Traditional aerosol samplers are limited in their abilities to collect large quantities of particulate matter due to their low flow rates, high pressure drops, and are noise intrusiveness. The goal of this study was to develop an alternate aerosol sampler using electrostatic precipitation technology that was safe and not noise intrusive to be deployed in homes. The O-Ion B-1000 was selected as the most suitable electrostatic precipitator (ESP) for achieving the goal of this study because of its affordability, the design of its collection electrode and its high flow rate. The collection efficiency of the ESP was assessed for three aerosols; Arizona Road Dust (ARD), NaCl and diesel fumes. ARD was found to have the highest average collection efficiency (65%) followed by NaCl (43%) and lastly diesel fumes (41%). A method for recovering the particulate matter deposited on the collection electrode was developed. The dust collected on the electrode was recovered onto polyvinyl chloride (PVC) filters moistened with deionized water. Additionally, the recovery of the three test aerosols, ARD, NaCl, and diesel fumes, from the collection electrode was assessed. A gravimetric analysis was done to determine the amount of dust recovered. The collection efficiency was used to calculate the amount of mass expected on the filter for a particular aerosol. NaCl had the highest recovery at 95% recovery, followed by ARD (73%) and lastly diesel fumes (50%). Two identical ESPs were also deployed in an office and in a bedroom, 104.47 mg and 9.64 mg of particulate matter (PM) was recovered respectively. The noise and ozone level produced by the ESP was evaluated to determine the ESP’s viability as a household aerosol sampler. The ESP’s high setting had a noise level of 45.8 dB and ozone generation rate of 0.036 mg/min. The results of the calculation showed that in an averaged size unventilated room (6.10 m × 6.10 m × 2.44 m), it would take 6 hours and 53 minutes for the ozone levels to reach the recommended maximum exposure limits per National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Additionally, a ventilation of 230 L/min is needed in order to prevent the ozone levels generated by the ESP from exceeding maximum exposure limits per NAAQS. Overall, the O-Ion B-1000 met the criteria of collecting 1 mg of PM in a 24 hour sampling for ARD and NaCl. Diesel fumes however, required 30 hours to collect 1 mg of PM. The noise levels generated by the ESP set on high was one dB above the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for indoor noise limit. However, the noise is proportional to inverse distance squared; the ESP should not pose a problem during household deployment. Ozone generated by the ESP was also found to be below 0.07 ppm as set by the EPA with an average ventilation of 230 L/min. The average ventilation of a household is 1500 L/min, thus the ozone generated by the ESP would not surpass 0.07 ppm. However, the ESP should not be deployed in unventilated rooms for a period of more than 6 hours and 53 minutes.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:56:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2673.pdf: 2958103 bytes, checksum: 0992644491515e2973ed1ac0c87e233c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-09-16 / The removal of ultrafine particles is becoming an increasingly important operation due to the occupational problems caused to the environment and to the human health, such as inhalation of particulate matter, as well as by its applications in industrial processes. Among the equipments commonly employed for the removal of particulates from aerosols, the electrostatic precipitator (ESP) is the one capable to remove particles in a large size range with high efficiencies and can be used in the recovery of products of high aggregated value. The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of operational parameters in the collection efficiency of a plate-wire electrostatic precipitator operating in the removal of nano-sized particles. The experimental system simulated a contamination by polydispersed nanoparticles ranging from 6 to 245 nm in an extra pure air stream. The efficiency for nano-sized particles was obtained by counting of particles before and after the electrostatic precipitator, using an electrical mobility analyzer. This procedure was performed varying the potential is applied to the discharge electrodes. The results shows the ESP presented a high efficiency of removal for nanoparticles of aerosol, where efficiencies larger than 99% were obtained for all velocities studieds (1 to 10 cm/s, with intervals of 1 in 1 cm/s) for electric field from 4 to 5.5 kV/cm. The efficiency increased with the decrease