfaces facing the angular tubular electrode bodies 110 at the predetermined distance L4 therefrom. Those angular tubular electrode bodies 115 are also formed as rectangular parallelepipeds with open top and bottom surfaces similarly to the angular tubular electrode bodies 110.

[0093] Recovery gas intake ports 116 which directly communicate with the external air, set to have an opening ratio equal to or greater than 90% and serve to take in the recovery gas are formed, as shown in FIG. 8, at the upper end sides of those angular tubular electrode bodies 110 and 115.

[0094] Further, the regions between the angular tubular electrode bodies 110 and between the angular tubular electrode bodies 110 and the angular tubular electrode bodies 115 serve as gas flow-through regions 117 through which the exhaust gas supplied from the exhaust gas flow-through duct 103a flows rearward. In the central portion (in the left-right direction) of the gas flow-through regions 117, the discharge electrodes 120 are disposed to face individually the plate-shaped electrodes 112a and 112b, 112c and 112a, and 112b and 112c.

[0095] The discharge electrode 120 is formed in a rectangular shape along the exhaust gas flow-through direction. As shown in FIG. 11, the discharge electrode 120 has the configuration of a ceramic heater having a heat-generating resistor 122 formed in a zigzag manner on a flat surface incorporated in an alumina or silicon nitride ceramic 121 which is a dielectric. In the heat-generating resistor 122, terminal connection pads 123a and 123b are formed at both ends at the front and rear positions in the upper portion thereof. Lead terminals 124a and 124b extending to the outside are joined by soldering or the like to the terminal connection pads 123a and 123b. In other words, the discharge electrode 120 has a configuration in which the heat-generating resistor 122 is covered by the ceramic 121 as a dielectric.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 8, each discharge electrode 120 is supported by a heat-resistant insulating spacer 125 disposed on the opening 102c side of the top plate portion 101c of the housing 2 and a heat-resistant insulating spacer 126 disposed between the lower ends of the angular tubular electrode body 110, between the lower ends of the angular tubular electrode bodies 115 and 110 and between the lower ends of the angular tubular electrode body 110 and the angular tubular electrode body 115.

[0097] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the lead terminals 124a and 124b of the discharge electrodes 120 are electrically connected, in a state of being pushed downward by a pushing spring 129, to high-voltage power supply bars 128a and 128b bridged parallel to each other at a predetermined distance in the front-rear direction between high-voltage support insulators 127a and 127b disposed at the left and right end sides of the top plate portion 101c of the housing 2.

[0098] As shown in FIG. 9, a barrier discharge generating unit 130 serving as a discharge generating unit is connected to the high-voltage power supply bars 128a and 128b. The barrier discharge generating unit 130 has a high-withstand-voltage power relay 131, which is connected between the high-voltage power supply bars 128a and 128b, and a serial circuit of a high-withstand-voltage power relay 132, which is connected between the ground and a connection point of one terminal of the high-withstand-voltage power relay 131 and the high-voltage power supply bar 128a, and high-voltage AC power source 133 generating a high-voltage AC, for example, of 10 kV. A point between the high-voltage AC power source 133 and the ground is connected to the housing 100.

[0099] Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a heating control unit 135 is connected to the high-voltage power supply bars 128a and 128b. The heating control unit 135 has a low-voltage AC power source 138 generating a low-voltage AC, for example, of about 54 V, which is connected separately through high-withstand-voltage power relays 136 and 137 to the high-voltage power supply bars 128a and 128b.

[0100] Where a high-voltage AC is outputted from the high-voltage AC power source 133 and the high-withstand-voltage power relays 131 and 132 are set to the biased state (ON state), the high-voltage AC is applied between the discharge electrodes 120 and the plate-shaped electrodes 112a to 112c. As a result, a barrier discharge plasma column is generated between the discharge electrodes 120 and the plate-shaped electrodes 112a to 112c.

[0101] The PM-containing exhaust gas flows through between the discharge electrodes 120 and the plate-shaped electrodes 112a to 112c. Therefore, the PM contained in the PM-containing exhaust gas is electrically charged during passing through a barrier discharge plasma column, a Coulomb force acts thereupon from the electric field produced by the barrier discharge maintaining voltage, and the PM moves toward the plate-shaped electrodes 112a to 112c serving as ground electrodes. In some cases, not all the PM acted upon by the Coulomb force moves toward the plate-shaped electrodes 112a to 112c and some PM moves toward the discharge electrode 120.

