Collection of Particulate Matter from Smokestacks Using Gamma-Ray Ionization

Radiation Charging: A Novel Way to Charge Fine Particles Electrically

“…1 " 5 The most recent efforts 6 " 10 have emphasized a design involving gamma sources and an electric field in cylindrical geometry. Gas ionization is produced by Compton scattered electrons from both the walls of the device and the carrier gas.…”

“…A voltage difference between inner and outer cylindrical electrodes causes a separation of the charge into regions of predominantly one polarity. While the results of Schultz's work 10 are promising, an evaluation of the full range of applicability of the schemes is difficult without a mathematical description of the physical processes. Furthermore, only a small fraction of the energy of the electrons scattered by the gamma radiation is utilized for ionization.…”