of the diameter particles up to approximately 20 nm, probably due to the higher electrical mobility of smaller particles. For diameters below 20 nm there was a drop in collection efficiency, which may have been caused by the low particles charging. The classical Deutsch-Anderson model didn t adjustment to the experimental data, the theoretical efficiency overestimated the experimental efficiency. / A remoção de nanopartículas de aerossóis é importante devido aos efeitos adversos que estas podem causar ao meio ambiente e a saúde humana e também pelas aplicações em processos industriais. Dentre os equipamentos capazes de operar na remoção de material particulado, tem-se o precipitador eletrostático, que, além de controlar a poluição removendo as partículas de meios gasosos em ampla faixa granulométrica, pode ser utilizado na recuperação de produtos de alto valor agregado. No presente trabalho, avaliou-se o desempenho de um precipitador eletrostático do tipo placa-fio de simples estágio operando na remoção de nanopartículas de um aerossol. O sistema experimental simulava uma contaminação de partículas nanométricas polidispersas de NaCl, produzidas na faixa de 6 a 245 nm. O desempenho do precipitador foi avaliado através da análise da eficiência de remoção das nanopartículas, pela contagem das mesmas antes e após a passagem pelo equipamento, utilizando a técnica de mobilidade elétrica. Tal procedimento foi realizado variando-se o potencial aplicado aos eletrodos de descarga. Os resultados mostraram que o precipitador eletrostático é um equipamento com capacidade para remover partículas nanométricas de um aerossol com elevados valores de eficiência. Foi possível obter eficiência acima de 99% para todas as velocidades estudadas, de 1 a 10 cm/s, com intervalados de 1 em 1 cm/s para campo elétrico de 4 a 5,5 kV/cm. A eficiência do precipitador eletrostático tende a aumentar com o decréscimo do diâmetro das partículas até aproximadamente 20 nm, provavelmente devido à maior mobilidade elétrica das partículas menores. Para diâmetros abaixo de 20 nm houve uma queda na eficiência de coleta, que pode ter sido causada pelo baixo carregamento das partículas. O modelo clássico de Deutsch-Anderson não se ajustou bem aos dados experimentais, a eficiência teórica superestimou a eficiência experimental.

Les techniques de dépoussiérage les plus efficaces et largement utilisées pour séparer des particules ultrafines d’un fluide porteur sont les médias fibreux. Le principal problème est le colmatage du filtre qui induit une augmentation de la perte de charge dans le temps et nécessite donc un nettoyage régulier des médias (ou son remplacement). La séparation des particules ultrafines par voie liquide au moyen d’une colonne à bulles a été envisagée. L’influence des différentes conditions opératoires telles que la hauteur du liquide de piégeage, le débit de filtration, la taille des bulles et la présence d’un garnissage, sur la collecte des particules a été étudiée. Malgré des rendements de collecte inférieurs à ceux des filtres à fibres, les résultats expérimentaux montrent que les colonnes à bulles présentent des performances d’autant plus importantes que le niveau du liquide est élevé et que les orifices de bullage sont petits. Par ailleurs, si l’étude de l’influence de la vitesse de gaz à l’orifice sur l’efficacité de collecte des nanoparticules ne montre pas une tendance bien définie, la présence d’un garnissage dans le liquide de collecte permet d’augmenter significativement le temps de séjour des bulles dans la colonne et donc l’efficacité de collecte / The most effective and widely used dust separation techniques to separate ultrafine particles of a carrier fluid are fibrous media. The main problem is the clogging of the filter that induces a pressure drop increase over time and thus requires a regular cleaning of the media (or its replacement). In this context, the idea is to test bubble columns, which operate at a constant pressure drop, as an alternative to fibrous filters. This study proposes to investigate the influence of different operating conditions such as the liquid level, the air flow rate, the bubble size and the presence of beads, on the collection of ultrafine particles. Despite collection efficiencies lower than those of fibrous filters, experimental results show that bubble columns present high collection efficiency when the liquid level is high and bubbling orifices have low diameters. Besides, if gas velocity does not show an important influence on the collection e_ciency, the presence of beads in the liquid increases the residence time of the bubbles in the column and thus the collection efficiency

No description available.

No description available.