[0102] The PM moving toward the plate-shaped electrodes 112a to 112c is collected inside the angular tubular electrode bodies 110 from the through holes 111 formed in the plate-shaped electrodes 112a to 112c.

[0103] As for the PM that has adhered to the discharge electrodes 120, the biased state of the high-withstand-voltage power relays 131 and 132 is periodically canceled, the application of a high-voltage AC to the discharge electrodes 120 is stopped, the high-withstand-voltage power relays 136 and 137 are instead set to the biased state, and a low-voltage AC is applied to the lead terminals 124a and 124b of the discharge electrodes 120, thereby actuating the discharge electrodes 120 as ceramic heaters. As a result, the discharge electrodes 120 are heated to about 800°C for about 1 min to 2 min, and the entire PM adhered to the surface is burned and removed.

[0104] Further, a suction hood 140 is coupled to the opening 102c formed in the bottom plate portion 101d of the housing 100. The suction hood 140 communicates only with the opening 118 in the bottom of the angular tubular electrode bodies 110 and 115 and is separated by a heat-resistant insulating spacer 126 from the gas flow-through region 117.

[0105] The recovery port 61 of the cyclone dust collector 60 is communicated, in the same manner as in the above-described first embodiment, with a suction port 141 of the suction hood 140 (this configuration is not shown in the figure). The blower 64 serving as a suction device is connected to the suction port 63 formed in the upper portion of the housing 60a in the cyclone dust collector 60. Where the blower 64 is actuated, the blower 64 sucks in the gas from the suction port 63 of the cyclone dust collector 60, thereby performing suction of the mixed fluid of the collected PM and recovery gas from the recovery port 61 and solid-gas separation thereof. The separated PM falls down into the PM recovery unit 62 located therebelow and is recovered. The separated recovery gas is returned from the upper suction port 63 through the blower 64 into an exhaust gas flow-through duct 103a connected to the front side of the electrostatic precipitator 1.

[0106] The operation of the second embodiment is explained below.

[0107] First, as shown schematically in FIG. 12, the exhaust gas flow-through duct 103a coupled to the housing 100 in the electrostatic precipitator 1 is connected to a PM-containing gas discharge device 70 such as a diesel engine of a ship. The exhaust gas flow-through duct 103b coupled to the housing 100 is connected to a gas discharge unit 73 such as a chimney.

[0108] Where a high-voltage AC, for example of 10 kV, is generated in this state by the high-voltage AC power source 133 of the barrier discharge generating unit 130 of the electrostatic precipitator 1 and the high-withstand-voltage power relays 131 and 132 are biased, the high-voltage AC generated in the high-voltage AC power source 133 is applied between the discharge electrodes 120 and the angular tubular electrode bodies 110 and 115 serving as ground electrodes through the high-voltage power supply bars 128a and 128b.

[0109] As a result, a barrier discharge plasma column is generated and a barrier discharge is generated between the discharge electrodes 120 and the plate-shaped electrodes 112a to 112c of the angular tubular electrode bodies 110 and 115. Since the heat-generating resistor 122 serving as an electrode in the discharge electrode 120 is covered with the ceramic 121, which is a dielectric, the barrier discharge is a silent discharge causing no sparks.

[0110] Once the barrier discharge has been generated, the PM-containing exhaust gas is caused to flow between the discharge electrodes 120 and the plate-shaped electrodes 112a to 112c. As a result, the PM contained in the PM-containing exhaust gas is electrically charged when passing through the barrier discharge plasma column, a Coulomb force acts thereupon from the electric field produced by the barrier discharge maintaining voltage, and the PM moves toward the plate-shaped electrodes 112a to 112c serving as ground electrodes. In some cases, not all the PM acted upon by the Coulomb force moves toward the plate-shaped electrodes 112a to 112c and some PM moves toward the discharge electrode 120.

[0111] The PM moving toward the plate-shaped electrodes 112a to 112c is introduced to the collection regions inside the angular tubular electrode bodies 110 and 115 from the through holes 111 formed in the plate-shaped electrodes 112a to 112c, in the same manner as in the above-described first embodiment.

[0112] In the collection regions, since the flow field is extremely weak, the PM is hardly affected by the flow field, and the PM receives an electric image force created by the difference in electric potential between the electric charges carried by the PM itself and the plate-shaped electrodes 112a to 112c of the angular tubular electrode bodies 110 and 115 and is collected by moving to the inner circumferential surface of the plate-shaped electrodes 112a to 112c and adhering thereto.

