Electro-kinetic air transporter with mechanism for vibratory cleaning of emitter electrode

Abstract

Systems and methods for cleaning emitter electrodes of air conditioner systems are provided. The air conditioning system includes an emitter electrode, a collector electrode and a high voltage generator to provide a high voltage potential difference between the emitter and collector electrodes. The system also includes a cleaning member having a channel through which the emitter electrode passes. A plunger mechanism and a spring, or a lever and a fulcrum, are used to force the cleaning member to travel upward along the emitter electrode to thereby frictionally removing debris from the emitter electrode. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures and the claims.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
   
   
       34 . A method of cleaning a flexible, elongate emitter electrode energizable to establish a corona discharge, the method comprising:
 engaging the elongate emitter electrode with a vibrating unit; and   exciting vibration in the elongate emitter electrode with the vibrating unit and thereby remove debris from the elongate emitter electrode.   
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein exciting vibration is performed one of intermittently, continuously while the elongate emitter electrode is powered, and in response to an event. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the event includes detection of one of a powered on state and detection of electrode arcing. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 supporting an end of the elongate emitter electrode with the vibrating unit.   
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the elongate emitter electrode comprises a corona wire. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 energizing the elongate emitter electrode using a high voltage power supply, establishing a corona discharge and thereby motivating flow of a fluid.   
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 energizing the elongate emitter electrode using a high voltage power supply, establishing a corona discharge and thereby precipitating particulate from a fluid.   
   
   
       41 . A method of making a corona discharge product, the method comprising:
 tensioning an elongate emitter electrode;   positioning a vibrating unit to excite vibration in the elongate emitter electrode and thereby remove debris from the elongate emitter electrode; and   providing an electrical path to the elongate emitter electrode by which the elongate emitter electrode may be energized to establish a corona discharge.   
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising:
 positioning a collector electrode sufficiently proximate to the elongate emitter electrode to support a corona discharge between the elongate emitter electrode and the collector electrode.   
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising:
 coupling the elongate emitter electrode to a power supply terminal.   
   
   
       44 . An electro-kinetic air transport apparatus comprising:
 an elongate emitter electrode having first and second electrode ends;   an electrode support at at least one of the first and second electrode ends; and   a vibrating unit positioned to excite vibration in the elongate emitter electrode to thereby remove debris from the elongate emitter electrode.   
   
   
       45 . An apparatus, as in  claim 44 , wherein the vibrating unit supports one of the first and second ends of the elongate emitter electrode. 
   
   
       46 . An apparatus, as in  claim 44 , wherein the vibrating unit comprises one or more of a piezoelectric vibrator, rotary eccentric weight, eccentric rotor shaft, electro-magnet, and a vibratory gyroscope. 
   
   
       47 . An apparatus, as in  claim 44 , wherein the elongate emitter electrode is held in tension and the vibrating unit is moveable to pluck the elongate emitter electrode to excite the vibration in the elongate emitter electrode. 
   
   
       48 . An apparatus, as in  claim 47 , wherein the vibrating unit is rotatable to repeatedly pluck the elongate emitter electrode to excite the vibration in the elongate emitter electrode. 
   
   
       49 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein the elongate emitter electrode comprises a corona wire. 
   
   
       50 . An electro-kinetic air transport system comprising:
 an elongate emitter electrode having first and second electrode ends;   a voltage generator electrically coupled to the elongate emitter electrode;   a controller coupled to the voltage generator and configured to control a voltage output from the voltage generator; and   a vibrating unit positioned to excite vibration in the elongate emitter electrode to thereby remove debris from the elongate emitter electrode.   
   
   
       51 . A system, as in  claim 50 , wherein the controller is further configured to trigger excitation of the vibrating unit. 
   
   
       52 . A system, as in  claim 50 , wherein the controller is configured to detect arcing by comparison of a running average current value and a threshold current value.