Introduction of static eliminator (ion generator)
Basic countermeasures to prevent static electricity include grounding metal objects, grounding workers, and making insulators conductive. Countermeasures for applying static electricity to non-conductive insulators include humidification to suppress static electricity generation and the use of ion static eliminators. However, it is difficult to completely prevent the generation of static electricity in the insulator caused by humidification. Excessive humidification can also accelerate the aging of facilities or reduce product quality. Ionizers continue to produce effects without being affected by the environment, so they are widely used in various fields as effective countermeasures against static electricity in insulators.
Ionizer principle A static eliminator (ionizer) that applies a voltage applies a high voltage to the discharge electrode by using a high-voltage power supply. This results in corona discharge between the discharge electrode and the ground electrode. A static eliminator (ionizer) ionizes the air by using corona discharge to generate positive and negative ions. Among the generated ions, the ions (q) required for static elimination move to the charged object by the Coulomb force (F), which acts in the direction of the object due to its electrolysis (E). This causes the charge on the object to be neutralized (eliminate static electricity).
Precautions for using ionizer
1) After the ionizer is installed, the static elimination effect must be confirmed. Depending on the installation distance, angle, air volume (for fan-type ionizers) and air pressure (for nozzle-type or spray gun-type devices), the effect will be quite different. There are two ways to confirm the effect. One is to measure the amount of charge on the object after the static electricity is eliminated (by using an electrometer or coulometer). The other is to confirm the effectiveness of the ionizer itself by using the charging board monitor (NK-7001).
2) The ionizer needs regular maintenance. Over time, the discharge electrode needle that generates ions and the surrounding area become dirty. This leads to a decrease in static elimination performance and a loss of ion balance. After cleaning the discharge electrode needle and its surrounding area, the performance will be restored. For devices with filters, if the filter becomes dirty, the amount of air will decrease, so it is very important to clean the filter.
3) Depending on the use environment, the appropriate maintenance time will vary greatly. The time can be identified by numerically managing the performance of the ionizer using the charging board monitor (NK-7001). Devices with cleaning lights will also notify you when maintenance is needed.