[0113] Where the PM is thus collected on the inner circumferential surface of the plate-shaped electrodes 112a to 112c and the blower 64 is intermittently actuated with a predetermined period, the external air is sucked in as the recovery gas from the recovery gas intake port 116 in the housing 100. This recovery gas passes through the collection regions of the angular tubular electrode bodies 110 and 115 in the direction orthogonal to the flow-through direction of the PM-containing exhaust gas. Therefore, the PM collected in the collected regions is stripped away and supplied together with the recovery gas into the cyclone dust collector 60 through the suction hood 140.

[0114] In this case, by setting the opening ratio of the through holes 113 of the plate-shaped electrodes 112a to 112c to 20% to 40% and setting the opening ratio of the recovery gas intake ports 116 of the angular tubular electrode bodies 110 and 115 to 90% or greater, it is possible to increase the flow channel resistance in the through holes 21 of the plate-shaped electrodes 20 and minimize the suction of the PM-containing exhaust gas by the recovery gas. As a result, even when the flow velocity of the recovery gas is increased, the PM-containing exhaust gas is not sucked in and the PM collected on the inner circumferential surface of the plate-shaped electrodes 112a to 112c can be efficiently stripped away and discharged to the suction hood 140.

[0115] In this case, in the suction hood 140, the gas flow-through region 117 is sealed by the heat-resistant insulating spacer 126 and only the bottom surfaces of the angular tubular electrode bodies 110 and 115 communicate. Therefore, the PM-containing gas flowing through the gas flow-through region 117 can be reliably prevented from being directly sucked in by the suction hood 140.

[0116] Further, the mixed fluid including the recovery gas and stripped PM, which has reached the suction hood 140, is introduced from the suction port 141 into the cyclone dust collector 60, and the mixed gas is subjected to solid-gas separation. The separated PM falls down into the PM recovery unit 62 located in the bottom portion and recovered. The recovery gas including a certain amount of the separated PM is sucked in by the blower 64 from the suction port 63 and returned to the vicinity of the opening 102a of the exhaust gas flow-through duct 103a coupled to the housing 100.

[0117] Meanwhile, the supply of the high-voltage AC to the high-voltage power supply bars 128a and 128b is stopped by returning the high-withstand-voltage power relays 131 and 132 of the discharge generating unit 130 from the biased state to the non-biased state with a predetermined periodicity.

[0118] In this state, the high-withstand-voltage power relays 136 and 137 of the heating control unit 135 are set to the biased state, and a low-voltage AC outputted from the low-voltage AC power source 138 is supplied to the high-voltage power supply bars 128a and 128b. The low-voltage AC supplied to the high-voltage power supply bars 128a and 128b is applied to the terminal connection pads 123a and 123b at both ends of the heat-generating resistor 122 through the lead terminals 124a and 124b of the discharge electrodes 120. As a result, the discharge electrodes 120 operate as ceramic heaters and raise the surface temperature to 400°C to 800°C for about 1 min to 2 min.

[0119] The entire PM adhered to the surface of the ceramic 121 of the discharge electrodes 120 is thus burned and removed.

[0120] Thus, with the second embodiment, a barrier discharge plasma column is formed between the discharge electrodes 120 and the plate-shaped electrodes 112a to 112c, and a barrier discharge is generated. Since the heat-generating resistor 122 which serves as an electrode of the discharge electrode 120 in this process is covered with the ceramic 121, the discharge current flows through the ceramic 121 from the heat-generating resistor 122, and a silent discharge causing no sparks is generated till the insulation breakdown of the ceramic 121 itself is reached.

[0121] Further, since the ceramic 121 can withstand the temperature of 400°C to 800°C, which is the heater operation temperature, spark-free electric dust collection can be performed even when the temperature of the PM-containing exhaust gas exceeds 300°C.

[0122] Incidentally, where a corona discharge is generated between the discharge electrodes 30 and the plate-shaped electrodes 20, as in the first embodiment, the discharge characteristic is such as shown in FIG. 13. In FIG. 13, the spark discharge voltage is represented by a characteristic line L11, the corona discharge start voltage is represented by a characteristic line L12, and the gas density ratio is represented by a characteristic line L13.

[0123] As follows from FIG. 13, when a corona discharge is used, the spark discharge voltage does not decrease significantly when the PM-containing exhaust gas temperature is equal to or lower than 150°C, but where the temperature exceeds 150°C, the decrease ratio of the spark discharge voltage related to the increase in exhaust gas temperature increases.

