ELECTROHYDRODYNAMIC REMOVAL OF MICROORGANISMS FROM HYDROCARBON FUELS

Abstract : The feasibility of removing microorganisms and other particulates from hydrocarbon fuels by electrostatic precipitation was studied. Theoretic investigations describe the physics of electrohydrodynamic precipitation and essential parameters influencing collection efficiency. Measurements of fuel characteristics and filter parameters have been made which led to the development of an electrohydrodynamic filter. Particulates and a liquid are unipolarly charged in a corona edge ionizer and then are flushed into a precipitation tube in which particulates are moved by Coulomb forces into porous non-conducting walls. A 10-gpm model showed filter efficiencies of a least 85 percent by number of particles larger than 1 micron diameter. The basic advantages of the method investigated are the low pressure drop over the filter element and the small size of the unit.