The demand for wide bandgap semiconductors for radiation detector applications has significantly increased in recent years due to an ever-growing need for safeguard measures and medical imaging systems amongst other applications. The need for these devices to be portable and efficient, and to operate at room temperature is important for practical applications. For radiation detectors, the semiconductor materials are mainly required to have an optimal energy gap, high average atomic number, good electrical resistivity and charge transport properties as well as purity and homogeneity. Cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) distinctly stands out among the other choices of semiconductor materials for radiation detector applications, due to its attractive material properties and the room temperature operation possibility. A tremendous amount of research is being conducted to improve CZT technology and its implementation into more commercial systems. Applications of CZT detector technology in national security, high energy physics, nuclear spectroscopy, and medical imaging systems are of special interests. However, CZT devices still face challenges that need to be understood and overcome in order to have more efficient radiation detector systems. One such challenge lies in the understanding of the surfaces of CZT detectors and surface recombination effects on charge transport, charge collection efficiency, and detector performance. Another common issue is the degradation of CZT detectors due to the presence of defects which can act as traps for the charge carriers and cause incomplete charge collection from the detectors. Thus, a major challenge is that, the commercial CZT crystals have large concentrations of defects and impurities that need to be characterized, and their effects on the detector performance should be studied. Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy is a sensitive, non-contact and non-destructive method, suitable to characterize lower concentrations of point defects, such as substitutional impurities (donors, acceptors) and native defects in CZT crystals. A PL spectrum provides information regarding the defect nature of the crystal by determining the presence and the type of vacancies, interstitials, and impurities in the lattice. The main objective of this thesis is to address the presence of the defects in CZT crystals, identify their types, and study their roles in the performance of x-ray radiation detectors using PL spectroscopy. Additionally, using PL method and different excitation sources including UV excitation, this thesis studies the surface of CZT samples and investigates the PL signature of the surface oxide of the samples, in an effort to optimize the surface processing and thereby improve CZT detector performance. / Graduate

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:55:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseMCRF.pdf: 11090482 bytes, checksum: acd91fb03f2001e7f8897df596f44b7d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-05-24 / Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais / The removal of submicron particles from gaseous streams is becoming an increasingly important operation, both in industrial (nanotechnology) as well as in occupational (inhalation of particula te matter) applications. Among the equipments commonly employed for the removal of particula tes of the gaseous stream, the electrostatic precipitator, ESP, is the one capable of removing particles of such size with high efficiency. Furthermore, it has other advantages as the low pressure drop and the flexibility of working at higher temperatures. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of operational and design parameters in the efficiency of particle removal of a plate-wire ESP operating in the removal of submicron particles. The precipitator was built in acrylic, with copper plates as collecting electrodes and stainless steel wires as discharge electrodes. The study was divided in two stages: the first studied the collection of PM2.5 (high risk particle matter), using alumina, with median diameter of 0.6 mm and maximum diameter of 2.5 mm as test powder, while the stage 2 focused the nanometric range, utilizing particles of sodium chloride, with diameters between 8 and 100 nm. In stage 1, the project parameters analyzed were duct length (L), diameter of the discharge electrodes (2r) and spacing between them (2c); the operational variables were the electric field (E) and the air velocity (v). Each variable was evaluated in two levels, whose values were Lne = 15 and 30 cm; 2r = 0.045 and 0.025 cm; 2c = 4 and 2 cm; E = 5 and 8 kV/cm and, finally, v = 0.5 and 1.0 m/s. The process performance was evaluated through the analysis of the global efficiency of removal of the particula te matter, obtained through isokinetic sampling. In stage 2, the project parameter analyzed were the duct length (Lne), the ratio s/2c and the distance between the collection plates (2s) and the operational variables were the air velocity (v) and current density (j). Each operation variable was evaluated in three levels, whose values were v = 0.125, 0.25 and 0.50 m/s and j = 1.8, 2.8 and 3.8 mA/m2. The project parameters were studied in two leve ls, Lne = 15 and 30 cm and 2s = 0.04 and 0.06 m. The process performance was evaluated through the analysis of the removal efficiency of the particulates obtained by particle counting, with the use of the Condensation Particle Counter 3007, from TSI. It was observed that the precipitator possesses high collection efficiency, even in