Thermophoretic separation of aerosol particles from a sampled gas stream

Patent · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:865772

Postma, Arlin K.

A method for separating gaseous samples from a contained atmosphere that includes aerosol particles uses the step of repelling particles from a gas permeable surface or membrane by heating the surface to a temperature greater than that of the surrounding atmosphere. The resulting thermophoretic forces maintain the gas permeable surface clear of aerosol particles. The disclosed apparatus utilizes a downwardly facing heated plate of gas permeable material to combine thermophoretic repulsion and gravity forces to prevent particles of any size from contacting the separating plate surfaces.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC14-76FF02170
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by U.S. Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): 4,572,007
• Application Number: 06/648,197
• OSTI ID: 865772
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/73/95/96/
aerosol
aerosol particle
aerosol particles
apparatus
apparatus utilizes
atmosphere
combine
contacting
contained
disclosed
disclosed apparatus
downwardly
facing
forces
gas
gas permeable
gas stream
gaseous
gaseous sample
gaseous samples
gravity
heated
heating
maintain
material
membrane
method
particles
permeable
permeable material
permeable surface
plate
plate surface
prevent
prevent particle
prevent particles
repelling
repulsion
resulting
sampled
samples
separating
separating gas
separating gaseous
separation
size
step
stream
surface
surfaces
surrounding
surrounding atmosphere
temperature
thermophoretic
thermophoretic force
utilizes