ELECTRICALLY STIMULATED AGGLOMERATION AT AN EARTHED SURFACE

With the aid of a microscope and a video camera, settling particles ha ve been observed when passing a classical point-plate arrangement and, because of the deflection in the electrical field, impacting on the w all. As the cinematographic studies show, the particles arriving form agglomerate chains orientated along the electrical field lines and inc reasing to a critical length, dependent on the electrical operation co nditions. In the video tapes, it is clearly seen that agglomerate chai ns of critical length are pulled off by the electrical forces. The obs erved agglomeration phenomenon is governed decisively by the particle material itself, in particular particle resistivity. Graphite and lime stone particles, and glass spheres in the size range around 30 mu m ha ve been investigated. In order to illustrate this electrically stimula ted agglomeration the whole process has been video taped. These mainly phenomenological investigations reveal the physical background of a s uccessful electro-mechanical two-stage system for the separation of di esel soot particles.