High efficiency electrostatic filter built with dual wire fibres

The authors present the construction, operation, and resulting filtration efficiencies of a new type of electrostatic filter of very low pressure drop at usual flow-through velocities while providing excellent filtration for micron-size particles. The filter is constructed in the form of a thick mesh of dual wire fibers, electrically energized at approximately 200 DC volts, and reversing the polarity at a frequency on the order of 5 mHz. While, in general, high-efficiency mechanical filters trap the particles on the air incoming surface, with subsequent rapid blinding, the new filter collects the particles inside the mesh volume, thus offering a considerably longer life. It is concluded that the AC power polarized dual wire fiber is a promising replacement for the electret fiber on account of its infinite life and very high obtainable electric fields