[0124] Meanwhile, for the corona discharge start voltage, the voltage drop ratio when the temperature exceeds 150°C is conversely less than that before the temperature reaches 150°C, and the corona discharge start voltage at an exhaust gas temperature of about 250°C decreases to below 2/3 that at the normal exhaust gas temperature.

[0125] Thus, when a corona discharge is used, where the exhaust gas temperature exceeds 250°C, the spark discharge voltage decreases. Therefore, the increase in the corona discharge voltage is restricted to avoid spark generation, the corona discharge start voltage is lowered, the Coulomb force acting upon the PM is weakened, and the dust collection performance is degraded.

[0126] However, where the barrier discharge is used, as in the second embodiment, since the electrode portion of the discharge electrode 120 is covered with the ceramic 121, which is a dielectric, the spark discharge is unlikely to occur, and dust collection performance is not degraded and good dust collection effect can be obtained even when the PM-containing exhaust gas temperature exceeds 300°C.

[0127] Further, the opposing surface areas of the discharge electrodes 120 and the plate-shaped electrodes 112a to 112c can be increased, the density of the generated barrier discharge plasma column can be increased over that of the ion shower column generated during the corona discharge in the first embodiment, and the dust collection efficiency can be increased.

[0128] In the second embodiment, the case is explained in which the ceramic heater is used as the discharge electrode 120, but such a configuration is not limiting, and a ferroelectric material, for example, such as barium titanate can be used as the dielectric covering the flat electrode. Essentially, any dielectric can be used, provided that this dielectric has high heat resistance.

[0129] In the second embodiment, the case is explained in which the flow-through direction of the recovery gas, which recovers the collected PM, is orthogonal to the flow-through direction of the PM-containing exhaust gas, but such a configuration is not limiting and the PM-containing exhaust gas and the recovery gas may be caused to flow in the directions crossing each other.

[0130] Further, in the second embodiment, the flow-through direction of the PM-containing exhaust gas is not limited to the horizontal direction and can be set to a random direction inclusive of the vertical direction. In the second embodiment, a pair of suction hoods can be also disposed opposite each other, in the same manner as shown in FIG. 6 in the first embodiment, and the recovery gas intake port can be provided in the housing 100 therebetween.

[0131] Further, in the first and second embodiments, the case is explained in which the blower 64 is used as the suction device, but such a configuration is not limiting, and another suction device such as a vacuum ejector can be used.

[0132] Further, in the first and second embodiments, the case is explained in which the PM contained in the exhaust gas discharged from a diesel engine is removed, but such a feature is not limiting, and PM can be removed from any PM-containing gas.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0133] In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to provide an electrostatic precipitator that does not require a large-capacity extraction device, demonstrates high dust collection performance which is free from clogging or re-entrainment under high-blowing-rate conditions, and has a low probability of failure.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0134] 1 -electrostatic precipitator ; 2 - housing; 3 - gas introducing port; 4 - gas discharge port; 5 - opening; 20 - plate-shaped electrode; 21 - through hole; 22 - punching metal; 23a, 23b - end plates; 24 - angular tubular electrode body; 30 - discharge electrode; 31 - band-shaped electrode main body; 32 - thorn-shaped electrode portion; 33 - gas flow-through region; 40 - dust collecting electrode; 50 - separation and suction hood; 60 - cyclone dust collector; 62 - PM recovery unit; 64 - blower; 100 - housing; 103a, 103b - exhaust gas flow-through ducts; 110, 115 - angular tubular bodies; 112a to 112c - plate-shaped electrodes; 117 - gas flow-through region; 120 - discharge electrode; 121 - ceramics; 122 - heat-generating resistor; 124a, 124b - lead terminals; 128a, 128b - high-voltage power supply bars; 130 - barrier discharge generating unit; 131, 132 - high-withstand-voltage power relays; 133 - high-voltage AC power source; 135 - heating control unit; 136, 137 - high-withstand-voltage power relays; 138 - low-voltage AC power source.

Claims

1. An electrostatic precipitator (1), comprising:

a housing (2);

a plate-shaped electrode (20) having formed therein a plurality of through holes (21) that allow a particulate matter to pass therethrough, wherein the plate-shaped electrode (20) is arranged in the housing (2) such that the plate surface thereof is in a vertical direction;

a discharge electrode (30) disposed to face, from a predetermined distance (L1), one surface of the plate-shaped electrode (20);

a discharge generating unit (45, 130) that is configured to apply a voltage between the plate-shaped electrode (20) and the discharge electrode (30) and to generate an electric discharge imparting a Coulomb force to the particulate matter;

