Originally Posted By: Vern_in_IL
Anyone know what is the difference between a Ionizer and a "static eliminator"?
Quote:
Voltage application systems utilizing corona discharge are constructed from: needle shaped electrodes that apply a high voltage; a high voltage power source; and grounding electrodes. Applying high-voltage to the electrodes produces a corona discharge on the needle tips.
When a corona discharge occurs and the air surrounding the electrode needles is broken down, ions are produced.
Using these ions, reverse-polarity static electricity is neutralized, and static is eliminated.
Seems to me they are the same as a Ionizer, BUT they talk about AC system, a DC system, High Frequency wave AC system, Pulse DC system, and Pulse AC systems!
Yeah, I could tell you a bit about static eliminators. A static eliminator is an ionizer, it produces both polarities of ions, positive (+) and negative (-). The static charge attracts the ions it needs (opposites attract) and the ions neutralize the charge. The opposite ions generally wonder off and discharge to ground (machine frames and whatnot).
Bipolar ionization (from static eliminators) is not persistent. The ions tend to recombine, i.e. transfer charge, so the ions disappear. You always have to be making more ions to make up for recombination.
There's static neutralizing bars. They have to be placed close to the material to neutralize it. Typically a moving plastic film in industry. They use the electrostatic attraction to move the ions. They can neutralize stuff quick, but they have to be close.
There's anti-static blowers. A fan blows across the ionizer and the air currents carry the ions to the target to be neutralized. They give pretty good coverage for about 4 to 6 feet and can generally neutralize stuff in under 10 seconds.
There's anti-static blow-off guns. They're good for cleaning a surface of electrostatically adhered dust. They're best operating distance is about 6 to 12 inches and thy can neutralize stuff in seconds.
There are room systems, usually mounted on the ceiling, typically clean rooms. Discharge times are long and depend greatly on the installation. Air flow in a clean room helps to reduce the discharge times but it could still take up to a minute or so for static to be neutralized.
Then there are miscellaneous ionizers. Stuff for point-of-use, ultra clean ionizers, web cleaning equipment with built-in ionizers, etc.
It's an interesting field, sort of a niche industry, but it employs a bunch of folks, including myself.