the nanometric size range, were efficiencies larger than 99% were obtained, depending on the used configuration. As expected, the increase in air velocity, as well as the decrease of the collecting plate length and of the generated current caused a decrease in the efficiency. Conversely, larger spacing between plates resulted in an increment in the efficiency, phenomenon also observed by some other researchers for larger particles. The ratio s/2c did not show a clear tendency in particle removal. When compared to models from the literature, the one that offered the better adjustment to the experimental data was the classic Deutsch model when used with a drag coefficient given by a modified version of the Li and Wang (2003a e b) equation. / A remoção de partículas submicrométricas de correntes gasosas tem-se constituído numa operação cada vez mais importante, tanto em aplicações industriais (nanotecnologia) quanto ocupacionais (inalação de material particulado). Dentre os equipamentos comumente empregados para a remoção de material particulado da corrente gasosa, o precipitador eletrostático é o que se apresenta mais apto a remover partículas de tal tamanho com alta eficiência. Desse modo, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a influência dos parâmetros de operação e de projeto na eficiência de remoção de um precipitador eletrostático do tipo placa-fio, operando na remoção de partículas sub e nanométricas. O precipitador foi construído em acrílico e possui placas coletoras de cobre e eletrodos de descarga de aço inox. O estudo foi dividido em duas etapas: a primeira estudou a coleta de PM2,5 (material inalável de alto risco), utilizando alumina, com diâmetro mediano de 0,6 mm e diâmetro máximo de 2,5 mm, enquanto a etapa 2 focou a faixa nanométrica, utilizando partículas de cloreto de sódio, com diâmetros entre 8 e 100 nm. Na etapa 1, os parâmetros de projeto analisados foram comprimento do duto (Lne), diâmetro dos eletrodos de descarga (2r) e espaçamento entre os mesmos (2c) e as variáveis de operação foram o campo elétrico (E) e a velocidade de escoamento do ar (v). Cada variável foi avaliada em dois níveis, cujos valores foram Lne = 15 e 30 cm; 2r = 0,045 e 0,025 cm; 2c = 4 e 2 cm; E = 5 e 8 kV/cm e, finalmente, v = 0,5 e 1,0 m/s. O desempenho do processo foi avaliado através da análise da eficiência global de remoção do material particulado, obtida através de amostragem isocinética. Na etapa 2, os parâmetros de projeto analisados foram L, relação s/2c e distância entre as placas de coleta (2s) e as variáveis de operação foram v e densidade de corrente (j). Cada variável de operação foi avaliada em três níveis, cujos valores são v = 0,125, 0,25 e 0,50 m/s e jne = 1,8, 2,8 e 3,8 mA/m2. Já os parâmetros de projeto foram estudados em dois níveis, Lne = 15 e 30 cm e 2s = 0,04 e 0,06 m. O desempenho do processo foi avaliado através da análise da eficiência de remoção do material particulado, obtida através da contagem de partículas. Observou-se que o precipitador possui grande capacidade de coletar partículas até mesmo na faixa nanométrica, obtendo eficiências para alguns casos maiores que 99%, dependendo da configuração utilizada. Como esperado, o aumento da velocidade do gás, bem como a diminuição do comprimento das placas coletoras e da corrente gerada, causaram uma diminuição da eficiência. Em contrapartida, o maior espaçamento entre as placas acarretou um incremento na eficiência, fenômeno também observado por alguns outros pesquisadores para partículas maiores. A relação s/2c não apresentou uma tendência clara na remoção do material particulado. Quando avaliados os modelos presentes na literatura, aquele que melhor se ajustou aos dados experimentais foi o modelo clássico de Deutsch, quando utilizado o coeficiente de arraste dado por uma versão modificada da equação de Li e Wang (2003a e b).

No description available.

Cette étude vise à une meilleure compréhension des phénomènes rencontrés en filtration des aérosols nanométriques, c’est-à-dire inférieurs à 100 nm, neutres et/ou chargés. Pour ce faire, trois différents types de média ont été étudiés : des grilles, en acier et matières synthétiques, des filtres non tissés, en fibres de verre ou polymériques, et des lits granulaires, constitués de billes d’acier ou de zéolithe. Il ressort des résultats expérimentaux obtenus que quel que soit le média testé, l’efficacité de collecte des particules augmente lorsque le diamètre de l’aérosol diminue, et ce jusque 4 nm. Ceci entre en contradiction avec l’approche théorique dite du rebond thermique, développée par Wang et Kasper en 1991, selon laquelle l’efficacité de collecte serait susceptible de diminuer en-dessous de 10 nm. La vérification des calculs de Wang et Kasper permet d’expliquer cette incohérence, et montre, à partir de valeurs plus réalistes de l’énergie d’adhésion particule-fibre, que si le rebond thermique existe, celui-ci ne pourra se manifester qu’en-dessous de 1 nm, au mieux. Ainsi, les perméances expérimentales des différents médias testés ont pu être modélisées en tenant compte des mécanismes de collecte par diffusion et/ou par effets électrostatiques. Une étude originale sur les performances, dans le domaine nanométrique, de filtres en fibres de verre intentionnellement percés complète ce travail. Pour un même média fibreux, la perméance augmente avec le diamètre de perforation réalisée. Par ailleurs, pour une taille de perforation donnée, la perméance devient indépendante du diamètre des particules en-dessous d’une taille limite, fonction de la dimension de la perforation. Il a enfin été mis