Low Cost Electrostatic Cyclone for Aerosol Collection and Concentration

InnovaTek proposes to develop an advanced, low cost aerosol collector/concentrator that utilizes electrostatic precipitation and cyclonic impingement with a virtual impactor pre-concentrator that will have >90% collection efficiency while operating at 1000 LPM using less than 50 watts of power. Technology will be designed on the basis of first principles and computational fluid dynamics modeling. Components will be fabricated using 3-dimensional CAD drawings based on models and calculations. During Phase I several mini-collector prototypes will be designed and fabricated to test our theories and establish feasibility of the scaled-up system. Variables to be examined include electric field intensity, central electrode diameter, deposition cylinder diameter and length, cyclone inlet size, and liquid impingement methodology. System efficiency will be determined using aerosolized particles and microorganisms. Power requirements and ease of manufacturing will also be considered. Final component geometries and operating parameters will be selected on the basis of performance and estimated manufacturing costs. At the end of Phase I a scaled-up design, to be fabricated and tested during Phase II will be delivered.