a collection region (25) that is formed on an opposite side of the plate-shaped electrode (20) to a surface thereof facing the discharge electrode (30) and that is configured to collect the particulate matter;

a gas flow-through region (33) that is formed between the plate-shaped electrode (20) and the discharge electrode (30) and allows gas including the particulate matter to flow therethrough;

an exhaust gas introducing port (3), formed in a lower part of the housing (2), and an exhaust gas discharge port (4), formed in an upper part of the housing (2), being arranged such that the gas including the particulate matter introduced into the housing (2) from the exhaust gas introducing port (3) flows through vertically and is discharged from the exhaust gas discharge port (4); and

a particulate matter recovery unit (50, 51, 60, 64) that is configured to cause a recovery gas to flow through in the collection region (25) in a direction crossing the flow-through direction of the gas including the particulate matter, wherein the electrostatic precipitator (1) is configured such that, when the particulate matter in the gas including particulate matter is electrically charged by the electric discharge, the electrically charged particulate matter in the gas including particulate matter is collected in the collection region (25) through the through holes (21), and the particulate matter collected in the collection region (25) is stripped away and recovered by the recovery gas while not being re-entrained.

2. The electrostatic precipitator (1) according to claim 1, wherein the discharge generating unit (45) is configured to generate a corona discharge by applying a DC voltage between the plate-shaped electrode (20) and the discharge electrode (30).

3. The electrostatic precipitator (1) according to claim 2, wherein the discharge electrode (30) comprises:

a plate-shaped electrode main body (31) that has a rectangular cross section, with the long sides of the cross section facing the plate-shaped electrode (20); and

thorn-shaped discharge portions (32) formed at the short sides of the cross section of the plate-shaped electrode main body.

4. The electrostatic precipitator (1) according to claim 3, wherein an extension direction of the plate-shaped electrode main body (31) crosses the flow-through direction of the gas including the particulate matter.

5. The electrostatic precipitator (1) according to claim 1, wherein the discharge generating unit (130) is configured to generate a barrier discharge by applying an AC voltage between the plate-shaped electrode (20) and the discharge electrode (30).

6. The electrostatic precipitator (1) according to claim 5, wherein the discharge electrode (30) is formed by a metal electrode and a dielectric covering the metal electrode to have a plate shape having a plate surface along the flow-through direction of the gas including the particulate matter.

7. The electrostatic precipitator (1) according to claim 6, wherein the discharge electrode (30) is configured to operate as a heater which is configured by a heat generating resistor connected between a pair of terminals and burns the adhered particulate matter when a voltage is applied between the pair of terminals.

8. The electrostatic precipitator (1) according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of sets of the plate-shaped electrode (20) and the discharge electrodes (30) are disposed in parallel in a relationship such that the plate-shaped electrodes (20) face each other, and the collection region is formed between the opposing plate-shaped electrodes (20).

9. The electrostatic precipitator (1) according to claim 1, wherein the collection region (25) is formed in an angular tubular shape having at least the pair of the opposing plate-shaped electrodes (20) and a pair of end plate portions (23a, 23b) closing both end portions of the pair of plate-shaped electrodes (20) that are parallel to the flow-through direction of the recovery gas.

10. The electrostatic precipitator (1) according to claim 9, wherein a cyclone dust collector (60) is connected to one side of the collection region (25) in a recovery gas flow-through direction, a suction device (64) is connected to the cyclone dust collector (60), and a recovery gas flow is formed by a suction force of the suction device (64).

11. The electrostatic precipitator (1) according to claim 9, wherein cyclone dust collectors (60) are individually connected to both sides of the collection region (25) in a recovery gas flow-through direction, a suction device (64) is connected to each of the cyclone dust collectors (60), and a bidirectional recovery gas flow is formed by a suction force of the suction device (64).

12. The electrostatic precipitator (1) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein a suction hood (50) that is configured to suck in the recovery gas only of the collection regions (25) is disposed between a plurality of collection regions (25), which are formed between the opposing electrodes (20), and the cyclone dust collector (60).

13. The electrostatic precipitator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the electrostatic precipitator (1) is configured to suck in external air as the recovery gas from openings (5) in the housing (2) and to cause the recovery gas to pass through the collection region (25) in a direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the gas including the particulate matter.