en évidence que la baisse d’efficacité est d’autant plus importante que la résistance à l’écoulement de l’air du filtre est importante. Un modèle semi-empirique, fondé sur la différenciation du flux d’aérosol traversant la fuite du flux traversant le matelas fibreux résiduel du filtre, permet de bien représenter ces états de fait / This study aims to better understand the mechanisms encountered in nanoparticles aerosol filtration, the particles being charged or not. Three different types of media were studied: stainless steel or synthetics wire screens, unwoven filters in glass or polymer fibres, and at last, granular beds made from steel or zeolite balls. Experimental results show that, whatever the media, collection efficiency increases as the particle diameter decreases down to 4 nm. This point conflicts with the so-called thermal rebound effect developed by Wang and Kasper in 1991, according to which collection efficiency could decrease below 10 nm. The checking of Wang and Kasper’s calculations enables to explain this discrepancy and shows from more probable particle-to-fibre adhesion energy values that if thermal rebound phenomenon exists, it would only be measurable below 1 nm. Then, experimental points can be modelled from both diffusion and electrostatic forces collection mechanisms. An investigation on the filtration behaviour of fibreglass filters in the nanometric domain when intentionally-pierced with calibrated needles completes the above-mentioned works. For a same media, penetration increases as the leak diameter does. On the other hand, for a given hole size, penetration becomes independent of the particle diameter below a critical scale, which is a function of the leak diameter. It was lastly shown that the efficiency of a pierced media decreases all the more that its air flow resistance is higher. A semi-empirical model based on the differentiation between the aerosol flow across the leak and the one through the residual fibrous bed of the filter enables to well represent these points

With the increase in population and industrial growth, the need for power has increased manifold. A major share of India’s power generation is coal-based generation. Thermal power generation through coal combustion produces minute particles of ash that causes serious environmental problems. Most of the thermal power stations in India use bituminous coal and produce large quantities of fly ash. Fly ash is produced primarily by thermal power plants and, to a lesser extent, by cement and steel plants and railways. This poses problems in the form of land use, health hazards, and environmental dangers. Today the fly ash from thermal power plants is utilized to make cement. Cement industry needs fly ash with more fine particles. If these fine particles (of diameter in micro-meter range) are left out to atmosphere, it will be easily breathed into lungs, creating health hazard to human as well as animal life. If properly collected, it forms a valuable by product. Hence collecting fly ash is important to reduce pollution and also to increase revenue. Even though there are many devices like cyclones, fabric filters etc. the Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) is the most efficient device to capture the fly ash. It is at this juncture a need for such a simple ESP model was felt to facilitate prediction of the V-I characteristics of dust loaded precipitators, be it cement dust or fly ash. Given the fact that 99% of Indian ESPs are operated under DC energization and most of them are running inefficiently due to lack of proper diagnostic tools and also due to lack of interest to invest on an ESP. In such circumstances, the free availability of a simple model that combines the V-I curves with collection efficiency serves to improve the ESP performance in our Indian industries. In an ESP Voltage-Current (V-I) characteristics are used to diagnose any electrical problems occurring in it. Mathematical model of V-I characteristics under clean air and dust laden conditions will be helpful in diagnosing the ESP problems as well as in designing the ESP. The model will also indirectly reflect upon the collection efficiency of the ESP. The collection efficiency should be as high as possible not only to prevent pollution but also to collect maximum fly ash which is a valuable by-product. The modeling of collection efficiency will help the industries to design a new precipitator as well as to improve the performance the collection efficiency to meet the changing restrictions set by the government to reduce pollution. In this thesis a mathematical model of ESP based on Finite Difference Method is developed. The modeling is done in three sections. 1. Simulation of clean air V-I characteristics. 2. Simulation of dust laden V-I characteristics. 3. Simulation of collection efficiency. Simulation of clean air V-I characteristics is done by iteratively solving the Poisson’s equation and current continuity equation, using FDM in one quarter region of the ESP. Just by introducing the effect of particle charge into this solution the dust laden V-I characteristics are simulated. Finally, the collection efficiency is calculated using average charge density at the plates obtained from the above solution. The developed model is validated at first against published experimental and simulated data and then, with the data obtained through conduction of experiments, by the author, on commercial precipitators situated at a thermal power station and a cement plant, in India. The thesis discusses in detail these theoretical and experimental studies.