Development and Preliminary Testing of a Device for Electrostatic Classification of Submicron Airborne Particles

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A practical apparatus was developed for electrostatic size classification of aerosol particles of 0.1 to a few microns in diameter. The aerosol, surrounded by a sheath of clean air, is charged by passing it closely over an intense positive discharge at high speed. It enters as a fine filament at 1 m/sec into an electrostatic field between parallel plates. Charging rates several times above those predicted by conventional theory permitted good resolution. A high natural charge on the aerosols had an adverse effect on classification. Various aerosols were examined, and results of practical significance were obtained. With salt aerosols, strong, higher‐order Tyndall spectra were observed from the classified deposit.