Ansprüche

1. Elektroabscheider (1), umfassend:

ein Gehäuse (2);

eine plattenförmige Elektrode (20) mit darin gebildeten mehreren Durchgangslöchern (21), die Feststoffpartikeln ermöglichen, dort hindurchzugehen, wobei die plattenförmige Elektrode (20) im Gehäuse (2) derart angeordnet ist, dass sich die Plattenfläche davon in einer vertikalen Richtung befindet;

eine Entladungselektrode (30), die derart angeordnet ist, dass sie, von einem vorbestimmten Abstand (L1), einer Fläche der plattenförmigen Elektrode (20) gegenübersteht;

eine Entladeerzeugungseinheit (45, 130), die konfiguriert ist, zwischen der plattenförmigen Elektrode (20) und der Entladungselektrode (30) Spannung anzulegen und eine elektrische Entladung zu erzeugen, die den Feststoffpartikeln eine Coulomb-Kraft verleiht;

eine Sammelregion (25), die auf einer gegenüberliegenden Seite der plattenförmigen Elektrode (20) zu einer Fläche davon gebildet ist, die der Entladungselektrode (30) gegenübersteht und konfiguriert ist, die Feststoffpartikel zu sammeln;

eine Gasdurchströmungsregion (33), die zwischen der plattenförmigen Elektrode (20) und der Entladungselektrode (30) gebildet ist und ermöglicht, dass die Feststoffpartikel beinhaltendes Gas dort hindurchströmt;

einen Abgaseinführport (3), der in einem unteren Teil des Gehäuses (2) gebildet ist, und einen Abgasauslassport (4), der in einem oberen Teil des Gehäuses (2) gebildet ist, die derart ausgeführt sind, dass das die Feststoffpartikel beinhaltende Gas, das in das Gehäuse (2) von dem Abgaseinführport (3) eingeführt wird, vertikal hindurchströmt und aus dem Abgasauslassport (4) abgeben wird; und

eine Feststoffpartikelrückgewinnungseinheit (50, 51, 60, 64), die konfiguriert ist, zu bewirken, dass ein Rückgewinnungsgas in der Sammelregion (25) in einer Richtung hindurchströmt, welche die Durchströmungsrichtung des die Feststoffpartikel beinhaltenden Gases kreuzt, wobei der Elektroabscheider (1) derart konfiguriert ist, dass, wenn die Feststoffpartikel im Gas einschließlich Feststoffpartikel durch die elektrische Entladung elektrisch geladen sind, die elektrisch geladenen Feststoffpartikel im Gas einschließlich Feststoffpartikel durch die Durchgangslöcher (21) hindurch in der Sammelregion (25) gesammelt werden und die in der Sammelregion (25) gesammelten Feststoffpartikel abgestreift und durch das Rückgewinnungsgas zurückgewonnen werden, während sie nicht wieder mitgeführt werden.

2. Elektroabscheider (1) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Entladeerzeugungseinheit (45) konfiguriert ist, durch Anlegen einer Gleichspannung zwischen der plattenförmigen Elektrode (20) und der Entladungselektrode (30) eine Koronaentladung zu erzeugen.

3. Elektroabscheider (1) nach Anspruch 2, wobei die Entladungselektrode (30) umfasst:

einen plattenförmigen Elektrodenhauptkörper (31), der einen Rechteckquerschnitt aufweist, wobei die Längsseiten des Querschnitts der plattenförmigen Elektrode (20) gegenüberstehen; und

dornenförmige Entladeabschnitte (32), die an den kurzen Seiten des Querschnitts des plattenförmigen Elektrodenhauptkörpers gebildet sind.

4. Elektroabscheider (1) nach Anspruch 3, wobei eine Ausdehnungsrichtung des plattenförmigen Elektrodenhauptkörpers (31) die Durchströmungsrichtung des die Feststoffpartikel beinhaltenden Gases kreuzt.

5. Elektroabscheider (1) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Entladeerzeugungseinheit (130) konfiguriert ist, durch Anlegen einer Wechselspannung zwischen der plattenförmigen Elektrode (20) und der Entladungselektrode (30) eine Barriereentladung zu erzeugen.

6. Elektroabscheider (1) nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Entladungselektrode (30) durch eine Metallelektrode und ein Dielektrikum gebildet ist, das die Metallelektrode abdeckt, sodass sie eine Plattenform mit einer Plattenfläche entlang der Durchströmungsrichtung des die Feststoffpartikel beinhaltenden Gases aufweist.

7. Elektroabscheider (1) nach Anspruch 6, wobei die Entladungselektrode (30) konfiguriert ist, als eine Heizvorrichtung zu arbeiten, die durch einen Wärmeerzeugungswiderstand konfiguriert ist, der zwischen einem Anschlusspaar verbunden ist und die anhaftenden Feststoffpartikel verbrennt, wenn eine Spannung zwischen dem Anschlusspaar angelegt wird.

8. Elektroabscheider (1) nach Anspruch 1, wobei mehrere Sätze der plattenförmigen Elektrode (20) und der Entladungselektroden (30) in einer Beziehung derart parallel angeordnet sind, dass sich die plattenförmigen Elektroden (20) einander gegenüberstehen und die Sammelregion zwischen den gegenüberliegenden plattenförmigen Elektroden (20) gebildet ist.

9. Elektroabscheider (1) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Sammelregion (25) in einer schrägen röhrenförmigen Form mit mindestens dem Paar der gegenüberliegenden plattenförmigen Elektroden (20) und einem Paar von Endplattenabschnitten (23a, 23b), die beide Endabschnitte des Paars von plattenförmigen Elektroden (20) verschließen, die sich parallel zur Durchströmungsrichtung des Rückgewinnungsgases befinden, gebildet ist.

10. Elektroabscheider (1) nach Anspruch 9, wobei ein Staubabscheidezyklon (60) mit einer Seite der Sammelregion (25) in einer Rückgewinnungsgasdurchströmungsrichtung verbunden ist und eine Saugvorrichtung (64) mit dem Staubabscheidezyklon (60) verbunden ist und ein Rückgewinnungsgasstrom durch eine Saugkraft der Saugvorrichtung (64) gebildet wird.

11. Elektroabscheider (1) nach Anspruch 9, wobei Staubabscheidezyklone (60) individuell mit beiden Seiten der Sammelregion (25) in einer Rückgewinnungsgasdurchströmungsrichtung verbunden sind, eine Saugvorrichtung (64) mit jedem der Staubabscheidezyklone (60) verbunden ist und ein bidirektionaler Rückgewinnungsgasstrom durch eine Saugkraft der Saugvorrichtung (64) gebildet wird.

12. Elektroabscheider (1) nach Anspruch 10 oder 11, wobei eine Absaughaube (50), die konfiguriert ist, nur das Rückgewinnungsgas der Sammelregionen (25) einzusaugen, zwischen mehreren Sammelregionen (25) angeordnet ist, die zwischen den gegenüberliegenden Elektroden (20) und dem Staubabscheidezyklon (60) gebildet sind.

13. Elektroabscheider nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 12, wobei der Elektroabscheider (1) konfiguriert ist, Außenluft als das Rückgewinnungsgas von Öffnungen (5) im Gehäuse (2) einzusaugen und zu bewirken, dass das Rückgewinnungsgas durch die Sammelregion (25) in einer Richtung hindurchströmt, die zur Strömungsrichtung des die Feststoffpartikel beinhaltenden Gases orthogonal ist.

Revendications

1. Précipitateur électrostatique (1), comprenant :

un logement (2) ;

une électrode en forme de plaque (20) dans laquelle sont formés une pluralité de trous traversants (21) qui laissent passer à travers eux une matière particulaire, dans lequel l'électrode en forme de plaque (20) est agencée dans le logement (2) de telle sorte que la surface de plaque de celle-ci se trouve dans une direction verticale ;

une électrode de décharge (30) disposée de manière à faire face, depuis une distance prédéterminée (L1), à une surface de l'électrode en forme de plaque (20) ;

une unité de production de décharge (45, 130) qui est configurée pour appliquer une tension entre l'électrode en forme de plaque (20) et l'électrode de décharge (30) et pour produire une décharge électrique apportant une force de Coulomb à la matière particulaire ;

une région de collecte (25) qui est formée sur un côté de l'électrode en forme de plaque (20) opposé à une surface de celle-ci faisant face à l'électrode de décharge (30) et qui est configurée pour collecter la matière particulaire ;

une région de circulation de gaz (33) qui est formée entre l'électrode en forme de plaque (20) et l'électrode de décharge (30) et permet au gaz contenant la matière particulaire de s'écouler à travers ;

un orifice d'introduction de gaz d'échappement (3), formé dans une partie inférieure du logement (2), et un orifice de décharge de gaz d'échappement (4), formé dans une partie supérieure du logement (2), étant agencé de telle sorte que le gaz contenant la matière particulaire introduit dans le logement (2) depuis l'orifice d'introduction de gaz d'échappement (3) circule verticalement et est déchargé depuis l'orifice de décharge de gaz d'échappement (4) ; et

une unité de récupération de matière particulaire (50, 51, 60, 64) qui est configurée pour amener un gaz de récupération à circuler dans la région de collecte (25) dans une direction croisant la direction de circulation du gaz contenant la matière particulaire, dans lequel le précipitateur électrostatique (1) est configuré de telle sorte que, lorsque la matière particulaire dans le gaz contenant la matière particulaire est chargée électriquement par la décharge électrique, la matière particulaire chargée électriquement dans le gaz contenant la matière particulaire est collectée dans la région de collecte (25) à travers les trous traversants (21), et la matière particulaire collectée dans la région de collecte (25) est enlevée et récupérée par le gaz de récupération sans être ré-entraînée.

2. Précipitateur électrostatique (1) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'unité de production de décharge (45) est configurée pour générer une décharge par effet couronne en appliquant une tension continue entre l'électrode en forme de plaque (20) et l'électrode de décharge (30).

3. Précipitateur électrostatique (1) selon la revendication 2, dans lequel l'électrode de décharge (30) comprend :

un corps principal d'électrode en forme de plaque (31) qui présente une section transversale rectangulaire, les côtés longs de la section transversale faisant face à l'électrode en forme de plaque (20) ; et

des parties de décharge en forme d'épine (32) formées au niveau des côtés courts de la section transversale du corps principal d'électrode en forme de plaque.

4. Précipitateur électrostatique (1) selon la revendication 3, dans lequel une direction d'extension du corps principal d'électrode en forme de plaque (31) croise la direction de circulation du gaz contenant la matière particulaire.

5. Précipitateur électrostatique (1) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'unité de production de décharge (130) est configurée pour produire une décharge de barrière en appliquant une tension alternative entre l'électrode en forme de plaque (20) et l'électrode de décharge (30).

6. Précipitateur électrostatique (1) selon la revendication 5, dans lequel l'électrode de décharge (30) est formée par une électrode métallique et un diélectrique recouvrant l'électrode métallique pour obtenir une forme de plaque ayant une surface de plaque le long de la direction de circulation du gaz contenant la matière particulaire.

7. Précipitateur électrostatique (1) selon la revendication 6, dans lequel l'électrode de décharge (30) est configurée pour servir d'élément chauffant, lequel est configuré par une résistance produisant de la chaleur reliée entre une paire de bornes et brûle la matière particulaire collée lorsqu'une tension est appliquée entre la paire de bornes.

8. Précipitateur électrostatique (1) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel une pluralité d'ensembles de l'électrode en forme de plaque (20) et des électrodes de décharge (30) sont disposés de façon parallèle de telle sorte que les électrodes en forme de plaque (20) se font face, et la région de collecte est formée entre les électrodes en forme de plaque (20) opposées.

9. Précipitateur électrostatique (1) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la région de collecte (25) présente une forme tubulaire angulaire comportant au moins la paire des électrodes en forme de plaque (20) opposées et une paire de parties de plaque d'extrémité (23a, 23b) fermant les deux parties d'extrémité de la paire d'électrodes en forme de plaque (20) qui sont parallèles à la direction de circulation du gaz de récupération.

10. Précipitateur électrostatique (1) selon la revendication 9, dans lequel un collecteur de poussière à cyclone (60) est relié à un côté de la région de collecte (25) dans une direction de circulation de gaz de récupération, un dispositif d'aspiration (64) est relié au collecteur de poussière à cyclone (60), et un écoulement de gaz de récupération est formé par une force d'aspiration du dispositif d'aspiration (64).

11. Précipitateur électrostatique (1) selon la revendication 9, dans lequel des collecteurs de poussière à cyclone (60) sont reliés individuellement aux deux côtés de la région de collecte (25) dans une direction de circulation de gaz de récupération, un dispositif d'aspiration (64) est relié à chacun des collecteurs de poussière à cyclone (60), et un écoulement de gaz de récupération bidirectionnel est formé par une force d'aspiration du dispositif d'aspiration (64).

12. Précipitateur électrostatique (1) selon la revendication 10 ou 11, dans lequel une hotte aspirante (50) configurée pour n'aspirer le gaz de récupération que dans les régions de collecte (25) est disposée entre une pluralité de régions de collecte (25), lesquelles sont formées entre les électrodes (20) opposées, et le collecteur de poussière à cyclone (60).

13. Précipitateur électrostatique (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 12, dans lequel le précipitateur électrostatique (1) est configuré pour aspirer l'air extérieur en tant que gaz de récupération à partir des ouvertures (5) dans le logement (2) et pour amener le gaz de récupération à traverser la région de collecte (25) dans une direction orthogonale à la direction d'écoulement du gaz contenant la matière particulaire.

Drawing